How to Convert Photos to VCD Format

Creating a video compact disk (Video CD or VCD) is a great way to share your photos with friends, family, coworkers and clients. VCDs can be played on most DVD players, making them a convenient way to show your photos to groups of people. Save money by creating a VCD instead of printing your photos. Share copies with people who do not have computers or Internet access. FlexPhotoDB and the FlexVCD plug-in are free software you can use to create a VCD slideshow from your photos.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• FlexPhotoDB software
• FlexVCD plug-in
• CD writer
• CD writing software
• Blank CD

Install FlexPhotoDB and FlexPhotoVCD

1. Download FlexPhotoDB and FlexVCD from the FlexPhoto website. See the Resources section for a link to the download page.

2. Launch the FlexPhotoDB installer. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the software. Check the "Create desktop icon" option on the "Select Additional Tasks" screen.

3. Launch the FlexVCD plug-in installer. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the plug-in. The plug-in adds functionality to FlexPhotoDB. It does not create additional icons.

Create the VCD

4. Launch FlexPhotoDB by double-clicking the FlexPhotoDB icon on your desktop.

5. Click the "Folders" tab on the left side of the screen. Click on plus-sign next to the drive where your photos are stored. Navigate to the folder where your photos are stored by clicking the plus-sign next to each folder to expand it so you can see the sub-folders.

6. Click on the folder containing your photos. The photos in the folder will display in the thumbnail gallery on the right side of the screen.

7. Select the photos you want to include from the gallery view on the right side of the screen. Use "Ctrl" plus "A" to select all the images, or hold down the "Ctrl" key and click on the individual images you want to use.

8. Select "New Slideshow" from the "Slideshow" menu. Click the "Yes" button on the "Confirm" dialog window. The "Save As" dialog opens.

9. Type a "File name" for your slideshow and click the "Save" button. The "SlideShows" window on the left side of the screen will open displaying your slideshow.

10. Click the "CD..." button and select "Create VideoCD..."

11. Add your slideshow by selecting it in the "Available SlideShows" panel and clicking the "Add Shows to the Build List" button. The "Output Type" should be set to "Video CD."

12. Click the "Build" button. Note the location of the disk image in the window that pops up when the build has completed.

13. Put the blank CD in your CD writer (also called a "burner"). Use your CD writing software to create a CD from a disk image.

14. Play your VCD in your DVD player.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add more photos from other folders on your computer by selecting "Add images..." from the "SlideShow" menu.
• FlexPhotoDB has image editing tools, such as brightness and contrast adjustments, drawing tools and image rotation. Double-click an image to launch the editor.
• The "Create Video CD" window has setttings for changing the way the CD plays and other options. Click the "Settings" tab to change these settings.
• If FlexVCD recognizes your CD writer software, the "Burn Disk" may be available on the "Create Video CD" window. Use this button if it's available to save time and effort.
• FlexVCD creates a BIN/CUE disk image. Your CD writer software must support creating CDs from BIN/CUE disk images to use FlexVCD. Roxio, Nero and other software support this functionality.

References

• FlexPhoto

Resources

• FlexPhotoDB and FlexVCD Downloads
• Video Help: VCD information and resources