How to Make a DVD Slideshow From a Digital Camera

Create a DVD slide show from your digital photographs.

Transferring pictures from your digital camera to a DVD slide show is an easy way to share, store or view pictures on your television. The process is similar on both PC and Mac computers and includes importing your photographs, organizing your slide show and exporting it to a DVD. Mac users will use two programs: iPhoto and iDVD. If you have Windows Vista, you will use Windows DVD Maker. Each of these programs comes standard on the given operating systems.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• Cable to connect camera to computer (included with most digital cameras)
• Computer with DVD burner
• Software to organize slide show and export to DVD
• Blank, writable DVD

Instructions

For Macintosh

1. Turn on your digital camera and connect it to your Mac. Generally this connection will be made into a USB port.

2. Import pictures to iPhoto. IPhoto is a free program that comes installed on Macintosh computers, indicated by a picture of a camera overlapping a postcard. Usually the program will launch automatically once you attach the camera. If this doesn't happen, launch iPhoto and choose File> Import to Library, then select your pictures.

   Note: Some cameras are not compatible with iPhoto. If the program doesn't launch automatically, this may be the case for your camera. If this happens, open the Image Capture program (found in the Applications folder) and choose which pictures to import to your target folder. After importing your pictures, open iPhoto, and again choose file> import to library, and select the pictures.

3. Select which pictures you want to make part of your slide show. To choose multiple pictures in sequence, hold down the "Shift" key and click on the first, then the last photo. To select multiple pictures out of sequence hold the "Command/Apple" key and click each photo individually.

4. Press the slide show button. This will automatically pull your selected photos into the slide show prompt.

5. Organize your slide show. This screen will allow you to order your pictures, add music and transitions, and decide for how long you want each picture to appear. You can also preview your slide show to see exactly how it will look on DVD.

6. Send to iDVD. Choose Share> Send to iDVD. iPhoto will now export your slide show to the program you will use to create your DVD.

7. Design your DVD. This program also comes standard on Macs and will allow you to make a menu screen with images and music and preview your final product.

8. Insert and burn your DVD. Choose File> Burn DVD.

For Windows Vista

1. Import your photos. Connect your camera and turn it on, then select Import using Windows.

2. Open Windows DVD Maker. This is a free program with Windows Vista, indicated by a DVD and film roll icon.

3. Add pictures to DVD maker. Choose Add Items near the top left corner of the screen and select the pictures you want in your slide show.

4. Order your pictures. Now you can decide the order you want your pictures to appear in and how long you want each one to appear on screen.

5. Design and burn your DVD. DVD Maker includes a variety of styles to apply to your DVD. You can also customize the menu and text and then preview your finished product. When you are happy with the design, insert a blank DVD and click burn.

References

• Apple: iPhoto: Troubleshooting Camera Connections
• Online Tech Tips: How to Create DVD Photo Slideshows in Windows Vista
• Microsoft: How Do I Get Pictures From My Camera to My Computer?