Computer Graphics with Photoshop - Choosing an app for slideshows

Author

Choosing an app for slideshows

violetileous

2004-01-07, 10:28 am

Hi,

I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
machine.

So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
images in a slideshow fashion.

Years ago, I knew ACDSee was very famous as image viewer. However, it
seems to have grown its size and features a lot in newer versions, so
I'm no longer sure if it would be the best option.

I'm looking for these features:

* Very efficient use of system RAM (I don't know if the used PC will
have RAM enough for storing all the images, so the app should be able
to load images on a smart way so that memory swapping is avoided).

* No need for installation: I won't be able to install software on the
machine. So, it would be great if it's a simple executable which can
be launched from any directory.

* Fast on-the-fly scaling from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 (I think the PC
and the projector run at 1024x768, but in case it runs at 1280x1024,
I'd need a fast realtime resizing).

* Slideshow in fullscreen. No need for transitions.

* Images must be manually triggered with the keyboard or the mouse.

TIA!

jjs

2004-01-07, 11:28 am

In article <99c223bd.0401070538.38225de4@posting.google.com>,
violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) wrote:

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
> [... snip ...]

We do that kind of thing regularly. We make the slide show (which can
include JPEG, GIF, TIFF, FLASH) and formatted text and compile it as a
stand-alone application on a CDROM (which can be copied to the hard drive)
so the client does not need a browser or any other software. The real
question here is "How much $ do you $ really want $ it?"

Stephen H. Westin

2004-01-07, 12:28 pm

violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) writes:

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
>
> So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
> images in a slideshow fashion.

Acrobat?

<snip>

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

LLutton

2004-01-07, 12:28 pm

I use MySlideShow. It costs around $24 and once you create the slideshow on
your PC, you can put it on a CD which is executable on other PC's even though
the other PC doesn't have the software. And you can direct it to advance the
slide or go back with the click of a mouse button. I'm not sure about using the
keyboard for this.
Lynn

quote:

>
>We do that kind of thing regularly. We make the slide show (which can
>include JPEG, GIF, TIFF, FLASH) and formatted text and compile it as a
>stand-alone application on a CDROM (which can be copied to the hard drive)
>so the client does not need a browser or any other software. The real
>question here is "How much $ do you $ really want $ it?"
>

violetileous

2004-01-07, 3:28 pm

llutton@aol.com (LLutton) wrote in message news:<20040107105420.14191.00002783@mb-m28.aol.com>...

quote:

>
> I use MySlideShow.

I've downloaded the evaluation version. There're a couple of things I
didn't like: first I'd prefer a better quality on-the-fly resizing.
I'm not asking for a super-accurate high order interpolation... but at
least linear interpolation would be nicer (or some kind of primitive
antialiasing for blurring pixelation artifacts).

The other thing I didn't like is that it doesn't mention hardware
requirements for the destination PC. What CPU and RAM do they suggest
if you have N images of X megabytes each? Will it always run fine even
with just a 64MB PC? They don't mention that.

Apart from this couple of things, I liked its ease of use and its GUI.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion!!

violetileous

2004-01-07, 3:28 pm

john@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) wrote in message news:<john-0701040922330001@ip-0-251.sprint-rev.hbci.com>...

quote:

> In article <99c223bd.0401070538.38225de4@posting.google.com>,
> violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) wrote:
>
>

[... snip ...]

quote:

>
> The real
> question here is "How much $ do you $ really want $ it?"

I always use a two-pass approach when choosing products. In the first
pass I don't care about money. In the second pass, I do. This way I
scan all possibilities, and it's always interesting to learn what
features the most expensive solutions can offer.

I'm in the first pass now, so money is unlimited now. It won't be
tomorrow, though :-)

violetileous

2004-01-07, 3:28 pm

westin*nospam@graphics.cornell.edu (Stephen H. Westin) wrote in message news:<uy8sjkbkl.fsf@graphics.cornell.edu>...

quote:

> violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) writes:
>
>
> Acrobat?

Unfortunately I don't know whether the destination PC will have
acroread installed, and, if affirmative, what version will it have...

jjs

2004-01-07, 4:28 pm

"violetileous" <violetileous@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:99c223bd.0401071042.74c50c33@posting.google.com...

quote:

> llutton@aol.com (LLutton) wrote in message

news:<20040107105420.14191.00002783@mb-m28.aol.com>...

quote:

>
> I've downloaded the evaluation version. There're a couple of things I
> didn't like: first I'd prefer a better quality on-the-fly resizing.
> I'm not asking for a super-accurate high order interpolation... but at
> least linear interpolation would be nicer (or some kind of primitive
> antialiasing for blurring pixelation artifacts).

IMHO (big emphasis on Humble) that's a bad approach.
It is better to make separate presentations for each common screen size and
screen (card) setting.
Limit that to two good compromises to be practical.
Script it in PS and be happy.

Stephen H. Westin

2004-01-07, 5:28 pm

violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) writes:

quote:

> westin*nospam@graphics.cornell.edu (Stephen H. Westin) wrote in message news:<uy8sjkbkl.fsf@graphics.cornell.edu>...
>
> Unfortunately I don't know whether the destination PC will have
> acroread installed, and, if affirmative, what version will it have...

Ah, yes, a PC. So you can't just include the application; it has to be
installed.

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

jjs

2004-01-07, 5:28 pm

"Stephen H. Westin" <westin*nospam@graphics.cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:ud69vjy2f.fsf@graphics.cornell.edu...

quote:

> violetileous@yahoo.com (violetileous) writes:

quote:

> yes, a PC. So you can't just include the application; it has to be

installed.

Not true.

LLutton

2004-01-07, 6:28 pm

>> I use MySlideShow.

quote:

>I've downloaded the evaluation version. There're a couple of things I
>didn't like: first I'd prefer a better quality on-the-fly resizing.
>I'm not asking for a super-accurate high order interpolation... but at
>least linear interpolation would be nicer (or some kind of primitive
>antialiasing for blurring pixelation artifacts).
>
>The other thing I didn't like is that it doesn't mention hardware
>requirements for the destination PC. What CPU and RAM do they suggest
>if you have N images of X megabytes each? Will it always run fine even
>with just a 64MB PC? They don't mention that.
>
>Apart from this couple of things, I liked its ease of use and its GUI.

I can't help much here, but I edit high resolution images in Photoshop first
(in case I might want to print), then I Save As a lower resolution image
(600x800 pixels) for the slideshow. I'm sure there still is some limitation to
the number of these images for a slower machine with limited memory but I don't
have the data for you.
I did make the mistake of using higher resolution images for a slideshow, maybe
2 MB each, 25 images, and the program wouldn't run on my daughters machine
until I reduced the image size. I think she had 32 MB RAM and maybe about 1 GHz
processor.
Lynn

Stephen H. Westin

2004-01-07, 7:28 pm

"jjs" <nospam@please.xxx> writes:

quote:

> "Stephen H. Westin" <westin*nospam@graphics.cornell.edu> wrote in message
> news:ud69vjy2f.fsf@graphics.cornell.edu...
>
> installed.
>
> Not true.

Really? I don't know how to run Adobe Reader without installing.

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

Charley

2004-01-07, 7:29 pm

I've tried several ways to do this and have settled on Microsoft Power
Point. It produces a file that runs on machines that don't have the program
loaded, provides a way to adjust the display time of each slide and slide to
slide transition mode, allows incorporation of audio on a per slide basis or
as background, and it's fairly easy to learn how to use it. It comes bundled
in Microsoft's Office package and is intended for producing slide
presentations for corporate meetings, etc. I normally don't think much of
Microsoft's image software but I've been quite pleased with Power Point.
--
Charley

"LLutton" <llutton@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040107164158.19310.00002477@mb-m13.aol.com...

quote:

>
>
> I can't help much here, but I edit high resolution images in Photoshop

first

quote:

> (in case I might want to print), then I Save As a lower resolution image
> (600x800 pixels) for the slideshow. I'm sure there still is some

limitation to

quote:

> the number of these images for a slower machine with limited memory but I

don't

quote:

> have the data for you.
> I did make the mistake of using higher resolution images for a slideshow,

maybe

quote:

> 2 MB each, 25 images, and the program wouldn't run on my daughters machine
> until I reduced the image size. I think she had 32 MB RAM and maybe about

1 GHz

quote:

> processor.
> Lynn
>
>

Mike Russell

2004-01-07, 7:29 pm

violetileous wrote:

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
>
> So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
> images in a slideshow fashion.
>
> Years ago, I knew ACDSee was very famous as image viewer. However, it
> seems to have grown its size and features a lot in newer versions, so
> I'm no longer sure if it would be the best option.
>
> I'm looking for these features:
>
> * Very efficient use of system RAM (I don't know if the used PC will
> have RAM enough for storing all the images, so the app should be able
> to load images on a smart way so that memory swapping is avoided).
>
> * No need for installation: I won't be able to install software on the
> machine. So, it would be great if it's a simple executable which can
> be launched from any directory.
>
> * Fast on-the-fly scaling from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 (I think the PC
> and the projector run at 1024x768, but in case it runs at 1280x1024,
> I'd need a fast realtime resizing).
>
> * Slideshow in fullscreen. No need for transitions.
>
> * Images must be manually triggered with the keyboard or the mouse.

Here are a variety of auto-run slideshow related utilities:
http://www.bykeyword.com/downloads/autorun.html
--

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com
www.geigy.2y.net

GordonG

2004-01-07, 9:28 pm

Have a look at Firehand Lightning - www.firehand.com

It will resize automatically to fit the available screen size and creates a
stand-alone file that will run on basically any PC.

GG

"violetileous" <violetileous@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:99c223bd.0401070538.38225de4@posting.google.com...

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
>
> So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
> images in a slideshow fashion.
>
> Years ago, I knew ACDSee was very famous as image viewer. However, it
> seems to have grown its size and features a lot in newer versions, so
> I'm no longer sure if it would be the best option.
>
> I'm looking for these features:
>
> * Very efficient use of system RAM (I don't know if the used PC will
> have RAM enough for storing all the images, so the app should be able
> to load images on a smart way so that memory swapping is avoided).
>
> * No need for installation: I won't be able to install software on the
> machine. So, it would be great if it's a simple executable which can
> be launched from any directory.
>
> * Fast on-the-fly scaling from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 (I think the PC
> and the projector run at 1024x768, but in case it runs at 1280x1024,
> I'd need a fast realtime resizing).
>
> * Slideshow in fullscreen. No need for transitions.
>
> * Images must be manually triggered with the keyboard or the mouse.
>
> TIA!

Maris V. Lidaka Sr.

2004-01-08, 2:28 am

The question is a ringer: Irfanview

http://www.irfanview.com/english.htm

Maris

violetileous wrote:

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
>
> So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
> images in a slideshow fashion.
>
> Years ago, I knew ACDSee was very famous as image viewer. However, it
> seems to have grown its size and features a lot in newer versions, so
> I'm no longer sure if it would be the best option.
>
> I'm looking for these features:
>
> * Very efficient use of system RAM (I don't know if the used PC will
> have RAM enough for storing all the images, so the app should be able
> to load images on a smart way so that memory swapping is avoided).
>
> * No need for installation: I won't be able to install software on the
> machine. So, it would be great if it's a simple executable which can
> be launched from any directory.
>
> * Fast on-the-fly scaling from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 (I think the PC
> and the projector run at 1024x768, but in case it runs at 1280x1024,
> I'd need a fast realtime resizing).
>
> * Slideshow in fullscreen. No need for transitions.
>
> * Images must be manually triggered with the keyboard or the mouse.
>
> TIA!

---
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Dennis Bradley

2004-01-21, 8:28 pm

"violetileous" <violetileous@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:99c223bd.0401070538.38225de4@posting.google.com...

quote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to do a presentation. It's made of about 50 images at 1024x768,
> with no need for transitions. The presentation must run on an
> undetermined PC. The only thing I know about that PC is that it runs
> either Win98 or XP. I won't be able to install new software on that
> machine.
>
> So, I'm looking for an small application capable of displaying such
> images in a slideshow fashion.
>
> Years ago, I knew ACDSee was very famous as image viewer. However, it
> seems to have grown its size and features a lot in newer versions, so
> I'm no longer sure if it would be the best option.
>
> I'm looking for these features:
>
> * Very efficient use of system RAM (I don't know if the used PC will
> have RAM enough for storing all the images, so the app should be able
> to load images on a smart way so that memory swapping is avoided).
>
> * No need for installation: I won't be able to install software on the
> machine. So, it would be great if it's a simple executable which can
> be launched from any directory.
>
> * Fast on-the-fly scaling from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 (I think the PC
> and the projector run at 1024x768, but in case it runs at 1280x1024,
> I'd need a fast realtime resizing).
>
> * Slideshow in fullscreen. No need for transitions.
>
> * Images must be manually triggered with the keyboard or the mouse.
>
> TIA!

Try Picturestoexe download trial at http://www.wnsoft.com/apr/

If you like it you can purchase full copy on-line

regards
Dennis