Creating Slideshows

emmrecs wrote on 7/30/2022, 3:49 AM

Since you are used to using MEP for movie compilations the change to using still images should be absolutely no problem to you; the procedure is, essentially, the same! In Timeline view place each image, in the order you wish to use them, onto the same track. Apply effects etc. to each image as you wish, by highlighting one at a time and going to the Effects tab and selecting what you want to do.

There really is very little else that we can suggest!

MEP 2015 is now rather old but clearly still works for you! I think there is a setting under Program Settings, the Video/Audio tab for the default length of display for a still image, normally 7 seconds. You can alter this if you wish but it will then affect every image you use. If you want to shorten, or lengthen, the display time of a specific image you can simply place your cursor on the right-hand edge of the image and drag it right (to lengthen it) or left (to shorten it).

Travel Route Animation is a separate program that integrates with MEP. I cannot remember whether it was an automatic part of MEP 2015 or was a separate download.

HTH

Jeff
Forum Moderator

Former user wrote on 7/30/2022, 5:45 AM

@Dino-AB Travel route is in the Import tab on MEP22, i think that's where it has always been, or as @emmrecs says can be opened as a standalone program

browj2 wrote on 7/30/2022, 7:22 AM

@Dino-AB

Hi,

Do you have MEP2015 basic, Plus or Premium. Look at the top left of the interface to see if it mentions Plus or Premium. If not, you have basic and you will be missing some editing tools and other features, including Travel Route Animation. Travel Route Animation has been replaced by Travel Maps, a completely different and much-improved interface and functionality. The old Travel Route Animation has problems getting the maps; it can still work but it's difficult.

Depending on your equipment, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer version, Plus/Premium or what is now called Movie Studio (same program) Platinum or Platinum Suite. Version 2023 is about to be released. You can purchase the Upgrade (not Subscription), but the current offering is for 2022. You can download the trial version for now to see if it works on your computer.

I'm seeking help with applying Effects to still images.

What kind of effects are you thinking of? There are many.

Look under the Tutorials tab of this forum and you'll find many that may help you.

If you have not been using MEP, here are a few tutorials to help you get a good feeling for how it works:

Getting started in MEP2021 part 3

John CB

Dino-AB wrote on 7/30/2022, 6:22 PM

I'm looking for something to replace the capabilities of Pro Show, which specializes in the manipulation of still images for videos, the way that MEP is focused on manipulating video inputs. With Pro Show you can manipulate still shots by using only a part of an image, pan through an image, stretch an image, rotate an image, save a zoomed image for the next input, etc.

If I'm going to upgrade or purchase new software, it should be more "slideshow" oriented. Regrettably, Magix Photostory Deluxe doesn't get rave reviews.

Thank you for your prompt and useful responses. The tutorial videos are very good and useful.

CubeAce wrote on 7/30/2022, 8:17 PM

@Dino-AB

Hi.

Who made Pro-show?

The only Proshow slide maker I can find is by Movavi and as far as I can tell is still supported but limiting in use so I doubt it is the same program.

Movie Edit Pro (Now known as Magix Movie Studio) doesn't really care if it is manipulating a still or a video clip. The same effects can be equally applied to both. The problem for me personally is converting stills to video reduces any still to the equivalent of a 2MP jpg for resolution if exporting to HD, You can get some of that detail back by zooming to a section of an image but it never feels the same to me as video compression gives an different look to a still image compared to viewing it as a jpg.

The other problem is can the computer in use handle the extra processing power needed to run a video editor compared to running a photo editor. Bear in mind the specs page is the minimum requirement to get the basic editor working. Effects can be a lot more processor intensive and need up to date drivers and graphics cards.

What you may or may not be able to do could depend on additional third party plugins rather than the basic program but rotation, panning, enlargement, colour adjustment and all the basics are there in the core program. The main effect you may need though is buggy at present which is the crop feature. Best to import the images at the sizes and shapes you need them externally first. I find it easier to use a photo editing package alongside the video editor for best results.

It may also be a bit of a learning curve from your old program as well, as image movement is manipulated in the key frame editor.

Personally I don't find the program limiting at all for stills manipulation unless you are thinking to do anything to the image such as cloning out areas of an image or anything you would naturally turn to a photo editing package to accomplish.

I have lately been playing around with mixing stills and video. You can add boarders to images (or not). It's a work in progress at the moment and some clips are not in the correct position on the timeline or positioned correctly within the frame yet.

Ray.

browj2 wrote on 7/30/2022, 10:13 PM

@Dino-AB

Hi,

...manipulate still shots by using only a part of an image, pan through an image, stretch an image, rotate an image, save a zoomed image for the next input, etc.

As Ray says, Movie Edit Pro Plus/Premium or under the new name, Movie Studio Platinum/Suite does everything that you indicate to both photos and videos, and much, much more. There is even an external photo editor that comes with it if you don't have one like PhotoShop or PaintShop Pro.

If I'm going to upgrade or purchase new software, it should be more "slideshow" oriented. Regrettably, Magix Photostory Deluxe doesn't get rave reviews.

A slideshow is just a video. Make it however you want. The program has all of the tools you'll need and more.

PhotoStory just has a different look, less tracks, and few less editing tools particularly for video editing, but it's the same program as Movie Studio.

Watch the Magix tutorials for both; that is just a start.

John CB

AAProds wrote on 7/30/2022, 10:59 PM

@Dino-AB

The main effect you may need though is buggy at present which is the crop feature.

This only applies to the current version, MEP/MS 2022. MEP 2015 should be OK.

Best to import the images at the sizes and shapes you need them externally first. I find it easier to use a photo editing package alongside the video editor for best results.

This is absolutely not necessary and is why MEP is so good at this task. You can do all the cropping you want on the timeline and change anything at any time.

I find MEP is great for slideshows. As well the basic features such as fixed cropping and cropping/panning and zooming, it has lots of flashy transitions/fades, if that's your thing (yuk, IMO) but the best feature is the ability to control the length of one or a selection of images accurate to the frame eg if your slides run 1/2 second past the end of the music track, you reduce the length of the last 12 images by 1 frame and you'll get a perfect match (PAL, 25fps). This is invaluable when putting a slideshow to music where you want to end the show (or put a transition) at an exact time point to match a change of music.

You then of course have all the features of MEP to export your slideshow.

I'd certainly give MEP 2015 a shot to see if it works for you. I'm doing a couple of tutes on fixed-cropping (the "Section effect) and dynamic cropping and panning/zooming (the 'Camera Zoomshot" effect) but they won't be ready for a few days.

CubeAce wrote on 7/31/2022, 4:36 AM

@AAProds

Hi Al.

I did specifically say 'at present' referring to current problem with MEP 2022 not holding onto the crop information when using multiple instances. I was remiss in not adding that feature is not compromised in MEP 2015 so thank you for adding that information.

Ray.

AAProds wrote on 7/31/2022, 7:52 AM

@Dino-AB

Dino, I forgot to mention that you also have frame-accurate control over the length of the transitions. This is very helpful in the situation I mentioned above where you have a fixed length of slideshow and you have to fit your images into that.

browj2 wrote on 7/31/2022, 8:00 AM

@Dino-AB

You also have music, and various ways to cut to the beat.