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Tips for Apple® users
Slide Show for Graduation
Problem reported:
For the past several weeks I have been working on a slide show to be played at my son's graduation dinner and I've hit a roadblock in putting it in a format to share on a television/DVD player at the place where we'll be having the dinner. I burned the 400 image iPhoto slide show to a DVD+ disc, but that plays only on Macs -- not on a PC or a television DVD player. I assume that I need to use either iDVD or iMovie to make the show shareable on a television, but I'm not sure of the steps. Could you either walk me through those or direct me to an on-line source for guidance? Can all of the slideshow be transferred at once or do I need to break it into segments? If the latter, will it be possible for all of the segments to play continuously like scenes in a film? Does it matter what kind of DVD I use? After two years back in a Mac environment, I'm still such a newbie! Any help that you can provide will be most appreciated.
Response:
There are several alternative ways to go. It sounds like the place you're going doesn't have a Mac or you don't have an available Mac laptop to use, so option 1 is out - however, I include it because it may still be your easiest option:
1. You could either a) rent a projector and attach it to your Mac and project the slide show on a wall or screen or b) hook the Mac up directly to a TV.
2. You could Export the photos from within iPhoto as a QuickTime movie (specifying number of seconds for each image to be displayed); save this QT movie file to a CD and play that on either a Mac or a PC attached to a projector. (This frees you from needing a Mac, but would require a PC plus projector or a direct-to-TV hookup.)
3. If you absolutely have to use a DVD that's playable in a Television/DVD player, then you will have to use iDVD to make one. Providing you have iDVD (maybe even the latest version), you'll have to bite the bullet and learn how to use it! You can use iDVD to pull a slide show from iPhoto - I don't use iDVD much so I can't give you a blow-by-blow, but there is a lot of decent help on the apple.com site - try this link or this link or this link (in order of specificity). The last one is probably just what you need (see below extract from it).
As to the type of DVD to use - all Macs can read DVD-R. Some Macs can write/burn DVD-R too. The more modern Macs can read/write both DVD-R and DVD+R. Now, below is more than you want to know, but you did ask ...
Good luck!
Re DVD format:The DVD+R(W) format, for more recent technological specifications, offers better performance as well as additional features. On the other hand, DVD-R(W) has been ratified by the DVD Forum and was the first format used, so the majority of DVD drives (and especially DVD players) are compatible with it.Most DVD burners support both formats. In conclusion, given that it is more compatible with standalone DVD players, DVD-R(W) is preferred for creating Video DVDs, while DVD+R(W) is superior for creating data discs.
Extract from last link re iDVD:
Adding a Photo Slideshow to Your DVD
With iDVD, you can create slideshows from your digital photos to add another creative layer to your DVD. For example, you could enhance a family reunion memories DVD by adding a slideshow of family photos to the DVD of video clips from the reunion.Inside iDVD you have access to all the photos from your iPhoto library. You can set how long each photo remains onscreen, apply transitions between pictures, even add music from your iTunes library. And a single slideshow can include thousands of photos.
Follow-up Question:
Thanks for your help with my slideshow dilemma. We lookwd into renting a LCD projector and screen, but the rooim is too small. I hadn't thought of hooking my daughter's Macbook Pro directly to a television. Does it have RCA A/V outputs to plug into the TV? If not, what sort of connection would I need? Thank you again.
Response:
You'll need to check that the tv has an input port that accepts a PC signal. Then go to an Apple Store to get the requisite cable. Most new tv sets should have the right input, especially digital ones.
The following is taken from the apple.com web site's MacBook Pro page on Connections:DVI (external display) port
Connect to an external display or projection device that uses a DVI connector, or use the included DVI to VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor.The video output port allows video mirroring, which allows you to see the same image on your MacBook Pro display and on an external monitor or projector. It also allows extended desktop, in which the second display gives you additional desktop real estate. You can use your MacBook Pro in lid closed mode if the computer is connected to an external display, keyboard, and mouse.
You can attach televisions and video monitors using the optional DVI to Video Adapter, which provides an s-video and composite video connection.