PhotoStory compiles a slideshow from a set of images.

PhotoStory is a free program from Microsoft which runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. It enables you to convert a set of separate pictures into a slideshow that can be saved in a variety of formats, depending on the type of device you will use to display it. Background music or a recorded narration can be added to the show. Text (captions, etc.) can be added to pictures. Enhancements include a variety of slide transitions and the ability to create an effect where the camera appears to be zooming in or out of the picture, or moving (panning) across the picture.

How to obtain and install PhotoStory

Download the setup file from www.softpedia.com..
Save it into your Downloads folder, or into a Downloads folder that you have made within My Documents.
Locate the downloaded installation file (in "Downloads" or "My Documents") and double-click on it.
Follow on-screen directions to install the program, accepting the settings suggested.
To make the program fully active you may need to close down and restart your computer.

How to use PhotoStory

This is a very basic set of instructions – enough to get you started. PhotoStory has good directions and suggestions on its "wizard" style of dialog windows. They will be a great help to you.

Decide on a set of photos to use for the slideshow. As a beginning, four to six pictures will be enough.
If you know how to do it, reduce the size of any large files to something like 800 pixels by 600 pixels. That enables the program to more quickly process panning and zooming effects.
Note: If you make a set of reduced size images, use "Save As" and save them with new names to avoid overwriting your original high-quality photos.
Start PhotoStory. If there is no PhotoStory icon on the desktop check to see if it is listed on the Start Menu. With Vista and Windows 7 it may not be obvious. In that case you can bring it to light by clicking on the Start button and typing PhotoStory into the search box just above the Start button.
On the opening window, click to select Begin a new story and then click Next.
The Import and arrange your pictures window opens.
Click on Import Pictures and select to photos for the slideshow.
If they are all in one folder you can select them together and import them in one move. Otherwise use the Import Pictures button separately for each photo.
The photos will appear as a filmstrip across the window. The one which is highlighted will be displayed in larger form in the upper-left of the window.
Sort the photos into the order you prefer for the slideshow. There are two ways to do this:
1. On the filmstrip of pictures, click on one that is to be moved. Hold down the left mouse button while you drag the photo to its new position in the line-up. Then release the mouse button. Repeat as often as needed to sort the photos.
2. As in the first method, click to select a photo to move. Then click on the Move forward or Move backward button on the right.
Sometimes photos have black borders around them. If one or two in your selection are like this, it leads to inconsistencies in the appearance of the show. So click on the icon in front of "Remove black borders."
There is a picture editing toolbar below the sample picture in this window. It allows you to adjust colour levels, rotate the photo or crop it.
Clicking on any of the four buttons on the left of the toolbar results in automatic adjustment.
Clicking on the right-hand button opens a tabbed set of windows allowing more controlled management of the same editing functions.
When you have finished arranging and enhancing the photos click Next. The Add a title window opens.
Click on the first photo in the strip of images. In the text box, write a caption for the picture. As this is the first photo the words may form the title of the show.
When you have finished, click Next.
Click on the Font button. Choose a font face, font size and style and font colour. Then click OK. Inspect the result. If the size, colour or style need changing reopen the Font dialog window and make adjustments.
Note: Use contrasting colour and level of brightness – bold, white text on a dark background; dark text on a light background.
Align the text top, middle or bottom and left, centre or right to obtain the best effect.
PhotoStory has several pictorial effects available. Most of the time you won't use these, but try them now.
Click on the down-arrow of the Effects button and choose an option from the list. Some will be quite inappropriate for your photo. Others may be just what you want. If you prefer the original, make your final choice (none).
Move to each photo in turn, adding a title or other text as required.
When finished, click Next to move to the Narrate pictures and customise motion window. This is where you select the slide transitions that are used to slide from one image to the next. If you have a microphone that fits your computer you can also record a story or message for all or part of the show.
Click on the second photo in the filmstrip. A transition into the first image is unnecessary.
Click on the Customize motion button and click on the Transition tab of the window when it opens.
Click to place a tick in the Start current picture using a transition box.
Below it is a line of three thumbnail images, as seen in the illustration here. The middle thumbnail plays the currently selected transition between the two slides.
Scroll down the panel containing the available transitions, clicking on several of them. Each time you click, wait to examine the transition being played through.
Make a choice, click the Save button and then click the Go to next picture button (bottom, centre).
When you have chosen a style for each transition you can either leave the transition time on automatic or click the "number of seconds" button and set a different timing for one or more transitions.
Note: Using different styles for each transition is fine for this experiment. When making a slideshow for real use, avoid using many different transitions. It distracts viewers from the actual images in the show.
When the transitions are set, click the Preview button to see how your show looks. Close the Preview window when finished. If you can see a need for improvement, make the changes now, saving them as you do so.
Click on the Motion and duration tab. Use the Previous picture and Next picture buttons to move to a photo where a panning effect can be used. Panning is where the camera appears to be moving across the scene. This can be combined with zooming in or out.
Click in the check box for Start and end position for motion..

Handles appear on the frames of the Start and End thumbnail images. The handles are used for resizing the frames to choose the portion of the image that will be shown on screen when it first appears in the slideshow and again at the point where the display of that image finishes.
First set the Start image. Use the handles to drag the frame smaller.
Note: The proportions of the frame must remain the same as the original.
Move the pointer over the selected area and it becomes a 4-headed Move pointer. Drag the frame to the desired starting position.
Leave the frame of the End picture at full size.
Click Preview and see how the panning effect appears. If the time taken for the movement is satisfactory, leave the duration setting on Automatic. Otherwise, click on the Number of seconds button and change the number in the selector box.
Click Save. If you want to apply the panning effect to another slide use the Next button to move to it and repeat the process. This time you may like to reduce the size of both the Start and End frames, placing one at the left edge of the photo and the other at the right edge to give the effect of the camera being swung from left to right.
When the panning settings are complete, save the changes and click Close to close the Customize Motion window.
If you have a microphone that connects with your computer you may like to record a commentary. First prepare the what you will say as each slide is displayed. It must be very brief in order to maintain a good pace of presenting the show.

Adjust the recording level. Click the right-hand button of the recording pane to do this.
Click on the first photo in the filmstrip to make it the starting point for recording.
Click the Start button and begin speaking. Each time you want to move to a new slide, click on its thumbnail in the filmstrip.
When recording is complete, click the Stop button. Use Preview to check the result.
If you want to try again, click the Delete Narration button and then repeat the commentary.
Finish the process by clicking Save the project and then clicking Next.

Background music may be used instead of a spoken commentary.
1. In the Add background music window, click the Select music button and choose music from the files on your computer.
2. Move the slider of the volume control to the desired level and click Next..
At the Save your story window choose the top option, Save your story for playback on your computer.
In the File name box, put the filename and the folder into which it is to be saved. If you have been saving the work regularly, this information will already be entered in the box. Otherwise click the Browse button, locate a suitable folder and give the slideshow a name.

PhotoStory saves the slideshow in two different formats.
(i) Saving the Project consists of saving the show in a way that allows it to be opened and edited with PhotoStory at any time. This is what you have been doing as the work was progressing. The file name has the extension .wp3
(ii) The second format, which you are about to do, saves the slideshow as a video file in .wmv format.
Click on the Settings button. Click on the ▼ of the Profile selector.
From the options choose
Click OK.
Now you are back at the Save your story window. Click Next and the media file will be compiled and saved.
Click View your story. This will open your media playing program and start playing the slideshow.
Your computer should have Windows Media Player installed and this will play the show correctly. If you have a different video playing program set as the default for your computer (e.g. VLC Player) there is a chance that the slideshow will not be properly displayed. In that case you will need to open Windows Media Player and from there locate and open the slideshow file. Remember to open the .wmv file not the project file.

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J B Whalley
2011-01-10