The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Photo Story 3 for Windows - Review
John Campbell		  
 

John Campbell writes this wonderful little tutorial for both newcomers to computing and those old hands who like to exercise their creative talents

Photo Story 3 for Windows XP is a freebie from the Microsoft Web site. With it you can create exciting video stories using your digital photos.

The easiest way to get this useful little program is to log on to http://www.microsoft.com and in the Search box type "Photo Story 3 for Windows". Then follow the down-load procedure.
 
In Photo Story, there are six steps to follow:
  1. Import and arrange your pictures
  2. Add text to your picture
  3. Narrate your pictures and customise motion
  4. Add background music
  5. Save your story
  6. Completing your Photo Story

Opening Photo Story

  1. In the opening screen, select Begin a new story.
  2. Click the Next button.
  3. The Import and arrange your pictures window opens.
    See Figure 1



Figure 1. The Photo Story 3 opening screen.
 



Figure 2. The “Import and arrange your pictures” screen.



Figure 3. Features of the “Import and arrange
your pictures” screen

Step 1. Import and Arrange Your Pictures

After you import your pictures, you can arrange them on the Photo Story film strip in your preferred order. Then you can use the editing tools to edit, enhance, rotate, and crop your pictures.

  1. Click the Import Pictures button. The File Browser window opens displaying the My Pictures folder.
     
  2. Select your first picture. Then click the OK button.

  3. If no changes are necessary, click the Next button and the Add a Title to Your Picture window opens.
    See Figures 2 and 3 above

The buttons from left to right are:
  • Correct color levels
  • Correct red eye
  • Rotate counterclockwise
  • Rotate clockwise
  • Edit



Figure 4. The picture modification toolbar.
Use the Picture Modification Toolbar to make any necessary adjustments to each picture.
 
Additional Features with Edit
 
Select a picture and click the Edit button. The Edit window opens. This is a tabbed window. The tabs are:
  • Rotate and Crop
  • Auto-fix
  • Add Effect

Make your desired changes.



Figure 5. The Edit window tabs.

Using the Filmstrip Bar

  • To view the pictures in the film strip, use the scroll bar located below the strip.
  • To view your pictures individually in the picture preview area, click a picture in the film strip, or click the Previous Picture button or the Next Picture button.
  • To remove an image, select it and click the X button.



Figure 6. The Filmstrip buttons.
 
Black Border Control

This button becomes available only if Photo Story detects that some pictures in your story will display with a black border around them. They must have a 4:3 aspect ratio (that is the relationship of the width to the height of the picture). See Figure 7 adjacent.

Removing Black Borders
  1. Click the Remove Black Borders button.
  2. The Removing Black Borders window opens. See Figure 8.
  3. Drag the frame to cover the area you wish to be displayed. Then click the Yes button.
  4. The Removing Black Borders window closes and the reframed picture appears displayed as you want it, in the Import and Arrange Your Pictures window.
  5. Click the Next button and the Add a Title to Your Picture window opens. See Figure 9.



Figure 7. Inserted picture that will display with a black border.



Figure 8. Remove Black Borders button.



Figure 9. Adding text to your picture.

Step 2. Add Text to Your Picture

You can enhance your images by adding a caption to each picture.

  1. Select a picture.
  2. Type a comment in the text box.
  3. The text appears in the main image. See Figure 9.
Adjusting the Text

To change the appearance or location of the caption, use the buttons on the toolbar.

Using this toolbar you can:



Figure 10. The text modification toolbar.
  • Change the font by clicking the Select Font button, and select the font type, style, size, effects, colour, and script you wish to use.
  • Change the horizontal alignment of the text by clicking the Align Left button, Center Horizontally button, or Align Right button.
  • Move the title up or down on the page by clicking the Align Top button, Center Vertically button, or Align Bottom button. By default, the title appears in the centre of the picture.
Click the Next button and Narrate Your Pictures and Customize Motion window opens.
 
Step 3. Narrate Your Pictures and Customize Motion

You can record up to five minutes of narrative for each picture in your video story and then customize the way each photo appears on screen.

Note: To record a commentary you need a microphone headset and sound card. See Figure 11.

Recording a Sound Clip
  1. Select a picture.
  2. Click the red record button and record your message.
  3. Click the black button when finished.
  4. The sound clip becomes attached to the picture.
  5. Click the Next button and the Add Background Music window opens.



Figure 11. The “Narrate Your Pictures and
Customize Motion” screen.
 
Extra Options

The Customize Motion Option

If you do not want Photo Story to automatically determine the panning and zooming effects for pictures in your story, you can control these effects manually in the Customize Motion dialog box.


Customise Motion Button
 



Figure 12. The Customize Motion tabbed window.
  1. Select the Customize Motion Button. This opens a tabbed window containing two options, "Motion and Duration" and Transition. The settings you specify apply only to the selected picture.

  2. Using this option you can:
    • Specify the starting and ending areas for panning and zooming effects.
    • Specify the number of seconds that a picture without narration is displayed.
    • Select the transition between pictures.
    • Specify the number of seconds to display the transition.
  3. After you finish with this option, click the Close button to return to the Narrate Your Pictures and Customize Motion window.
Using the Preview Button

You can preview your recorded message by clicking this button.


 
Step 4. Add Background Music

Here you can select a piece of music to start playing when the picture is displayed in your story. You have two choices, you can either use a piece from your Music folder or create your own music piece. See Figure 13.

Adding Music from the My Music Folder
  1. Select the picture.
  2. Click the button labelled Select Music.
  3. The My Music window opens. Select a suitable piece.
  4. Click the Open button.
  5. The music selection becomes attached to the picture.
  6. Click the Preview button to check the levels.
  7. Adjust the slider for the sound level.
  8. Click the Next button and the Save Your Story window opens.

 



Figure 13. Adding background music to the picture.
Creating Your Own Music Piece
 
  1. Select the picture.
  2. Click the button labelled Create Music. See Figure 14.
  3. The Create Music window appears. Select from the various options here. See Figure 15.
  4. Test the result by clicking the Play button.
  5. When you are satisfied, click the Ok button.
  6. The Add Background Music window reappears.
  7. Click the Next button and Save Your Story window opens.


Figure 14. Music option toolbar.
Step 5. Save Your Story

Here you choose how you will use your story. See Figure 16.



Figure 15. Create Music window.



Figure 16. The “Save Your Story” screen.

Selecting an Activity

The most common activities would be Option 1, Save your story for playback on your computer or Option 2, Send the story in an e-mail message
  1. In the Activity box, select an option. (Note: Your choice will affect the final screen. See Step 6 Completing your Photo Story)
  2. Photo Story commences building your Photo Story mixing captions, sound clips and creating the video.
Saving Your Photo Story
  1. Click the Save Project button.
  2. The Save As window opens. Accept the name given by Photo Story or type in the name you want.
  3. Click the Save button.
  4. Click the Next button and "Completing your Photo Story" window opens.
Step 6. Completing Your Photo Story

Finally, the Photo Story is complete. You can share your story in a variety of ways. Select the option you require in the "What would you like to do next?" section.

Note: Depending on which activity you selected in the previous step you will be presented with Option 1 or Option 2.

Option 1
In the previous window, if you selected "Save the story for playback on your computer" you will have two choices.

To view the story, click its button and the Windows Media Player opens and the video commences.

Option 2
In the previous window, if you selected "Send the story in an e-mail message" you have four choices.
See Figure 17.
 


Figure 17. The “Completing Photo Story 3 for Windows Screen”
showing Option 2 choices.

Completing Your E-mail

Click the Continue To E-mail Your Story button and your e-mail reader will open with your Photo Story listed as an attachment.
Reprinted from the July 2005 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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