JPEG Files to Slideshow on DVD

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I would like to transfer a large quantity of JPEG images, grouped in folders, to a DVD so I get to choose a folder from the top level menu and then get a timed slideshow of the pictures. I have tried an old copy of Nero Burning, but it seems like a large lump of software for a very small task. Any suggestions as to free or cheap software for this please

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Free appears to be limited for this task, but you might try LPG. I do not have any personal experience with this software.

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I would like to transfer a large quantity of JPEG images, grouped in folders, to a DVD so I get to choose a folder from the top level menu and then get a timed slideshow of the pictures.

Hmmm, most computers and DVD drives come with basic software for burning a set of files to disc. However, basic burning software is unlikely to include any software that would go on the DVD to actually drive a slide show. Do you need that as well?

If the goal is to provide folders that work with functions built into a DVD player, then basic burning might be sufficient.

If the DVD is meant to be viewed on a PC, you could consider creating photo albums that run in a browser, and then burning those to DVD. I think you can build the albums in a few minutes using Jalbum. In addition to publishing on the web, you can publish to optical media. See Support Forums : Making a CD from the jalbum pictures … @ Jalbum’s forums.

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I would like to transfer a large quantity of JPEG images, grouped in folders, to a DVD …

Here’s another free one that I’ve used for quite some time. I’ve never burned one to a DVD rather have always used a CD. But, I would think that since this slideshow program is just “data” files, CD or DVD shouldn’t matter.

The files can be in folders and browsed or selected at will; you can include music if you like and the “hardest” thing about it is setting up the .INI file with your operational choices.

LPJ-Software

Edited to add: Oops, I just went back to check Doc’s link and it looks like that site is using the same software I recommended. Maybe there’s a “typo” in the LPG…

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Followup.

I just tested LPJ slideshow by burning a DVD of a show I created last year when Billie and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. There are two folders and each contains some JPG files. Keep in mind that these files were made by scanning some 45 year old 35mm slides which have gotten a bit fuzzy over the years. I’m glad I did the scanning when I did.

If you go here (http://www.alhoffman.org/billie_and_al.zip) and download the zip file, unzip to some temporary folder and execute the file SLIDESHOW.EXE you’ll see what I mean. Remember, during the slideshow, as told on my opening screen, pressing M (for menu) and then OK will take you back to the screen to select the other folder or ALL folders.

If you want to try a DVD just burn all the files to a DVD and the Autorun.Inf file (if you have it turned on) should start the show.

(PS Check out the beautiful woman I married!)

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I left out one requirement. When the CD or DVD is complete, I would like to play it on a DVD player linked to a TV set. the links you all have suggested seem to be aimed at playing on a computer???? Forgive my ingnorance, but talk of Autorun files seems to be computer based

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… I would like to play it on a DVD player linked to a TV set …

Aha, that’s a horse of a different color. Well, I’m going to have to admit that I’ve never done one and I don’t know of any free software to do that job. I get a bit nervous when Googling for that kind of stuff, for there’s all kinds of “underhanded” web sites out there.

I use Ashampoo® Burning Studio 8 which has that capability but I must admit to never having tried it.

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I left out one requirement. When the CD or DVD is complete, I would like to play it on a DVD player linked to a TV set. the links you all have suggested seem to be aimed at playing on a computer???? Forgive my ingnorance, but talk of Autorun files seems to be computer based

Again, I have no personal experience with this software, but it is FREE and does what you want according to the review.

http://www.nchsoftware.com/slideshow/index.html

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Again, I have no personal experience with this software, but it is FREE

We need to proceed with caution on this one. I downloaded and gave it a try this afternoon. I spent a LONG time making sure I knew what I was doing and made a DVD slideshow, with captions and background music that all work just fine INSIDE the program. BUT, after burning the DVD it will NOT play on my DVD player (made sure I selected NTSC!) nor WMP on the computer. I don’t have any idea what’s wrong and will continue to check their forum to see what I can discover, but just beware!

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We need to proceed with caution on this one. I downloaded and gave it a try this afternoon. I spent a LONG time making sure I knew what I was doing and made a DVD slideshow, with captions and background music that all work just fine INSIDE the program. BUT, after burning the DVD it will NOT play on my DVD player (made sure I selected NTSC!) nor WMP on the computer. I don’t have any idea what’s wrong and will continue to check their forum to see what I can discover, but just beware!

Thanks for doing a Beta Test Al. That’s part of the reason I put the “no personal experience” disclaimer in.

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… play it on a DVD player linked to a TV set …

As I mentioned earlier, Ashampoo does the job satisfactorily if not a bit klutzy to use. One drawback is that it’s a burner and that’s all. It isn’t designed as an editor. Once you burn it’s finished.

I was going to try the other freebie that Bob mentioned but when I saw that it doesn’t have subtitle capability AND the seemingly SLOW conversion speed, I decided against a trial.

So, I continued on what I hope was a CAREFUL web search for DVD editing software and came up with a “Kiwi-land” product from a company that I’d never heard of. I didn’t find anything “cautionary” about this company, so I downloaded a copy of their DVD PixPlay from here: Xequte: DVD Slideshow Software and so far I like what I see. You can download it free but any DVDs you burn will have a watermark on them unless you pay the $30 USD registration fee. No need for a lot of detail from me as the web site has LOTS of screen shots and helpful info.

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I left out one requirement. When the CD or DVD is complete, I would like to play it on a DVD player linked to a TV set. the links you all have suggested seem to be aimed at playing on a computer???? Forgive my ingnorance, but talk of Autorun files seems to be computer based

Have you had a chance to try the program I suggested in post # 10?

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Just a postscript in case you’re interest in Ashampoo is piqued. I just tried my first (TV) DVD burning using the same pictures (JPG) that I had in my PC slideshow. I added background music just to make sure and got a successful burn of a DVD that plays OK on my television set. FWIW.

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I would like to transfer a large quantity of JPEG images, grouped in folders, to a DVD so I get to choose a folder from the top level menu and then get a timed slideshow of the pictures. I have tried an old copy of Nero Burning, but it seems like a large lump of software for a very small task. Any suggestions as to free or cheap software for this please

I have used this to convert many JPGs to play on a home DVD player. It’s a little slow to convert but it’s FREE and it worked fine for me.

Download it at DVD FLICK

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How would it work if you made movies out of the still images using Windows Movie Maker 2?

Just a thought.

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How would it work if you made movies out of the still images using Windows Movie Maker 2?

Just a thought.

Where I have had success is using Photo Story to create the slide show, saving it as a .wmv file.
I have had many fun and games with the Photo Story .wmv file with it not playing in various media players.
So I learned that importing that file into Movie Maker and creating a movie (again .wmv – but different) to export.

I use Nero to burn the resulting files to a DVD that can be played on any DVD player. There have been issues with Nero so I am currently experimenting with DVD Styler.

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If we leave the burning out of it, IrfanView has the slideshow capability, and coincidentally a multiple thumbnail capability (which I think was sought in a different thread). There are plenty of others, such as Picasa, and it may be hard to find freeware graphics display programs that lack the ability to display images as a slide show. (Note: Be sure to get the latest IrfanView, because I think it has had significant improvements in the slide show capabilty.)

Am I the only guy here old enough to have had to use a TV as a monitor?

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Am I the only guy here old enough to have had to use a TV as a monitor?

Nope (he sez as he raises his hand)!

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Nope (he sez as he raises his hand)!

Gee Wiz, I remember hooking up a 7 inch black/white tv to one of my first computers – Man, that was small..

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I used one with my Vic 20 and Commodore 64!

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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We need to proceed with caution on this one. I downloaded and gave it a try this afternoon. I spent a LONG time making sure I knew what I was doing and made a DVD slideshow, with captions and background music that all work just fine INSIDE the program. BUT, after burning the DVD it will NOT play on my DVD player (made sure I selected NTSC!) nor WMP on the computer. I don’t have any idea what’s wrong and will continue to check their forum to see what I can discover, but just beware!

Hi Gents,

I also spend some time on the Proshow Enthusiasts forum & it is the general view that whilst these slideshow apps do a good job of producing a show, their reliability in burning a DVD is lacking.
The solution the PE regulars have found, is to produce an ISO & use Imageburn (or similar) to create a DVD or they create a video file & author the DVD using a video app (Sony Vegas etc)

Neville

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Much depends on your hardware and O/S, since a newer system will have capabilities that an older may not. Vista has Microsoft’s own modest but possibly adequate programs, and a relatively new computer will have slots for SD chips and memory sticks of various types.

This is where I have an idea that others might pick up on. Please get DVDs out of your heads and think in terms of something like an SDHC card, which is tiny, consumes almost no power (which is important if you use a laptop), is blazing fast compared to a DVD, and may have far more capacity.

I do recommend that once you have it set up, which can be a lot of work, you set the lock on the side for write protection, and that you back it up. You can use a USB flash drive, but something as tiny and powerful as this is nothing to sneeze at if your computer is equipped with a slot. DVDs are a pain in the neck.

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You might check out Arcsoft products, which I think are generally OEM products which are frequently bundled with hardware. I have Photo Impression 6, which came free from ‘somewhere’ (legitimate) and which I don’t use but which looks suitable and might be inexpensive, or free if you purchase a product that has it included. Another source of programs can be CDs that come with magazines (which aren’t cheap, but which typically include a number of programs).

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Well, I guess we’ll have to wait for Mr. Pollock to read all these posts. He hasn’t been here for a couple of months so I don’t know how many of these recommendations he’ll look at.

. . . . . .

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