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Create Your Own Slideshows and Screensavers

Create Your Own Slideshows and Screensavers

Create Slideshows and Screensavers

Here are some of the basics we discussed

at the Meeting

 

FINDING THE RIGHT PROGRAM

 

Good Shareware Sites:

Hotfiles
Download

Make sure to check if the software is trialware or freeware.

HOW TO MAKE A SCREENSAVER USING YOUR OWN PICTURES IN WINDOWS XP

Windows Me had a similiar screen saver option, but Windows XP made the feature even better. Since many computer users take lots of digital pictures, why not put those pictures on display as your screen saver. Here's how in Windows XP (Windows 98 users see end of this tip):

  1. RIGHT Click one time on a blank part of your desktop
  2. Click Properties
  3. Click the Screen Saver tab
  4. Click the drop-down arrow next to the name of the screen saver and choose the "My Pictures Slideshow"
  5. Click the Settings button
  6. Make any settings changes you want. (I like displaying each picture for only 6 seconds and I also choose the 100% of screen size option.
  7. By default, Windows will use the pictures you have stored in the "My Pictures" folder. You can click the "Browse" button in the settings area to choose any folder you like.
  8. Click OK
  9. Before clicking OK on the main Screen Saver screen, click the button that says "Power"
  10. I set my Power Scheme to "Always On" and have the Turn off Monitor, Turn off Hard drives, and Standby all set to Never so that I can always enjoy my screen saver.
  11. Click OK
  12. Click OK again

That's it. Follow these steps again to change picture folders or make other settings changes.

Tip within a tip: When the screen saver is running, you can use the Left and Right arrow keys on your keyboard to move through your pictures!

WINDOWS 98 USERS:

Download this cool little utility that works essentially the same.

 

 

RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS

 

 

Smoothshow

Smoothshow is the most professional and feature-rich slideshow program on this list, but it is also the most complicated. Its ability to customize sound, transitions and effects is in some ways cinema-like.

It comes in two versions $19 LE and $69 Pro.

 

 

Xatshow7.1

 

This program allows you to make 3rd party screensavers, slideshows and web slideshows with various transitions and music backgrounds. Very simple to use, yet very customizable.

It also comes in two versions Standard, $39 and Pro, $99.

 

 

Ulead PictureShow

Ulead has some of the best features for the money. It is designed primarily for creating DVD and CD slideshows set to music. It also offers the ability to creat professional quality DVD menus if you have several groups of pictures to add. Make sure you resize your pictures first if you are adding a lot of pictures.

Pictureshow is available in only one version for $39.

 

 

Related articles:

  1. Screen saver using your own pictures
  2. Sending pictures via email
  3. Windows XP User Picture
  4. Remove Password at Startup
  5. Print Pictures with the Windows XP Wizard

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