Cool Tools for the Power User

Hi there! My name is Dave Seropian, and I am a QA Engineer here at Simple Star. Around the office I am known as a PhotoShow “power user” because of my skill at making PhotoShows. I come by this expertise honestly, having made hundreds of shows over the years. What can I say? I just love making PhotoShows!

If you’ve ever visited our online store at www.simplestar.com, you know that our marketing copy touts how amazingly fast and easy-to-use PhotoShow is—and it’s true: with PhotoShow 5, you really can make a great-looking show in just a few seconds. But if you have a bit more time to spend on your PhotoShow project (say, a couple of hours), you can use PhotoShow 5’s tools to produce a result that is truly dazzling! With that in mind, here are three tips to help you take your PhotoShows to the next level:

1. Try adding video clips to your show. Most digital cameras are capable of shooting high quality video clips as well as still photos. PhotoShow 5 treats these clips just like regular photos, making it easy for you to include them in your shows. Nothing makes a PhotoShow come to life like a few seconds of live-action video, so give it a try!
2. Choose your own transitions. PhotoShow 5 includes a bunch of One Click Styles which automatically apply a series of specific transitions to the images in your show. But if you are interested in an end result that looks truly polished, take the time to select the transition between each image yourself. Play off visual queues in the images, avoid repetition, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
3. Use a variety of songs in your soundtrack. Changing the music is a great way to keep your PhotoShow fresh and interesting (especially a long show), and choosing different songs can be very effective in demarking the different chapters of your PhotoShow. And don’t forget: besides the hundreds of songs included in the PhotoShow Jukebox, you can also use mp3s from your own music collection to add a more personal touch!

You can learn how to do all these things (and lots more) in the PhotoShow 5 Tutorials, so be sure to check them out. Who knows? With a little practice, you might become a power user too!