Slides to DVD « Videomaker Community Forums

nobody
Member

I have a small video business which includes the transfer of slides to VHS or DVD and have never really been happy with the results. Any suggestions?

Posted 8 years ago #
LarryR
Member

I put my camera on a copy stand, which I also use for photo to video, and put the slide onto portable desktop light table. The light from below illuminates the slide. I play with the iris, zoom, white balance, etc. on my camera. I have a screenplay which has a function just for capturing still images such as these, and readjust the color, contrast and brightness more if necessary. Its a slow process, as opposed to projecting onto a screen or wall, but if you play around with it you can get good results.
Good luck.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

I've used various gadgets to convert slides to video, and they all produced, for me, really mediocre results. I think to do this right would require two steps.

1. Scan the slides with a good slide/film scanner.
2. Create a DVD slide show with the resulting digital images and one of the low-priced video editors, like Studio 9.

I've used step 2 above to create slide shows from digital stills. Studio has an excellent background music generator and an array of transitions.

Posted 8 years ago #
imaging
Member

I would do as the above post suggest. Use a scanner that can scan slides and from there treat them just as you would a photo. Once scanned, twek the color, contrast etc. Import them into your video editing program and off you go. I find myself being too critical sometimes on quality when the customer is elated just to see their images on a TV screen.

Posted 7 years ago #
videodoc_pres
Member

Have you tried investing in a scanner? I used to do slides and photos the same way as you do. I invested in a Epson scanner and it has dramatically changed both my output quality and speed of doing photo/slide transfers. It will be worth the investment if you do enough photo/slide transfers in the future. Bryan

Posted 7 years ago #
Videoman
Member

I do this for the local computer club and we raise funds by converting slides to DVD.
First of all Get youself a decent scanner that will allow you to scan slides. I mean a purpose built scanner, not a low end unit with a light bilb thrown in.
Tweak the scan in your fav. photo editing suite - you know, trim, straighten, colour correct, blah blah blah
Open the files in Studio 9 Plus and wow them with the result.

We use Studio's menu making feature, coupled with background music etc, we have customers who are over the moon with the results.

i agree with"imaging" as far as being too critical with quality - not that I think that is a bad thing, sometimes just to heavy on production time. Most people are happy seeing the slides on DVD, but hey, there is nothing wrong with trying to improve on what we do.

Posted 6 years ago #
BTS
Member

Years ago I used a Nicon CoolScan. It was over $1000 at the time, but the results were amazing. Pro-quality all the way. I'm sure you can get a similar device for around $300 today. I've also played with taking digital stills of a projected image and all-purpose scanners with a slide adapter, all with mediocre results at best.

Posted 6 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

I researched film scanners for a friend about a year ago - I found that for resaonable prices (less than $300) the film scanners were really not that great in quality - However, Epson made a flatbed scanner with an adapter that scans about ten slides at a clip and after purchase, my friend is ecstatic with the results (I have seen the scans - not perfect - need some corrections but pretty darn good for less than $150). I would take a serious look at the Epson flatbeds with the slide attachments.

As for slideshows on DVD, I have been doing these for a couple of years now and couldn't recommend Sony's Vegas any more highly - However, if slideshows are all you want to do, you could easily do it well with their Movie Studio product, which is far less expensive and just as functional for this limited purpose - Then you could invest in an inexpensive royalty free music library (or something line Sonic Fire Pro or Sony's new Cinescore) and add some nice background music.

Just my $0.02.
Bruce Paul
7Squared Productions
http://www.7squared.com

Posted 6 years ago #
LDP
Member

If you want to make a custom slide show, you might look into "Photo-To-Movie" which has versions for both Windows and MAC.

It allows you to move around apicture in multiple directions, add titles, music, etc. You can export the pictures as AVI, MOV, high definition, 16:9, etc.

You can add a string of pictures to create a small movie. You can download a demo version to try it out before you buy it.

I make wedding movies using still pictures and inserting audio that I record during the wedding. It provides a different kind of creative control in telling a story.
Here is a link
http://www.lqgraphics.com/software/phototomovie.php

Posted 5 years ago #