I love it when the real world meets the book-writing world, as it did last week when I was finishing up the slideshow chapter for my O’Reilly Lightroom Adventure book
Derrick Story was down from Sebastopol and we were in my studio office organizing a new Adventure slide show for an on-line presentation. We were using Lightoom’s Slideshow module, of course. With the module it’s really easy to create a simple, yet elegant, slideshow complete with transitions and sound.
I especially like being able use image metadata for captions, which is really important when you have hundreds of slides–which we did– taken by different photographers who all need to be credited. It’s easy as long as all the images have at least one of the IPTC fields filled in properly. (You add and delete metadata in Lightroom’s Library module Metadata tab.)
Here’s how to add a photographer’s name (or other image information) to each slide based on the metadata:
1. In the Lightroom Slideshow module, select Edit from the toolbar (shown below).
2. Select the field containing the caption information you are after. (We selected Creator.) A preview appears at the top of the Text Template Editor dialog box.
3. Run your slideshow. Lightroom “grabs” the IPTC data from each image file and displays the text wherever you placed the field on the master slide, at a size and font of your choice.
Ok, we did this and created this great looking slideshow that ran really well as long as it was within Lightroom. But then, when we went to export the slideshow, trouble.
Lightroom only exports a PDF slideshow, which is very limited to say the least. Lightroom’s smooth transitions, for example, aren’t honored, nor is sound possible. A PDF slideshow was not the right way to go.
What to do?
Well, we came up with a great workaround. I have Snapz Pro X loaded on my Mac which I mostly use to capture screen shots for my books. We set my computer screen to 800 x 600 pixels and “recorded” the slide show using Snapz Pro X’s video capture at 15 frames a second. Derrick edited the QuickTime movie in QuickTime Pro–adding a Flash intro– and we had a movie that can be viewed anywhere.
Ok, so, you need SnapzPro X with video capabilities and you’ll have to pay extra (around $69 from Ambrosia Software) but darn, it sure made the Lightroom’s slideshow module a lot more useful.
BTW, you really don’t need QuickTime Pro, but it comes in handy if you want to edit or resize your movie. It’ll cost you another $29.99 for Windows and Mac. (I use SnagIt for Windows but only for screen shots. Maybe someone can share information about a good Windows video capture application that’s reasonably priced.)
Here is a link to the finished
QuickTime.
PS: How many of you want Adobe to include a QuickTime export option in Lightroom? Raise you hands and let Adobe know! (And if you are from Ambrosia Software…. your vote doesn’t count!)
Hi,
But how do you export the slideshow music ? ;)
Regards,
Gaëtan
This sounds great, but a bit convoluted for the average Lightroom user. I'm hoping that Adobe will add some way to export slideshow to DVD for presentation. This to me is Lightroom's weakest link.
Yes! I actually found this thread after Googling in frustration to figure out if there was a way of exporting to QuickTime. At the moment, I had to export images for my slideshow on my PC into iPhoto 6 on my MacBook and do it from there. Of course I don't get the slick Lightroom slideshow with metadata etc, and that's what I really want. Come on Adobe. PDF? What were you thinking?
I want quick time slide show exports in lightroom!
Yes put in export for quicktime, with audio, and make the slideshows move....! get with it! in a nice way!
Does anyone know how to post a slideshow to Blogger.com keeping the LR templates in place?
Please email me at bella1408@sbcglobal.net. I'll keep my eyes out for a blog response.
Thanks
YES YES YE!! is useless without a quicktime
For windows video capture software, Camtasia Studio might do the trick. It's from TechSmith, who also make SnagIt. I believe you can output to Flash (.flv and use the vp6 compression which is one of the best for the web) as well as QT, WMV, and some other formats.
There is a trick for embedding audio (MP3s) in PDFs - you'll need Acrobat Pro, however...
YES YES YES
Quicktime export is a MUST! Without that, the slideshow module is mostly useless for me.
YES!! I would like to sell quicktime slideshows to my seniors!
Todd, the Flash intro was created by Adobe's Matt Snow, in Flash. I agree, he did a great job! And BTW, Snapz Pro is very useful, and I highly recommend it.
I SO want to be able to use these slideshows for my clients. I can't decide whether to buy the Snapz software or wait for Adobe. I think I'll get what I want faster by buying Snapz.
How did you guys do the opening sequence with the map, etc. That was cool too!
Yes add Quictime export to Lightroom. It would help complete an awesome program
The only Windows video capture software I'm aware of is Camtasia from Tech Smith, the people who make SnagIt. Its price is $300.00 but can pay back with income from videos produced.
How about using Windows Media Encoder for Windows and making a wmv out of it. Basically the exact equivalent, except using MS technologies on Windows.
YES PLEASE!!
I love the slideshow module and have been looking for a QUALITY slideshow program that is easy and intuitive to run. Exporting to PDF while nice, is not ideal, obviously. Quicktime just makes sense. PLEASE LISTEN ADOBE!
Now that they own it, there should be an "Export to Flash" option also.
Yes there should be a quicktime export option and more transitions options. Beside that its a great program
O.K that's what I get for not previewing before hitting the post button. Should read "stonking". Ooops. So much for my efforts to touch type.. ;-)
There should be a quicktime export option.
Mike
Eeeer, that would be a big fat stocking YES PLEASE from me. By the way, where is the best place for Lightroom feature requests/bugs? There are so many lightroom blogs popping up.
Regards,
Neil