Ulead CD & DVD PictureShow 3 Deluxe

Rating:
Summary: Does not work with the files from the previous version
Review: As of this writing, I am still unable to import my project files from the previos version.
ULead issued 2 patches already, both trying to address this very problem.
Both seem to be doing nothing more but displaying an occasional ad on a startup screen. Sad.

Other than that, the previos version was a jewel of software, one of my all times favorites. A bit strange and clunky user interface, modeled after the wizard/workflow paradigm.
The interface gets in a way, but it is possible to get the job done, although you will find yourself going back and forth between the screens to complete the task.

Waiting for the patch# 3 (or whatever the number) to fix the bugs
and start using this new version.

-- December Update:

I gave up on waiting for the Ulead to fix the bugs and decided to move to a different package. This was challenging, because:

1)
It was very hard to migrate the project file to different software.
Ulead does not provide any import/export capabilities, so I had to extract the information and map it with 3rd party tools. At the end, it worked, but it took about 3 days of effort. I used string extraction package, a file selection package called BFS (Better File Select) and string to file mapping software.


2) I evaluated close to a dozen of different DVD packages. I seriously looked at Adobe Encore, DVD-Lab, DVD Author, DVD Workshop, Reel DVD, DVDit, myDVD, DVD Junior, DVD Producer and DVD Architect.

The only one I could not obtain an evaluation copy was Sonic DVD Scenarist, which is excessively expensive but considered to be the "gold" standard of DVD production systems.

My choice is DVD Architect, it comes as a combo with a video editor called Vegas. This was by far the best solution that
was easy to work with yet had all the funcitonality I was looking
for. It was originally designed by Sonic Software, later spun out and sold to Sony. At this point Sony owns, designs and maintains the Vegas line of video and dvd authoring through its Sony Media Software division.

As with any software it is not ideal (the price being one of the negative points), but I was able to succesfully migrate my huge PictureShow project (about 2k of pictures and 20+ audio MP3 tracks) into DVD Architect.

Rating:
Summary: Junk
Review: I am an advanced computer user. I use photoshop everyday. I am able to use every feature in all my photo editing software (4), but not Picture Show. It will not burn to cd or dvd. It refuses to back up any project of any kind. It runs fine on testing the slide show, but it will not burn. The sofware fails to save to hard drives. I installed and uninstalled 3 times. I took the software to another computer, with same results, nothing. I have wasted 9 hours and 46 minutes, including repacking it for return. Save your time and find a better product.

Rating:
Summary: I'm Happy
Review: I am satisfied with this software. Admittedly, I am a granny and a novice, but it does the job for me. I have been able to easily create slideshows from old slides and photos that have proven to be quite entertaining for our family. I have encountered no real problems with this software. I think that it is well worth the money I spent. Warning: Before I purchased this software, I downloaded a program called "Photo-to-DVD Studio 3. That turned out to be a disasterous experience. It had many bugs, little tech support and no warranty. I gave up on it. PictureShow 3 is a jewel compared to that one and is wonderful for a beginner like myself.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to use, nice slideshows
Review: If you are an expert than maybe this product is too easy for you, but for those who want to create a great looking slideshow quickly without any hassles, then Pictureshow is great. I find it easier to use than anything else I have tried and they have some nice templates included. I especially like the motion panning movement on my pictures. The clipart and message bubbles are also a lot of fun to add to my pictures. I was able to time my slideshow to my music, though this part did take some figuring out. The bottom line for me is that my slideshows look fantastic and I love being able to watch my photos on TV. I would definitely recommend this product.

Rating:
Summary: More for Kids
Review: This would apeal to younger group and not as professional grade as I wanted. I was disappointed in the context. Very limited on transitions and timeing. Compaired to ProShow Gold, I liked the moving pictures and the amount of music available. Other than that, ProShow has it beat. What I don't like in both the limit to music DLL's. I had as many freezes with it as with the other and don't understand why.

Rating:
Summary: For beginners and those with simple requirements, only.
Review: Ulead's CD & DVD PictureShow Deluxe Version 3 is a cosmetic improvement over Version 2. PictureShow 3 features a new simplified, straightforward interface; adds Pan and Zoom motion effects, a nice set of matched visual and audio (instrumental) themes, and the ability to drop clipart on top of one's pictures.

PictureShow 3's new interface divides the program into three distinct parts: 1) Organize; 2) Theme; and 3) Burn. In the Organize section, users select pictures for and arrange the order of the pictures in the slideshow. In the Theme section, users select one of thirty themes, which consist of a matched menu and audio soundtrack, in which to present their slideshow. The Burn section is where users may put their VCD, SVCD, or DVD slideshow on disc.

The 30 themes, divided across six categories (Fantasyland, General, Holiday, Special Events, Sports, and Vacations), make it very easy for a mainstream user new to photo slideshows to create a good-looking slideshow in a very short time. Ulead also provides a free download on their website of 43 menu templates taken from PictureShow version 2, that enables users to load and edit their PictureShow 2 slideshows in PictureShow 3. These templates, however, do not include matching audio soundtracks.

PictureShow 3 retains two major weaknesses from its predecessor:
* It is very difficult to use more than one music piece for a slideshow soundtrack.
* It is also very difficult to synchronize a slideshow's duration to its audio soundtrack's duration -- that is, to end the slideshow and its music at the same time.

In the PictureShow program, unless otherwise manually specified by the user, a music piece will repeat itself until the end of the slideshow. This may not be noticeable for instrumental compositions, but it is quite conspicuous for any vocalized song. To use more than one music piece, the user must preview the slideshow to determine the slide where the current music piece ends, and then manually insert the next piece of music at the next slide.

The new "Match slideshow to audio duration" function seems to work only if the soundtrack consists of a single piece of music longer than the slideshow duration. In other words, the function is quite useless. For all other instances, ending the slideshow and its music at the same time must be done through painstakingly manual trial-and-error. The user must manually calculate the total duration of the audio soundtrack, and then adjust the per-slide duration of the slideshow accordingly.

Consumers new to photo slideshows and with simple requirements -- i.e., those who are willing to keep their slideshows within the time limit of one music piece, will like Ulead's CD & DVD PictureShow Deluxe 3. But experienced users and those who have want to have longer slideshows (e.g., for vacation or wedding reception photos) should consider other software first. Photodex's ProShow, for example, allows the easy use of multiple music pieces in a slideshow soundtrack; and can synchronize a slideshow's length to its soundtrack's length automatically.