720x540 the highest possible image resolution?

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Level 1

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720x540 the highest possible image resolution?

I would like to create a slide show that will be projected using a high end (1400x1050) projector. I like the ability to fine tune image transitions to a fraction of a second. Pro Show Gold won't work unless I install Windows, and the third party offerings like phototomovie and fotomagico don't seem to be able to do what I want either. Any suggestions?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jan 19, 2008 6:37 AM

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Answer 1

J Keller

Level 4

2,750 points

Jan 19, 2008 8:43 AM in response to Carl Root

Welcome to the forums.

I'm not sure what all your requirements are, but slideshow alternatives include Motion Pictures (w/Roxio Toast) and Apple's pro software - Final Cut and DVD Studio Pro. Less well-known include Graphic Converter (you many have the lite version of this on your machine).
John

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Answer 2

Carl Root Author

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Jan 19, 2008 9:31 AM in response to Carl Root

All the software that I've seen assumes you'll be playing your slideshow on HDTV.

The other issue is that the "upgrade" in imovie 8, final cut, and maybe others apparently eliminates the ability to see the music soundtrack and make precise manual adjustments. I assume you can adjust the duration of slides globally, but changes in tempo require fine tuning. Imovie HD 6 does this beautifully, but the image quality is very poor on a 1280x960 monitor.

Powerpoint allows for high res, but can't preserve precise transitions.

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Answer 3

J Keller

Level 4

2,750 points

Jan 19, 2008 10:53 AM in response to Carl Root

I haven't scaled my slideshows to 1400x1050, but I see that Photo-to-Movie lets you set a document size before creating a slideshow (and it accepts 1400x1050), and if you export to Quicktime, you can preserve that resolution. Are your three criteria:

- working and output files are 1400x1050 resolution
- allows precise adjustment of transitions (ie, manual)
- be able to see a waveform of the music to assist with transitions?

Those sound likely in Final Cut Pro, but check in that forum or with an expert to see. You may also want to consider your audience and the limitations of the viewing environment to assess whether they will be able to detect the resolution you're striving for (eg, we had very good image quality in a dark theatre using a commercial projecter and screen, 100 feet away, using S-video output from a consumer camcorder).
John

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Answer 4

Carl Root Author

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Jan 19, 2008 11:11 AM in response to Carl Root

The requirements you've listed are correct.

The audience is mostly fine art photographers who are nothing if not fanatical about image resolution. The venues would be both small (a church basement) and large (500 seat auditorium.)

Proshow Gold works and I can get help from friends who use a Windows environment. I can't justify paying for professional software for 5-minute shows that will be viewed a couple times a year at most.

I will take a closer look at phototomovie, though. Thanks for the suggestion.

www.rhythmimages.com

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Answer 5

J Keller

Level 4

2,750 points

Jan 19, 2008 11:34 AM in response to Carl Root

Nice images.

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Answer 6

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Jan 19, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Carl Root

Carl,

You must have overlooked something in FotoMagico (or are using an old version). When creating a slideshow in FotoMagico you should be given the option of starting a project for "Monitor', 'Television" or 'Projector'

Selecting 'Projector' I had no trouble specifying your 1400x1050 resolution.

FotoMagico is my preferred application for creating high resolution slideshows.

F Shippey

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Answer 7

Carl Root Author

Level 1

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Jan 19, 2008 12:45 PM in response to Carl Root

F,

There have been so many complaints in other forums about image quality in fotomagico, that I assumed it had the same problem that imovie has, ie, it's designed for 720x540 max. The choice you've sited looks promising.

The DRM warning concerns me, especially since no other software mentions it. Am I to understand that you can't use any music downloaded from the itunes store if you end up burning it to any of the various movie formats? Can I assume that you can use AIFF files from your own CDs even though itunes opens them by default.

Please forgive what I'm sure is a novice digital music question.

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Answer 8

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Jan 19, 2008 12:55 PM in response to Carl Root

Carl,

FotoMagico has gone through several versions/builds. I'm presently using pre-release version (2.2b8) of the Pro version. Give it a try.

As to a DRM warning.... iTunes purchased audio may or may not have useage restrictions. I'm sure Boinx is just trying to keep Apple happy and we aren't supposed to discuss ways of defeating DRM issues in the forums under the Forum Terms of Use.

F Shippey

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Answer 9

Carl Root Author

Level 1

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Jan 19, 2008 1:07 PM in response to Carl Root

They give you a grand total of five days for the trial period, so I'll have to get my music and images lined up ahead of time.

Thank you both for your help. I've hoped all along that fotomagico would work, and maybe I've sold it short without giving it a fair trial.

I really did like the way imovie HD 6 works and wish I could have figured out why the image quality deteriorated, even beyond what I would expect at 720x540. There is probably something obvious that I missed in the initial setup which I assume can't be changed now that it's done.

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