Best Free Photo Slideshow Software [1]
Introduction
Photo slideshow software allows you to create a slideshow of your favorite or memorable photos from your collection and turn multiple images into a standard video file for playback on your PC or other media devices.
Although the following reviews relate mostly to the technical aspects of the programs, remember that the best reason for using the programs is to tell a story in an interesting way. A lot of very basic programs will allow you to present photos in a singular linear fashion, similar to whipping out a handful of snapshots and handing them to a usually disinterested spectator (family, relatives, or friends)! However, a more memorable slide show uses the more complex features (motion, music, narration, titles, transitions, etc) to help tell a story about the photos without the distraction of out-of-sequence and poor photos. Also, keep most show durations to under 15 minutes (the maximum for most audience attention span) unless you are doing a "Ken Burns" type historical epic.
If this has been what you're looking for then check out one of the free applications reviewed here. You might find it pretty useful in creating an impressive multimedia slideshow of your photos for sharing with your friends and family.
In recent years, and probably due to the vastly increased use of picture-taking "smartphones", the path of the slideshow world has forked into one of virtual scrapbooks and the other into the more traditional storytelling format. The word "slideshow" hearkens back to the 1950's era of cameras using the transparent 35mm film to produce mounted "slides" for projection onto a screen for viewing with little or no ability to modify or animate the pictures. The "slideshow" evolved from the simple linear sequential viewing to the present dvd or video format for viewing on TV or devices such as iPads and smartphones.
Many "slideshow" programs have been developed in recent years, many of which have used "Wizards" to simplify the generation of the presentations, for better or worse depending upon the user's wishes or requirements. I don't wish to denigrate out of hand the wizard or template approach since in some higher end programs, such templates may be used as a basis for user modification and control. However, the advantages of user control using elements such as keyframing and other motion and transition control cannot be ignored for creating a much more interesting experience for the viewers.
Since the advent, a few years ago, of the picture taking smartphone, the market for Point & Shoot cameras has plummeted, along with the desire for post shoot printing and print distribution. In addition, uploading smartphone pictures to the internet has promoted a rise in photo slide show wizard type programs. As a result, interest in PC based slide show programs has decreased. In line with this photography "sea change" I would welcome comments and recommendations for free on-line web-based slideshow programs. I've also found that many of the "for profit" programs now have included simplified free on-line wizard versions to their product aimed at the smartphone picture collections and distribution. Please let me know your thoughts on this subject!
Rated Products
[4]
DVD slideshow GUI [4] [5]
A user interface for various great tools needed to make your own slideshow of photos.
Platforms/Download: Windows (Desktop) [6] | [7]
Version reviewed: 0.9.5.4
Gizmos Freeware [8]
| Our Rating: 4/5 |
Read more... [5]
[9]
Socusoft Photo to Video Converter [9] [10]
An easy-to-use program for making your slideshows in four quick steps.
Platforms/Download: Windows (Desktop) [11] | [7]
Version reviewed: 8.07
Gizmos Freeware [8]
| Our Rating: 4/5 |
Read more... [10]
[12]
Photo Story [12] [13]
An old but easy-to-use slideshow program produced by Microsoft to create a simple slideshow of photos.
Platforms/Download: Windows (Desktop) [14] | [7]
Version reviewed: 3
Gizmos Freeware [8]
| Our Rating: 3.5/5 |
Read more... [13]
[15]
ffDiaporama [15] [16]
A cross-platform application for generating video sequences with key-frame image manipulation.
Platforms/Download: Linux [17] | Windows (Desktop) [17] | [7]
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware [8]
| Our Rating: 3/5 |
Read more... [16]
Other Free Photo Slideshow Software
Several other free photo slideshow applications were not rated in this review. I am listing some of them here with brief descriptions and links to their sites for ease of reference.
- Picasa [18], a well-known digital photo organizer provides some basic slideshow making functions. No black border control is available unless full frame photo crop is applied. It also lacks more powerful features in other programs designed solely for generating slideshows.
- Both XnView [19] and IrfanView [20] are widely used image viewers which allow users to create a basic slideshow of photos with background music saved in a self-running exe or screen saver file, but are short of some other useful features available in the recommended products.
- MemoriesOnWeb [21], based on the same engine as the commercial version MemoriesOnTV, offers only basic photo slideshow features. Video output in avi or mpg format, but no user settings for profiles or video sizes were noted.
- PhotoLapse [22] is a small program for converting a large sequence of jpg still images to an avi movie but it lacks a lot of features available in other photo slideshow software.
- Bolide Slideshow Creator [23] is a good, easy to use, but very basic program. I am in the process of evaluating the program and will write a critique article in the near future. It is a Windows desktop program with capabilities for incorporating photos, audio, transitions (limited to about 30), text, adjustable timing for photos and transitions into the slideshow. However, it is limited to one simple pan and zoom effect and a 4:3 format output in avi, wmv, or mvw. More info later.
- Comslider [24] is a free slideshow creation program strictly for generating an HTML insert to a person's website. It is an interesting variation of slide show creation programs, with a limited set of features as compared to standalone programs, but may be of limited interest and use for most of our readers and users.
To be reviewed:
- PhotoFilmStrip [25]
- Smile Box
- Web oriented programs such as Ezvid, LibreOffice, Animoto, Onetrue Media and Kizoa
Related Products and Links
- Best Free GIF Animator [26]
- Best Free Digital Image Editor [27]
- Best Free Video Editor [28]
- Best Free Audio / Video Format Conversion Program [29]
- Best Free DVD Authoring Software [30]
- Best Free Media Player [31]
- Best Free Digital Image Viewer [32]
Editor
This software category is in need of an editor. If you would like to give something back to the freeware community by taking it over, check out this page [33] for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here [34]
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