PTE AV Studio

Project, Preferences and Slide settings are three key setting options of PicturesToExe.

• Project Settings - control various setting parameters for each individual project or AV show
• Preferences - provide a range of setting parameters which can be set up as the default for all projects
• Slide Settings - provide a range of setting parameters which can be applied to individual slide or to a selected range of slides.

The “Main” tab is shown below :

• “Aspect Ratio” enables the desired aspect ratio of the display screen to be selected. Users should consider the parameters of the main display for the show when selecting aspect ratio.
• “Timing” allows setting of the default time for all new slides and can be applied to all existing slides. A useful technique for certain types of show is to start with a standard duration and then modify the times of individual slides to suit the required application.
• “Background” allows the user to specify the type and/colour of the Background for all slides.

Aspect Ratio of Images

The aspect ratio of images from current cameras are normally:

• 3:2 - Typically 3000×2000; 6000×4000
• 4:3 - Typically 1024×768; 1600×1200; 4000×3000
• 16:9 - Typically 1920×1080

Aspect Ratio of Monitors

• 4:3 - Typically 1024×768; 1440×1080; etc
• 16:9 - Typically 1280×720; 1920×1080; etc
• 16:10 - Typically 1280×800; 1920×1200; etc

The Aspect Ratio of the Project

Typically, this chosen to suit the Aspect Ratio of either:

• The Camera Image's Aspect Ratio
• The User's PC Monitor
• The User's TV (Typically - 1920×1080 at the time of writing)

Matching these choices is a sometimes daunting task for the beginner. If you want the ease of inputting your camera's images into a show without cropping, then an Aspect Ratio for the Project is chosen to suit the camera. This might result in the Show having “black bars” at the sides or top and bottom of the Monitor or TV.

If you want your show to “Fill the Screen” on your monitor or TV then the Aspect Ratio must be chosen to suit. This might result in the Camera's Images not filling the width of the Project or being cropped at the top and bottom of the screen.

The example above shows the full screen view (left to right) of:

• A 4:3 image in a 4:3 Project on a 4:3 Monitor Screen
• A 3:2 image in a 3:2 Project on a 4:3 Monitor Screen
• A 16:9 image in a 16:9 Project on a 4:3 Monitor Screen

The example above shows the full screen view (top to bottom) of:

• A 4:3 image in a 4:3 Project on a 16:9 Monitor Screen
• A 3:2 image in a 3:2 Project on a 16:9 Monitor Screen
• A 16:9 image in a 16:9 Project on a 16:9 Monitor Screen

For the beginner, a starting point would be to make the Project Aspect Ratio the same as the Camera's Aspect Ratio. Images can then be dropped into a project without modification and immediately published as an EXE without further adjustments. As the user gets more proficient then choosing an Aspect Ratio to suit the output device (Monitor/TV) might be more appealing.

In Project Options / Audio Tab

The following example shows a typical simple layout for the Project Options / Audio Tab:

The Audio File in Track 2 can be seen to have the following properties:

The PLAY Button will play the 32 second audio file in the highlighted Audio File for testing purposes

The Original duration of the file is 3m 54.396s

The Audio File in Track 2 is linked to slide 2 and if slide two is re-positioned the Audio File will also be moved by the same amount in the Timeline (separate track).

(N.B. When an Audio Clip is initially linked to a slide its position may be adjusted manually using the “Offset” control - or dragged in the Timeline).

The Audio File is Offset by 2s with respect to the beginning of Slide 2 to which it is linked

The Start Time of the Audio File in Track 2 is 5.5s from the beginning of the original Audio File

The Duration of the audio file has been trimmed to 32.396s

A Fade In of 1.5s has been applied to the Audio File in Track 2

A Fade Out of 7.5s has been applied to the Audio File in Track 2

The total Soundtrack Duration is calculated as 3m 5.356s

All Tracks in the project will be converted to an MP3 at a Bit Rate of 256Kbps when an EXE file is created.(Not available in the Essentials Edition).

A Track can be renamed and/or designated to be a “Track for Audio Comments”

When this option is turned on, PicturesToExe automatically converts all audio tracks to a single MP3 audio for the EXE show. The Bit Rate of the converted file can be adjusted from 64 to 320Kbps. High values are better quality.

This option is useful if you work with audio clips in WAV format or adjust the duration of clips using the Envelope Function. See Envelope. For maximum efficiency when using this feature the use of WAV files is advisable, though not essential.

This option will optimize the size of the EXE file.

When preparing MP3 Audio files for use in PicturesToExe the following is recommended:

• Constant Bit Rate 128 - 256 Kbps
• Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
• Stereo

The Audio of a Video Clip can be added to an Audio Track and the Envelope can then be applied to it. Add the Video Clip by dragging into the Slide Line and then, in Objects and Animation/Properties Tab, Mute the Audio of the Video Clip.

To add the Audio of the Video Clip to a Track go to Project Options / Audio Tab and Add a Track and then Add Audio File. In the bottom right corner of the browser change the “Audio Files” drop-down type to “Video Files” and navigate to your Video Clips Folder. Select your Video Clip and click on OPEN. Click OK in Project Options to see the Audio of the Video Clip in its Track. The envelope of the Audio of the Video Clip can then be adjusted as required.

Audio Clips and/or Voice Comments can be added to a Slide using the “Add Audio or Voice” Tool or by clicking on the “Microphone” icon in the Project Options/Audio Tab.

Click on “Add Audio File” to browse for the required Audio File and clicking on “Open” adds the file to an empty track. It can then be positioned and its envelope adjusted as required.

Click on “Record Voice Comment” to see the following:

Click on Parameters to make adjustments to the File Type etc

• You can choose to record as MP3 or WAV
• You can choose Mono or Stereo recording
• You can choose Bit Rates from 32 to 320kbps
• The Recording device will vary according to the users system

When finished you can return “Back to Recording”.

Click on “Record” to start the recording and “Stop” when finished. The Voice Comment is added to an empty track.

It is also possible to record the Voice Comment in “real time” while the Mini-Player is running or in the Audio Tab of Project Options.

Also see The Timeline View

The “Control” tab with its 4 sections is shown below :

• Action after last slide:
  • Close Show
  • Repeat Show
  • Stop Show

The “Keyboard” section:

• Wait for key press …. - Selecting this option enables a show to be controlled manually and applies to the whole show. An alternative method is to use the settings in “Slide Options/Main”, but note that this applies to individual slides only. Note also that this option works whether the second option is selected or not.
• Permit control of show using keyboard - This second option is provided to enable the user to override the default time of individual slides. For example the slide duration may be 10s. By selecting this option the next slide in the Slide line can be made to appear before the 10s has elapsed.

For many shows, it is likely that a user would leave these two options un-selected.

The second section deals with mouse actions. These settings are independent of the “Keyboard” settings.

Various alternative actions are available. Most of these should be self-explanatory. The “mouse wheel for rewinding” allows the show to be re-wound when in the play mode.

The last section controls operation of the “Navigation Bar”.If “Show Navigation Bar” is selected, an additional dialog box shown below opens when the “Customize” button is clicked and a navigation bar opens on screen during playback. This enables the user to perform various operations as specified in the customize dialog box. Note that the show needs to be set to “wait for keypress…” or individual slides set to “wait for keypress to show next slide”, if a manually operated slide show is required.

The “Transitions” tab is shown below with one of the various types of transitions selected to show the range of controls which can be applied to each transition. The range of parameters which can be controlled varies with the type of transition selected. The default transition is “Dissolve”. At the top righthand side is a viewer which shows the effect of the transition selected.

See also:

Custom Transitions

The “Screen” tab with its 3 sections is shown below :

• Add a Watermark

This enables the user to add a watermark to all images. If the option is selected, a dialog box as shown below will open and enable a watermark file to be chosen and the size and location on each image determined.

This Tab is not available in the Essentials Edition.

The “Defaults” tab with its 2 sections is shown below :

This provides a facility to insert text into slides and control the text formatting. The normal practice is to click on the “Insert template” button and choose the text required to be inserted. The code for this text will then appear in the box below the “Customize font” button. Additional text items can be added if required. When all the text items have been added, clicking the “Customize font” button will reveal the dialog box shown below and the added text can be formatted as required. A comment is required regarding the point in time at which this setting is applied. If applied BEFORE any slide have been added to the Slide list, then the text additions will apply to all slide subsequently added. If however this setting is selected AFTER slides have been added, then the “Apply to all slides” button must be clicked to ensure that the change is applied to all the currently added slides. Note also that if the user wishes to remove the added text, it is necessary to go into the dialog box, deleted the text and then click the “Apply to all slides” button to remove the text from all added slides.

• If “Display shadow behind slide image” is selected, the “Customize” button will allow the parameters of the shadow to be selected, e.g. color/size/shape etc.

• The next control affects the size of the slide ; if the slide size is 100% then no shadow will be seen. Note also that this control can be used in conjunction with the “Screen/Background” tab to control the background color on which the slide appears. The “Apply to all slides” button should be used as described previously to apply the changes to all slides already inserted into the Slide line.

• The “Cover Slide” tick box allows this option to be set as the default for new images in the Project. If left unticked the “Fit to slide” option is set for the Project. The “Apply to all slides” button should be used as described previously to apply the changes to all slides already inserted into the Slide line.

The “Cover Slide” tick box added to Project Options from Version 8.0.17 onwards

This Tab is not available in the Essentials Edition.

The “Advanced tab with its 3 sections is shown below :

• Assign icon for executable file:This allows the user to select an icon from those stored on their computer or from an icon which has been created. The chosen icon will be associated with any exe file created from Pictures To Exe

• Synchronize soundtrack and slides: It is recommended that this option is ALWAYS selected. If not, when playing a show from part the way through, the associated audio tracks will start from the beginning whereas the slides will start from the chosen position;

• Pause when slideshow becomes inactive: If selected, the slideshow will pause in its execution if the focus is moved to another application which is running.

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This allows the user to select an icon from those stored on their computer or from an icon which has been created. The chosen icon will be associated with any exe file created from Pictures To Exe;

It is recommended that this option is ALWAYS selected. If not, when playing a show from part the way through, the associated audio tracks will start from the beginning whereas the slides will start from the chosen position;

if selected, the slideshow will pause in its execution if the focus is moved to another application which is running.

The second section “Protection of slideshow”, provides 4 setting options. The intended function of these options is to assist users who wish to use PicturesToExe for commercial purposes.

This enables a limit to be placed on how long a Pictures To Exe application can be run. If selected a dialog box opens which allows various expiry options to be selected.

The final two options enable a password to be set which must be entered before a complied show can be run and a feature to prevent screen snapshots being taken of the images in a show.

The final section “Run application or slideshow on exit” provides a feature to enable a subsequent application to run on completion of a show. This feature can be used to chain a number of shows together into a single continuous process.

The last option in the Settings menu is Preferences. This option allows the user to set up a number of program functions which will apply to all projects until these are altered. When the “Settings/Preferences” option is selected, the following dialog box will open :

The dialog box contains 7 tabs which control various functions of the program. Each of these tab functions is explained below.

Two different functions of PicturesToExe are available for purchase, the Deluxe version which includes all of the program functions and a simplified “Essentials” version. By clicking the “compare editions” button, the list of function which each version supports is shown and prospective purchasers can select which version they wish to purchase. For users who have already purchased a PicturesToExe licence, the version they wish to use should be selected and then no further change to this tab is required.

Compare Editions: Compare Editions Link

Tick for Automatic Checking for Updates

The contents of the “Project” tab with its 5 sections is shown below :

It is recommended that both “Auto recovery” and “Auto save project every” x minutes are selected. Typically the default setting of 5 minutes is a reasonable setting but the user may select any time which is considered appropriate to the project being worked on

This has 2 options :

• Load last project on startup - If this option is ticked, details of the last project worked on will be loaded on startup of PicturesToExe. This can be an advantage if the user is working on one project over a period of time and just want to continue where they last left off. However if a new project is started each time PicturesToExe is opened, it is probably better to deselect this option.
• Show full slide duration - This option enables the full slide duration (slide time plus following transition) to be shown on each slide when in the Slide list view. For example if a slide has a duration of 7.0s and the following slide has a transition time of 3s, then the bottom right hand corner of the slide will show a full slide duration of 10s (see below).

This has 2 options :

• Keep full slide duration - This function is included for use with the insertion of video files. If selected it enables a video clip to run for its full duration without being cut off by the following slide transition. It also ensures that moving the clip to another location in the Slide list, will maintain the video duration.
• Scale frames in objects (on time change) - If key frames are added to slide in the “Objects and Animation” window, selecting this option will ensure that any change in the overall duration of the slide will result in the key frame positions being scaled to match the revised duration. Whether this option is selected is a function of the type of animation being used. Generally it is probably a good idea to select this option for shows in which animations do not have to take place at precise points in a slide duration.
  • Note that the minimum resolution for a Key Frame is 0.001s. If a Time Change with Scaling is applied to an Object with Complex Animations containing Key Frames at very small intervals then this minimm value could cause problems.

The fourth section, “Optimization of video clips”, provides a means of dealing with compatible video clips. A video clip which is straight out of the camera may be suitable for direct insertion into PicturesToExe. Alternatively the clip can be pre-edited (converted/optimized) in a video editor and saved in various formats (e.g. mpg) and then added to the Slide List in Pictures To Exe. If a video clip is added to the Slide List in Pictures To Exe directly, there are three options which can be selected to determine how the clip is handled. These are :

• Ask every time - This will give the user to opportunity to leave the clip untouched or have Pictures To Exe convert/optimize the clip into an *.avi file
• Always convert - This option will always convert/optimize the video file
• Never convert - The video file will be added to the Slide List in its original format without conversion/optimization

N.B. Video clips which require Trimming should be Converted/Optimized by right clicking on the clip and choosing “Convert Video Clip” before adding to the Slide List in order to preserve the setting of Full Slide Duration equal to Video Clip Duration.

The “System” tab is shown below :

This section provides 3 options which can be selected if a slide is double-clicked in the Slide list. These are :

• Show slide properties window - (Note: this is really the “Slide Options” window). Selecting this reveals options for dealing with a slide such as adjusting its transition;
• Show Slide Style window - This reveals the window for selecting slide style parameters;
• Show Objects and animation editor - This opens the O&A editor window allowing other images to be added and key points set.

• Applicable to users with two monitors. When a show is run the output can be set to appear on either Display 1 or Display 2 or the user can select which to use.

This section enables the user to set up default programs for graphical editor, video editor and audio editor.

• For example if “Set Graphical Editor” is selected, a secondary dialog box will open as shown below in which the default graphical editor set up in the operating system is chosen, or alternatively a specific graphical editor can be selected by navigating to the folder where the exe file for this editor resides and selecting the program exe file. Note that once the various editors are selected, an image or video file can be edited by either right-clicking on the image and selecting “Edit file” or by pressing CTRL + W.
• Audio files can only be sent to an Audio Editor from the File List by right clicking on an Audio File and choosing “Edit File”. Care should be taken to use the “Save As” option in the Audio Editor to not overwrite the original file.

The last section deals with video card issues and provides 3 options :

• Minimize video card usage (for slow PC)- This enables shows with complex animations to be run an PCs with reduced performance video cards.This option affects only the main program of PicturesToExe.
  • This forces PicturesToExe to unload the preview of a slideshow in the main window when the user opens the Objects and animation editor. When the editor is closed, PicturesToExe automatically activates the preview in the main window again. This reduces usage of video memory on some old video cards, but it slightly delays opening/closing of the Objects and animation editor. This option is obsolete and not recommended for modern video cards.
• Show real slides in Slide List - It is recommended to select this option as it enables all the images added to a base image to be shown on a slide in the slide list;
• Show animation in Slide list - This enables animation in the slide list so that moving a slide from one position to another is animated.

• Article to follow

The contents of the “Timeline” tab with its 4 sections is shown below :

• This section controls the type of scrolling of the timeline. Scrolling can be disabled or selected to one of two methods. “Autoscroll - style 1” is abrupt when the end of the screen is reached and style 2 provides a gradual scroll.

• This section controls the color of various parts of the audio waveform when viewed in the timeline window.

• This section controls the appearance of the audio waveform and whether values for amplitude are in percent or decibels.

• This section controls the heights of the Slide and audio tracks in the timeline view. although values can be selected here, the user is advised to use the shortcut keys of CTRL + Shift + mouse wheel to alter track heights. The slide or audio track must be selected first.

In Main Menu / Settings / Preferences / Toolbars you can configure the position of Toolbars and Tools.

Tick or untick any box to turn a Tool on or off.

Highlight any Tool and it can be Moved within its Default Toolbar or to a different Toolbar.

It is not possible to move Tools to or from the Status Bar. It is only possible to “Show/Hide” Status Bar Tools.

Separators and Spacers can be moved in the same way. Extra Separators and Spacers can be added.

• Toolbars Profiles (User Profiles) can be Saved and Loaded to suit the user.

• The Reset Button allows the return to Pictures To Exe Default Status.

• The example below shows a Slide View with all Tools Active (ticked).

The “Editor” tab is shown below. This tab controls features associated with the “Object and Animation” editor window.

This section has two options which control aspects of the O&A window. These are :

• Show grid - This enables a grid to appear in the O&A window to assist in the accurate placing of inserted objects;
• Show safe TV zone - Selecting this option provides an indication of the probable margins of a TV screen for those projects which are to be converted for display on a TV. Placing objects outside these boundaries will result in them not displaying. An alternative to this is to use the ”% of the slide to show main image“ setting in Project Options/Default Tab.

This section has two options which are :

• Ignore objects not selected - When selected, objects which are behind another object in the “Objects and Animation” window can be selected and cltered without affecting the object which is in front (see a more detailed explanation in Selection and Transparency) .
• Hide selection on pan/zoom/rotate - When selected, the selection handles of the object selected will be hidden when an object is moved.

(Can also be changed directly in the O&A window by using the “Tools” button)

• Show Global Times of Key Frames determines if the times are shown from the beginning of the Slide or the beginning of the Project.
• Key Frame Width The width of the Key Frame in the Objects and Animations Window can be user defined

The “Templates” tab with its 3 sections is shown below :

This deals with the management of templates. A template can be considered as a set of project settings which can be used over and over again without the user having to reset project parameters. For example a user might want to make all his shows where the slide aspect ratio is always 3:2, the slide standard duration is 7s and a standard transition of gradual fade in are required. To do this, set up each of the required settings in “Project Options” and then use the menu option File/Templates/Create Template from this show. In the “Templates” tab, the “custom” button can be used to access all the project settings, the resultant show parameters saved as a template, and the “Use Template for New Projects” button to make this the default template. Of course a number of different templates can be created for different type of show. At the bottom of this section is the location where saved templates will be created. This default folder can be changed by the user if required.

• Specify the location of storage of Custom Slide Styles

• Specify the location of storage of Custom Transition Effects

The “Main Menu”, “Slide” provides 16 menu items as shown below. Many of these functions can also be obtained via buttons on the toolbars or via shortcut keys.

These menu items provide the following functions :

• Copy Slide - copies the currently selected slide;
• Paste Slide - pastes the copied slide into the position of the cursor in the Slide list;
• Slide options - opens the “Slide options” dialog box
• Slide Style - opens the “Slide Style” dialog box. See Slide Styles
• Objects and animation - opens the “Objects and Animation” editor;
• Random Order - this re-arranges the slides already in the Slide list in a random manner;
• Insert Blank Slide - this is a useful function that inserts a blank slide at the cursor position in the SLIDE list. Note that the background color of the inserted slide will be the same as that set in Project Options / Screen. It can be customized in Slide Options.
• Remove Slide - removes the selected slide(s) from the Slide list;
• Clear Slide List - removes all slides from the Slide list;
• Rotate Clockwise - rotates the selected slide(s) clockwise;
• Rotate Counterclockwise - rotates the selected slide(s) counterclockwise;
• Audio Comment - this is used to add an audio comment, record a comment or unlink audio clips from slides (see Timeline View);
• Fit All Slides to Soundtrack - this is a useful function which equally distributes all slides added to the slide list along the track of an added audio clip. If multiple audio cips are added, the slides will be distributed equally over the longest track length;
• change Image File - this is used to change the image file allocated to a particular slide. If a slide is added but needs to be changed for another slide, this function can be used to call up the name of the alternative slide and substitute it for the original. This avoids removing a slide from the Slide list and thus possible altering slide timing;
• Edit file - if graphical/audio/video editors have been specified in “Preferences” (see System Below, selecting a file and clicking on this option will open the file in the appropriate editor.
• Create Slide Style - See Creating Slide Styles