Video files, CD and DVD discs

To create a video CD or DVD from your slide show project, use Video Generator. This plug-in is available as a separate file on our web site or may be included in the program installation file. Video Generator appears as the Video and Video CD/DVD items under the Tools menu. The plug-in can burn VCD/SVCD and DVD video discs and create MPEG VCD/SVCD/DVD-compatible and WMV video files from your slide show projects. Then you can import the output .mpg file(s) to your CD/DVD burning software and burn a video CD/DVD. Video CDs and DVDs are playable on most DVD players.

To generate a video file:

1. Create a new slide show project or open an existing one.
2. On the Tools menu, click Video.
3. Select a base folder where you want to save your video files (by default, the program uses My Documents\My SlideShows\Video folder).
4. Select the video format.
5. Select NTSC (North America and Japan) or PAL (Europe and Asia) video format.
6. Click Start.
7. After the creation process is completed, click Explore to open the folder that the video file was created in. To open the video file in your media player, double-click on it.

To record a VCD, SVCD or DVD video disc:

1. Create a new slide show project or open an existing one.
2. On the Tools menu, click Video CD/DVD.
3. Select Create new video from the current project or Use existing VCD/SVCD/DVD video file if you want to burn a video disc from an earlier created .mpg video file.
4. Select NTSC (North America and Japan) or PAL (Europe and Asia) video format.
5. Select a CD recorder in the Recorders list. Insert a blank CD-R/RW for a VCD or SVCD disc or a blank DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW for a DVD disc. The program can erase CD-RW, DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewritable discs.
6. Click Start.

Note

The build-in CD/DVD burning functions may be incompatible with your CD/DVD burner drive. In this case you can create VCD/SVCD or DVD video files by the Tools | Video menu and use your CD/DVD burning software to record VCD/SVCD or DVD discs. For example, Nero software can create a Video CD or Super Video CD compilation and import your .mpg video files.

Video Options

• TV sets crop some border space when you play VCD or DVD discs. By the TV Cropping option you can shrink the frame and prevent cropping the picture. Use the Border color button to select the color around the picture frame.
   
• Computer screens have aspect ratio = 1:1,  TV sets = 4:3 or 16:9.
   
• The Desaturate images option decreases picture color intensity.

Notes

• DirectX v8.1 or higher must be installed. You can download it from Microsoft's website.
   
• DirectX v9 or higher must be installed if your project contains WMA audio files.
   
• MIDI files are not supported.