Photo Story 3
By Dick Evans
PowerPoint is a popular application amongst faculty. W= e use it to create presentation to supplement our lectures. They are easy to crea= te and add a colorful visual component to our talk. Most textbook companies provide pre-made slide decks for each textbook including a number of illustrations from the book. Some use these as is and others use them as a starting point to develop their own. Those using WebCT often post the PowerPoint slide decks on a WebCT lecture or content page for students to review after the lecture.
In a nutshell, Photo Story 3 is application which allo= ws you to create a slide presentation made entirely of pictures. You may include narration and animate the pictures. This does not replace a PowerPoint slide deck. However, the files generated by Photo Story 3 are remarkably small in size making them a good fit with WebCT.
Here is what Microsoft has to say about Photo Story 3<= /p>
Bring your dig=
ital
photos to life with Photo Story 3 for Windows. Create slideshows using your
digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate
pictures. It's that easy! Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and yo=
ur
own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titl=
es
and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an
e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based
portable device.
Before installing Photo Story 3, make sure your machine meets the requirements to install. These can be found on the Microsoft site= .[1] Basically, if you are running Windows XP Photo Story 3 should install and w= ork.
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image002.gif")
You
will also need speakers connected and a microphone. Most notebook computers
come with both. Many desktops in a business environment are missing speakers
including faculty offices. However, even if you have both the speakers and =
the
microphone, I suggest obtaining a headset with a boom microphone. You will =
find
two types; one has two plugs to plug into your sound card found somewhere in
the back of your machine. These are often difficult to get to and may not be
setup. I suggest finding one that plugs into a USB port. Windows XP will
install it automatically and you probably have a front USB port to plug int=
o.
I am using The Logitech Premium USB Headset model 356A= [2]
Obtaining the
Software
Photo Story 3 is a free download from Microsoft.[3] ![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image003.gif")
=
I suggest saving it to a folder in My Documents called downloads or on your desktop. When the download is complete, locate the fil= e in your chosen folder and double-clic= k to begin the installation process.
Installation =
Notes
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image005.jpg")
=
If you see this dialog box, click Run
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image007.jpg")
=
Click Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image009.jpg")
=
Accept th= e terms, and then click Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image011.jpg")
=
Click Next to install to the default folder under Program Files
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image013.jpg")
=
Click Install=
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image015.jpg")
=
Wait a fe= w minutes while the application installs
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image017.jpg")
=
Click Finish<= /b>
Photo Story 3 is now installed and ready to use
Getting Start=
ed with
Photo Story 3
Gather your pictures and script for your narration and= plug in your headset. You are ready to create your first Photo Story.
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image019.jpg")
=
Start > All
Programs > Photo Story 3 for Windows
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image021.jpg")
=
Begin a new s=
tory
> Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image023.jpg")
=
Click Import Pictures…
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image025.jpg")
=
Select the pictures, and then click OK
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image027.gif")
=
You can move the pictures on the film strip to arrange them in the correct order= . When all pictures have been added, click Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image029.jpg")
=
If you did not use the Remove black borders… but= ton on the previous screen, this warning box gives you the option of doing so now. Click Yes.
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image031.gif")
=
Add titles to each picture, if desired. They text will appear over the pictures. You can change the look of the picture by using an Effect. This is way to create a title slide or even add PowerPoint like tex= t to slides.
Let’s use the Back button to add a second RIC sl= ide.
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image033.gif")
=
Next to return to the Add Title window and create a ti= tle slide using the tools on the page like Font and Effect
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image035.gif")
=
Click Next to continue
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image037.gif")
=
If you have not checked out your headset, click the pi= cture of the microphone and the wizard will walk you through a procedure to make = sure you can both record and playback successfully.
When ready, with your script in hand, click the record button (button with the sm= all red circle) and begin speaking. To move from one slide to another, click on= the next picture. When done, press the stop button (the black square to the right of the record button)
When finished, click the first slide on the film strip= , and then click Preview to watch the show.
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image039.gif")
=
By right-clicking each slide, you can add various effe=
cts to
the pictures. Right-click the first
slide
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image041.jpg")
=
Click Custom = Motion > Transition…
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image043.jpg")
=
Create Transitions for each slide, saving each one. Wh= en finished and previewed, click Clos= e, then on the main window, click Nex= t
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image045.jpg")
=
If desired you may add background music, then click Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image047.jpg")
=
I suggest saving for playback on your computer. If you= do not want to save in you’re my Videos folder, Browse to the desired location. The default is full screen viewing. You can save disk space and download time by clicking Settings… and reducing the video size.
Click Next
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image049.jpg")
=
Your Story is built
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image051.gif")
=
Click View yo= ur story to see the finished product.
You have successfully created a Photo Story, but you h= ave not saved the project. The end product can not be modified. You must save t= he project to be able to modify and recreate the end product
Click Save
Project…
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image053.jpg")
=
Locate a or create a folder in which to save the proje= ct, then click Save
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image055.jpg")
=
The project file is saved
![](3D"PhotoStory3_files/image057.gif")
=
Click Exit to leave Photo Story 3
The resulting file is larger than a narrated PowerPoint slide deck. Most of the time is due to the narration. However, the file generated is a .wmv file playable in any machine having Windows Media Playe= r. PowerPoint is not needed.
Click to pla= y the generated movie file
By choosing email, the file size is reduced to 740k. T= he audio quality is not as good and the picture is smaller. However, this is g= ood fit for WebCT. It gets the material to the student in a smaller file—= they see the slides and hear the narration.