Looking for mac-friendly slide-show software

Timothy · Feb 2, 2009

I am hoping that someone can point me in the direction of affordable software similar to this .

I have found that nearly every gallery or magazine that I have dealt with wants me to submit a cd or dvd or just provide link to internet site to view images for evaluation. It is ironic to say the least, that my purely analog traditional prints require rendering on such media before they can even be considered, but that is the reality we live in. Although it is certainly easy enough to put jpegs on a cd and send it off, I would like to be able to include a little bit of editorial content and info. A pdf would be ideal because anyone can access it regardless of platform. But so far, I have not been able to determine whether I can burn a CD from any pdf I am able to make. Besides if it is neccessary to buy the full Acrobat software package from Adobe at US$600.00, it is out of the question.

I have found lots of programs to make terrific slide shows, with some added content, on the mac, and some that will even allow that to be burned to CD, but then it can only be viewed on another mac with similar software. I am looking for something that anyone can view and use a menu to selectively view.

Any suggestions ?

Lee L · Feb 2, 2009

openoffice.org is available for the Mac, and will produce a .pdf file from a spreadsheet, a text and/or image document, a graphics file, or a powerpoint type presentation. It's free and very capable. No need to pay adobe. Download the latest version, which is a native OS-X application.

You can burn a .pdf to a CD on a Mac, but I don't use Mac, so can't advise you on the exact steps for doing so.

Lee

archphoto · Feb 2, 2009

I second the use of openoffice.org Got it my self and is free to download and use.

Dave Swinnard · Feb 2, 2009

Tim, have a look at Soundslides Plus. (http://www.soundslides.com/) I don't know if you want to add sound or not, but I've seen results from students that look terrific (some with a soundtrack). It is apparently, very easy to use (...students, few complaints) They have a Mac version and the price is not out of line with what it produces.

Dave

kswatapug · Feb 2, 2009

Have a look at PhototoMovie (http://www.lqgraphics.com/software/phototomovie.php). It is the closest I've seen to ProShow in terms of its features. More than just a lilbrary of transitions, PTM permits you to control the timing of the transitions in relation to the soundtrack, include voice overs, and the kicker feature is the ability to draw paths through the image, ie. Ken Burns. For historic photos with lots of interesting details, you can zoom in on a specific element, and move through the image. Really slick and only $50!

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 2, 2009

There's also Apple's own Keynote software, which is terrific - it's much easier/better than PowerPoint for making PowerPoint slides.

rcoda · Feb 2, 2009

Doesn't iDVD (which comes with Mac OSX) do this?

aluk · Feb 2, 2009

I second Keynote, though it is not free like openoffice is.

Timothy · Feb 8, 2009

Boy, do I feel dumb ! You guys are right of course that Keynote does this and does it real well. I have Keynote and have used it several times, I just did not know that you could "export" as a pdf. Thanks for the tip.
I do not know how you got "Open Office" for free, I looked at the website, it is certainly not free. Anyway, thank goodness for Keynote.

Greg Heath · Feb 8, 2009

mac software

You mentioned Open Office not being free..

They want a user fee of a couple bucks, but if you bypass that screen, you can download it for free.

I have never used gallery software but have keynote and have done presentations in it..

I use Neo Office which is Open Office for the Mac..with no problems.

www.NeoOffice.org

Greg

Elox · Feb 8, 2009

I think GraphicConverter will let you export slideshows as movies. Price isn't bad and you get a free trial and it is nagware shareware instead of being limited.

P C Headland · Feb 9, 2009

Timothy said:
....
I do not know how you got "Open Office" for free, I looked at the website, it is certainly not free. ....

It most certainly is free - free as in beer and free as in speech. There are some companies who are selling support, and there are some that are getting dangerously close to scamming.

The site you want is www.openoffice.org.

Lee L · Feb 10, 2009

Ran across this item this morning: Dead Link Removed

Perhaps this (or similar) is what Timothy hit on. It's about web sites using openoffice as bait to phish for contact info, and the high google ad rankings they get. Interesting that the high ad ranking is tied to browsers and systems reporting that the searching computer doesn't run a variant of unix/linux. In other words, the ads target Microsoft and Mac users, not people who already use free software. Looks like there are a number of schemes afoot to profit from distribution of free software. Go to openoffice.org or neooffice.org for the real deal without cost or phishing schemes. NeoOffice is asking for donations to defray the cost of developing a version that it better integrated into OS-X (which is Apple's custom GUI on a modified version of BSD Unix).

Lee

Looking for mac-friendly slide-show software

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