Vol. 1, No. 23
Create a Real Slideshow

RealNetworks' RealSlideshow helps you create an online image-based presentation, which is viewed by your site's visitors using RealPlayer G2. This customizable slideshow can feature such extras as music and voiceovers. (A note to those using Macs: RealSlideshow runs only on Windows; we recommend checking out the Resource-section links for information on how to make a JavaScript Web slideshow. It may not be as point-and-click simple, but you'll learn quite a bit along the way.)

The term "streaming media" refers to any media (such as music, video, or slideshows) that plays as it is being downloaded. With nonstreaming media, you must first download and save a file before playing it, no matter how large the file. Streaming media is sent straight to the media player without going through the hard drive. This allows the file to commence playing shortly after it first receives information from the file's host, during which time the rest of the file is still downloading. User disadvantages of this format (it is often an advantage to the provider) include the fact that the media stream usually can't be saved by the recipient for later viewing, and that the streaming media is sometimes interrupted due to Net congestion or slow connections.

The software we're going to be working with today is a 3.3 MB download, available here. (Be careful not to click on the ubiquitous RealSlideshowPlus links, or you'll be prompted to spend $30 for an upgrade.)

Before starting, be sure you've got a few images for your display; these images need to be in JPG, GIF, PNG, or BMP format. If you want music (or another sound) to accompany your slideshow, you can use MP3 or WAV files, or record it later from a CD or a microphone.

Now comes the fun part. Upon launching the program, you'll see a timeline-dominated main window. This timeline represents the duration of your slideshow and displays what happens as the show progresses. Select "New Project" from the File menu. An untitled project will appear; name and save your new presentation now.

Populate your slideshow with images from a digital camera, a drawing program, or what have you. For optimal performance, keep these images under 100K. Want more for your show-in-progress? Select "Add Images" from the File menu. Choose the file (multiple files can be selected by holding down the Ctrl key) in the resulting dialog box and click "Open." If you've saved your images with nonintuitive names, you'll certainly find the preview window handy. As each image is loaded into RealSlideshow, it appears on the storyboard at the end. If you're the drag-and-drop type, you can forego menus and such by opening up your image folder and dragging them onto the storyboard. To remove an image from the storyboard, click on it and select "Delete" from the Edit menu.

The storyboard is aligned with the timeline so that the size of each image's area on the storyboard represents the amount of time it displays. To prevent unsightly lags, RealSlideshow will not let you display an image for less time than it takes the next image to download. To adjust image display time, click the image and then adjust the black bars that mark its start and end times. To rearrange the display order of your images, drag them to and fro until you're satisfied.

For further modifications, highlight a picture and select "Image Properties" from the Edit menu. In the resultant window, you can adjust size and compression, crop, rotate, invert, and add text to images, make custom transitions such as a dissolve, and more. You can also associate a hyperlink with an image in the Info tab by simply typing in the URL.

When you've got your images in order, complete your slideshow by adding such sound as music and/or voiceover tracks. To add a voiceover, go to the "Text and Audio Captions" tab of the Image Properties window. You'll need a microphone hooked up to your computer. Simply click "Start Recording," and speak into the mike. When finished, click "Stop Recording" and save the file. Repeat this process for each image you want to narrate. You can also use a voiceover that you've already recorded by importing the WAV file in the same dialog box.

To add background music from a CD, choose "Add Background Music" from the File menu. Load the CD into your computer, select the track, and click "Start Recording." When you're done, select "Stop Recording," and click "OK" to save the audio file you've created. The music will appear in the main window under your images. If you want to use music from an MP3 or WAV file, go to the same "Add Background Music" window; instead of recording, however, you must select a file to use in the lower part of the window.

You can add a title to your slideshow by choosing "Project Properties" from the Edit menu and following the instructions. The same dialog box allows you to edit other aspects of your slideshow's appearance, such as where text appears, how large different regions of the presentation should be, and whether you want to include a logo and/or text that will remain constant throughout each slide.

When you're satisfied with your work, click the "Generate" button and choose a filename. Several different files will be generated and saved — all of these comprise the final presentation. It is the .smil file that launches and controls all of the rest — to view the slideshow, you'll want to open that file with your RealPlayer. You can click the "Play" button to do so automatically from within RealSlideshow.

Even uploading is simple: When you click the "Send" button, the Send Wizard appears and follows your directions to upload all of the slideshow files to your Web site, as well as a premade launch page. If you want your users to launch your slideshow from a pre-existing page, just include a link to the .ram file that RealSlideshow uploads to your site.

HINTS, POINTERS, AND TIPS 'O THE TRADE:

If you know what kind of Internet connection your slideshow's audience is using, you can customize it for them in the Project Properties window's "Advanced" tab. If you're unsure, it's best to check multiple options.

Remember that only people with RealPlayer G2 can view your slideshow. You may want to inform your visitors of this requirement and provide a download link. If you think it's likely that a large portion of your audience won't have it, perhaps a simple JavaScript slideshow would be better. See the final link below for more details.

When you're caught short, a cut potato makes a great white- or blackboard eraser. If it starts to lose its effectiveness, just give it a good rinse.

RESOURCES:

RealNetworks

Website Abstraction: Creating an Image Slide Show

Webmonkey: Streaming Media Update

Handcrafted Archive