Creating Your First DVD Using 3D-Album

BEGIN BUILDING YOUR FIRST ALBUM SEGMENT

Start your 3D-Album program.

Choose the CREATE tab, and choose your first STYLE. In the FOLDER input box, browse to your first set of pictures (.../PROJECT/PICTURES_SET_01). Choose the album options/timing/settings that you want to use. As you make changes, you might want to view the album again from the beginning. To do this, click on the green/gray circle button. Click it once or twice so that it turns from gray to green. This will cause the album preview to start over again. Make sure that you have clicked the "automatic mode", so that your pictures will be displayed automatically without any keyboard or clicking being required.

Keep in mind that some styles (like walkthroughs and games) are not appropriate for DVDs or videos. As you work on each segment, keep in mind that when you mix the segments together, some styles will "lose" or not show the last 1-3 pictures as the segments ends (or as the album transitions to the next segment). Be aware that some 3Dtime styles (such as 3DTCOMPOSE) are not meant to be mixed together with other styles. Only use them if you plan to create individual albums, converting each of them to a video file, and then using a separate video editor to put them all together (which allows you to have more control over the music, transitions, etc.) See Problems, Tips, and Solutions for more on walkthroughs and how you can use the 3DTCOMPOSE style to get around this.

Be sure that you've set your album to only run once. In most versions, there is a setting/icon in the CREATE folder which tells 3D-Album to either loop the photos (go back to the first photo after the last photo is displayed), or to stop after one pass of the photos. The trick is to position your mouse over the toggle icon. Text will then pop up telling you what clicking the icon will accomplish/do. If the icon has an arrow pointing straight down, then the text will say "toggle to enable photo loop..." This means that the album is presently set to play only once. This is what you want. If the icon has a circular arrow running around it's outside edge, then the text will say "toggle to disable photo loop..." which means that the album is presently set to loop over and over again, forever. Other icons all work pretty much the same way. The 3D-Times styles have an additional QUIT condition setting that you will probably need to change. In the GENERAL tab, there is a QUIT condition box. If the "infinite" is checked, then the album will loop repeatedly. You'll have to decide which setting to use. Unless you're trying to match the style to some music, I would recommend quitting either after scrolling, animation, or photo - whichever is appropriate. I usually choose photo.

Just to the left of the photo loop icon is the icon that lets you choose to show the photos in either random order or in the selected order. I personally always use the selected order. If you move your cursor over the icon, it should say "Toggle to play the photos in a random order". Don't click it. If it says "Toggle to play the photos in their selected order" then you should click it.

Another useful icon to check out is the one that says "photo quality vs performance control". Set it for the highest quality that your system will support.

If you want to add music to your album, now's the time. I recommend adding the music to the first album segment, even if you plan to build a multi-segment album. See "Adding more then one song" in the Problems, Tips, and Solutions section for how to add music. Be aware that downloaded music may play on your PC, but may not play when added to your album. Don't worry about the other album segments. When we mix the segments together we will tell 3D-Album to play the music across all the segments.

If you intend to create a DVD, then you should make sure the safe TV view is turned on (there will be a solid gray box around the edge of the display window. Only what is inside it will be visible on a TV screen. The icon to turn it on/off is right below the preview window.

OK, You're ready to Finish your first album segment.