 Users of Genuine Microsoft Windows operating systems enjoy a host of added benefits—including everything from exclusive product upgrades to special discounts and breaking news announcements. But perhaps the most valued bonus offered comes in the form of free software programs. One such program is Photo Story 3, which allows you to share your snapshots as striking slideshow presentations complete with animated special effects and sound elements. Using Photo Story 3, you can touch up treasured photos by reducing red eye; cropping images; producing a working story outline; and adding attention-getting soundtracks, spoken narration, or clever captions. These catchy creations, ready to distribute via e-mail, the Internet, CD, or mobile phone, are a great gift idea and can be a way to reconnect with friends and family members. On This PageChoosing a theme
Every special occasion deserves a photo story. And Photo Story 3 lets you improve your photo presentations by constructing them from groups of related images to tell a more satisfying tale. Here are a few sample themes that provide a good basis to build your story around: | • | Birthdays | | • | Graduations | | • | Sports | | • | Vacations | | • | Children | | • | Weddings | | • | Holidays | | • | Family reunions |
Building your story
Thanks to the simple, mouse-driven menu interface, constructing a Photo Story is fun and easy. Follow the steps below to get started: 1. | Transfer images from digital camera or scanner to your Windows XP-based PC. | 2. | Load Photo Story 3 and click Begin a New Story.  | 3. | Click Import Pictures and choose the photos you'd like to include. | 4. | Select pictures by clicking individual snapshots. Adjust red-eye/color levels and crop, edit, or rotate images using the buttons located just below the main picture display. Then drag and drop photos on the filmstrip to change the order in which they're displayed. Click Next.  | 5. | Select a picture from the filmstrip, then type in a caption. You can also add special effects to each photo by selecting them from the Effect drop-down menu. Click Next.  | 6. | To test sound settings, click the microphone icon. To record narration for each photo, click the picture, and then click the Record button (the one with the red dot). Click the Stop button when finished.  | 7. | Click Customize Motion to add zooming, panning, and transition effects to each photo. Use the Preview options to test your settings before saving. When finished, click Save, and then click Next. | 8. | Add background tunes by clicking Create Music, or click Select Music to pick from your collection of digital audio files. Click Next.  | 9. | Decide how and where you'd like to archive your story, click Settings to choose video resolution and quality, then specify a file name to store it under. Click Next. Congratulations—your slideshow is ready!  |
Hints and tips
Here are several handy suggestions to help you both maximize your Photo Story 3 experience and thrill viewing audiences alike: | • | Remove black borders: Eliminating the black border that surrounds certain images helps to better highlight the picture contained within. Try out the various auto-removal options in Photo Story 3 to see how you can obtain optimal results. | | • | Add fonts and colored lettering: Picture titles and captions can be added anywhere—top, bottom, left, or right of the image. Use fonts and colored lettering to help them further stand out on the page. | | • | Experiment with effects: Turn photos into eye-catching works of art by employing digital effects to make them look like pencil drawings, watercolor portraits, or sepia-toned antique snapshots. | | • | Insert music and motion: Create more dramatic slideshows by introducing sweeping soundtracks, attention-getting audio cues, close-up effects, and circular or diagonal transitions. | | • | Save disk space: Photo Story 3 creations require very little storage space to begin with. However, video quality settings do affect file sizes—the higher the slideshow resolution, the more disk space is required. If you intend to distribute a photo story via e-mail, personal digital assistant (PDA), or smart phone, save it at a lower resolution; it doesn't need to be as sharp-looking as it would if you were showing it on a desktop, and the smaller file size will make it easier to view and send. | | • | Speak your mind: Remember, this is your story, so feel free to add clever jokes, witty commentary, or personal insight and anecdotes where appropriate. Nothing helps observers connect with a tale like hearing or seeing it expressed in your own words. |
 | Scott Steinberg
Get Rich Playing Games author, freelance writer, and radio/TV host Scott Steinberg has covered technology for 400+ outlets from CNN to the LA Times, NY Times, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and TV Guide. For more of his insights, visit him at scottsteinberg.com or gadgetexpert.net, where he highlights the hottest new gadgets and games.
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