FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A SPECIAL NOTE:  The following questions and answers will give you a more detailed understanding of what we provide for you but if you find them too technical, you need not be concerned, as all of our packages include one to one consultation with you by telephone. 

I am not sure what you mean by digital slides. Can you explain?

We refer to a photo taken by a digital camera and put into a Slide Show as a "Digital Slide." These are not the same as  film slides which were viewed from a projector onto a screen. Digital slides are played on your DVD player to your TV or on your computer.

All of my photos were taken with film and not with a digital camera. Can you still produce a slide show for me?

Yes we can. We simply need to scan your photos and reproduce them as digital slides.

When I receive my Slide Show, how do I view it?

Your Slide Show is produced on a DVD like you would rent from Blockbuster or Rogers. Simply place it in your DVD player and watch it on your TV.  You may also play it on your computer if you have a DVD player and some speakers.

How do you adjust the slides for maximum colour and contrast?

We take each one of your slides and enhance it by adjusting the brightness & contrast and hue & saturation. Then we add sharpening filters to your picture. Notice that in the enhanced photo on the right, the colours stand out much better, the picture is crisper and we have removed the lamp on the wall. We have also added a slightly darker colour to the steps enhancing the overall picture and we cropped out some of the less interesting foreground. Your original digital media is not altered. All our work completed on copies. Unlike film copies, there is no loss in quality.

How long will my Slide Show last?

That depends on the number of slides you place into your Slide Show.  Use this rule of thumb: The number of slides multiplied by 6 seconds and divided by 60. For example, if you had 200 slides multiply by 6 and then divide by 60. This will give you a 20 minute show, approximately. 

If your Slide Show is too long, you may bore your viewers. We have found that a Side Show that runs between 18 and 20 minutes is ideal, however, if it is just for you, you may wish it to be longer.

Why does it take 6 seconds to show each slide?

It takes time to view a slide and appreciate its beauty. Additionally, there is a short time that one slide transitions to another. We have found that 6 seconds per slide gives you and your family and friends enough time to view the photograph fully before the next one begins. You may also pause the slide should you wish to discuss it.

What is a Transition?

You may not realize it but every movie or TV show has them. They are short pauses that occur between scenes. They fade in or fade out, fade to black, whirl around or do a lot of other fun things.

What is the difference between a Title and a Caption?

A title usually appears at the beginning of a Slide Show or at significant breaks during it. For instance, you may wish to have a new title for each country you visited on your trip. A title may appear on a photo or on a slide of its own. A Caption appears in what we call a "Speech Bubble" similar to what you might see in the comics section of your local newspaper. A Caption might list all of the names of your fellow travelers or it might be either a funny or serious comment you wish to insert.

       Title on a Photo Slide                             Title on a black background                   Caption in a green Speech Bubble    

                        We can use any colour or font you wish for Titles or Captions. These are only examples.

Can you please explain as much as you can about Music in my Slide Show?

Music adds much to your slide show. On our own personal vacation Slide Shows, we usually buy some music we enjoy from each of the countries we visit but, we also have our own music that sometimes becomes part of the show. Since virtually every CD is copyrighted by the writer, we ask that you to provide music to us and we will add it to your show. 

Since you now know how to determine the approximate length of your Slide Show from a previous question and answer,(6 seconds per slide), you need to determine the music length of each song. Don' worry if it is too long as we will adjust this for you. Look on the cover of the CD or the actual CD itself. Most have times in minutes and seconds and these are usually accurate. If in doubt, give us more than you think you need.

Sometimes, you may want an old movie or TV theme and we can usually provide that to you. On one of our trips to Costa Rica, I added the Gilligan's Island theme to our river boat trip and even changed the name of a boat we saw to the "Minnow." Please ask us if this is possible. Use your imagination. Of course, if we see something that we feel you might enjoy, we will contact you to ask.

I have a widescreen TV. Can you produce a show in widescreen?

All of our shows can be produced in either widescreen or regular television formats. You may choose either.

Is there a deposit?

We ask for a $50 deposit to proceed on any slide show production.  

How do I pay for my Slide Show?

Once you have discussed your Slide Show with us by telephone, we will instruct you to make a deposit using our secure web site. We will then tell you how we will obtain your photographs and music CD's.  Once your slide show is complete, we will notify you to complete the purchase by again using our secure web site. You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, Amex or PayPal. We also accept cash and certified cheques.  

What happens to my original photographs and music CD's?

Although we prepare duplicates of all your photographs and use only these to make your slide show, we suggest you make copies of your originals and supply us only a back-up copy of your slides. The  photographs and music you send to us are returned to you unchanged.   

I have another question but, I don't see it here.

Click on "Contact us" on the last tab at the top of this page and sen us an email. We will respond to you promptly.