Photo Story 3 for Windows®

Why use Photo Story 3 for Windows®?

Microsoft® Photo Story allows you to create slideshows showing images with the added advantage of text, recorded narration to each slide and inserted music.

A completed slideshow can be saved as a movie to be played on a computer or it can be transferred to a PDA (Portable Digital Assistant) or Smartphone.

How to create a Photo Story

1. Open the program. Start > All programs > Photostory 3 for Windows.
   
   
2. Make sure that Begin a new story is checked. Click Next.
   
   
3. The Import and arrange your pictures dialogue box will appear. Click on Import Pictures and navigate to the E-Guides USB memory stick: Content creation > Resource Bank > images. A choice of images is available. Your pictures will be inserted into the filmstrip at the bottom of the dialogue box.

Make sure that you are in the thumbnail view so that you can see the images.

Change to thumbnail view here.

To select more than one picture, hold down the Ctrl key and click on required images. (Don’t worry if they are the wrong way round, the images can be rotated in the Photo Story program.)  Insert all of the images you want to use. They can be re-ordered later.

4. Save your project at this stage by clicking on the Save Project button. Do this regularly! It is saved by default in My Videos. Specify if you wish to save it elsewhere, for example, a folder in My Documents.
   
   
5. You can edit the slideshow. If you want to move the pictures within the slideshow
    click on the left/right arrows or delete an unwanted picture.  Some images may have black borders because they are not the right size and proportions for the software.
   
   You can click on Remove black borders and the program will preview each image with the borders removed. You decide if it is appropriate to remove the black borders.

Beneath the main picture review pane you will find a toolbar.
The back and forward arrows at either end will take you through the slides on the filmstrip.

The tools in between allow you to:

6. Click Next to Add a title to your pictures. You can now add text to a picture.
   
   
7. Select your picture, type your text into the box and select where you want the text to be positioned. You can also change the font and colour.
   
   
   
   
   Repeat the process for each picture that requires text.

In the Add a title to your picture dialogue box you can see an Effect button below the main picture. Click on the drop down menu if you wish to add an effect at this point.

8. Click Next, to take you to the Narrate your pictures and customise motion dialogue box. Click on the first picture where you wish to add a narration. The script box is where you can type what you want to say. This is a very useful prompt.

To record, you will need a microphone plugged into your computer. When you are ready to record click the red button: Record Narration. Stop by clicking on the blue square.

9. Click Next to take you to Add Background Music dialogue box. You can choose to add music to a slide or slides. Select music saved on your computer or use the Create Music facility and add some synthetic sounds.
   
   
10. Click Next to take you to Save your story dialogue box.  You will be presented with a choice of ways to save your story. First select Save project (bottom left) and then Save your story for playback on your computer. Click Next to view your photo story.
    
    
11. Two versions of the file is saved – one as a project so you can return and edit the Photostory, and the other as a Windows® Movie Video (wmv) that can be played using Windows® Media Player, Real Player or QuickTime software.

Now that you have tried a simple Photo Story why not create another? Use your own photos or return to the slideshow you have created and use more of the editing functions shown below.

Additional features of Photo Story

You can add Transition effects to your pictures by returning to Narrate your pictures and Customise motion dialogue box. Click on the Customise Motion button beneath the preview pane. Click the Motion and Duration tab and/or the Transition tab to set how you want to pan or zoom in and out of your photographs, and add your own transitions and timings.

You can add your own music by selecting genre, style, tempo and intensity in the Add background music dialogue box. Preview and make any necessary alterations until you are happy with the result.

Inserting a Photo Story into PowerPoint® or Word.

It is possible to play a Photo Story 3 in PowerPoint® and even in a Word document. In PowerPoint® the video can be inserted, Insert > Movies and Sounds > From File and Browse to find the Photo Story you have created. The movie will play during a Slideshow presentation. 

In a Word document go to Insert > Object. Select Media Clip from the Object list. Make sure the display as icon checkbox is not ticked. An icon appears on the Word document and a toolbar appears at the top of the page. Go to Insert Clip > Direct Show. Make sure that All Files is selected in the Files of type drop down menu. Browse to find the Photo Story file you have created and insert it into your Word document. Double-click on the video placeholder to start playing the video.

Suggestions for Use:

The following are examples of learning materials produced using Microsoft® Photostory 3 for Windows®.

Further resources:

• You may download the free software from the Microsoft website
  

• A useful site for beginners is the windows photo story website. This answers frequently asked questions and offers tips and advice

• Use the photographs you have taken and/or the photographs within the resource bank on your computer or on the Internet. Try aclimages.net or www.freedigitalphotos.net

• TeachNet

• Digital Storytelling.