FAQ
What is a DVD Photomontage?
A "DVD Photomontage" and "DVD Video Montage" are
simply other names for what is referred to as a "DVD Slideshow". You might
also hear them referred to as a video slideshow, a photo memories DVD, picture
slideshow, photo slideshow, wedding montage, wedding slideshow, birthday
slideshow, birthday party montage, bar/bat mitzvah montage, bar/bat mitzvah
slideshow, etc. -- but they're all basically the same thing, with their own
unique flare!
How long is the DVD Photomontage?
This is entirely up to you and how many pictures
you choose to include. If you only have 100 photos, a slide show of the photos
will be roughly 8-10 minutes. 400 photos can last over 30 minutes. We are of
course completely flexible to your requests, and every situation is unique.
DVD technology allows Photos To Music to include up to 2 hours of high quality
content per disc. If your DVD Photomontage includes many fancier features, you
may get less content on the disc.
Can the DVD Photomontage be played
on a computer/laptop?
Yes. Photos To Music provides you with a DVD,
which can be played in both a standalone DVD player (like what you might
find in a home theater system) as well as a computer's. So if your
computer/laptop has a DVD drive, it should play your DVD Memory Photomontage.
What kind of photos can I use?
We can work with photographic prints up to 8" x
10" in size (3 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7 are all just fine). Paper prints
must first be scanned, and you can save some money by scanning these photos
yourself (if you have a scanner). Digital photos from your digital
camera or from a CD-ROM are also acceptable, and there is no need to scan
digital photos.
Is background music included?
Yes, We
can incorporate popular music from CDs, which you already own. If there's a
special song you'd like to incorporate but you don't own the CD, you can buy
it through a reputable music download company such as I-tunes.
Will my DVD play in my DVD player?
We
use the DVD+R format, which works with 95+% of all DVD players.
How much time does Photos To Music
need to prepare the DVD Photomontage?
Standard turnaround time is typically 3-5 days,
but rush processing is available by request. Occasionally, during peak
periods, it may be slightly longer. We will let you know if this is the case
Each DVD takes 3-5 days from date we receive your
pictures to finish your slideshow and send it back to you. Please e-mail me
with any questions, concerns or requests. We are extremely flexible and
welcome any input the customer has. We want this to be your priceless DVD with
all of YOUR ideas incorporated to make it that much more personal.
We incorporate the elements and ideas that you
provide, so your photo slideshow will be custom-made and perfect for your
special event! The result can be a classic picture slideshow with smooth
fades to a fun trip down memory lane with amazing transitions. We do keep in
contact while making the slideshow, if there are any suggestions we have or
for some reason something will not work with your slideshow, we will be sure
you are aware of any changes made and seek your approval for these changes.
I need my slideshow to be
completed by a certain date, how long does the slideshow creation process
take?
Once
we receive your photos, the process only takes two to five days. We then mail
your Professional Slideshow and everything else you have sent us (photos,
music, video, etc) which takes about 3-5 days. So the entire process takes
about 5-10 (five-ten) days (slideshow creation, and mailing). If you need a
slideshow created in less then two weeks, arrangements can be made, contact us
for a quote.
Do you accommodate rush orders?
Yes! A "rush order" is an order that must be
filled in less than 7 days. If you need to place a "rush" order, the turn
around time is approximately 2-3 business days from the time your photos are
received. Rush services are available for an additional $28 plus shipping
costs.
Could you tell me a little more
information about your process?
Here is how our process works:
1st step: Fill out the Slideshow Contract
The slideshow contract will get
all the information we need from you about how you would like your slideshow
created. Including what songs you want to go with certain pictures, what text
you would like in your title pages, what additional add-ons you would like
that are not part of our standard package etc.
2nd step: Mail your
Slideshow Contract, photos, and music to Photos to Music, along with a check
or money order. If your photos are digital then you can send them to us on a
cd.
3rd step: We create your
slideshow and contact you if we have any questions.
4th step: We mail you your
Professional Slideshow and everything else you have sent us (photos, music,
etc).
The entire slideshow creation
process takes no longer then 3-5 days!!!
How many photos should I use in my
slideshow?
We recommend between 50 and 200 photos.
How long will/should my slideshow
be?
A
typical slideshow is about 10-30 minutes long. We can extend or shorten any
slideshow by increasing or decreasing the duration each photo is shown. But we
recommend 10-30 minutes for the total length of the entire slideshow.
Do you create Photo to DVD
transfers?
Yes
we can create your Photo to DVD transfer (i.e. DVD slideshow). This way you
can play your slideshow on a DVD player.
What are some songs suggestions
for my slideshow?
A
slideshow can have any song in it. Please view our Song Selection Suggestion
pages.
My photos are digital, can those
be used for a slideshow?
If
your photos are digital, fill out the section of our Slideshow Contract for
digital photos. You can save your digital photos onto a CD-R and send them to
us with all of your information for your slideshow.
Which photos should I choose
to include in my project?
You
may already know the exact pictures you'd like to include in your DVD
Slideshow, but here are some additional tips that may help.
Choose pictures that are candid and show
character.
Choose a mix between close ups and group photos
Choose photos that show the most important stages
in someone's life
Choose more horizontal shots than vertical shots.
The reason for this is that TV screens are wider than they are high, so
horizontal shots fill the screen and look much better. Vertical shots will
appear on the TV screen with black borders on each side (or will need dramatic
cropping). There's not a problem with the borders, but too many vertical shots
one after the other won't be as pleasing to look at as horizontal ones.
Stay away from photos that are too small or out of
focus
What are special
effect/transitions?
Special
effect transitions are the way the slideshow moves from one picture to the
next. The song you choose typically dictates which transition effect you'll
use. With a slower song, a simple fade in/fade out usually looks the best. For
an up tempo song, a little more livelier transitions may go well. If you don't
specify which you'd like, we will choose which looks the best.
How many photos do I need to
make up a 5, 10 or a 20-minute production?
�
50 photos result approximately in a 6 to 8 minute production.
� 100 photos result approximately
in an 8 to 12 minute production.
� 150 photos can be 12 to 14
minutes long.
� 500 photos - more than an hour
� 1000 photos - two hours
What size pictures can I
send?
We
can work with any size pictures up to 8x10.
Can I scan the pictures
myself and send them to you?
You
sure can! In fact we offer a discount off of each additional picture that is
already scanned. You may scan them and burn them to a CD and mail it to us.
If you are scanning the photos yourself, please
keep the following in mind. The higher the resolution, the better your photos
will look on the screen, so up to 300 pixels/inch is great. Unfortunately,
less than 100 pixels/inch will result in a very grainy picture. You need to
save the images as JPEGS, please give them an identifying name or number that
incorporates the order that you want your photos presented such as img001.jpg
Should the photos I send be
vertical or horizontal?
Horizontal
photographs or landscape photos will look the best on a TV screen. Vertical
photos still look good, but there is a black border around the photos when
shown on the TV. It's usually best to space your vertical photos throughout
the show if possible.
Can I send photos to you
still in their frames or scrapbooks?
Please
remove photos from the frames or scrapbooks prior to sending to us.
Will you digitally crop my
photos?
Typically
we will not crop each of the photos unless it makes sense to for a better
viewing experience
How should I choose the order
for my photos?
We
will prepare your project in the exact order that you send the photos to us.
You can choose to organize them in two different ways.
For wedding Slideshows, most people will show
pictures of the groom growing up, pictures of the bride growing up, and then
pictures of them together.
For other pictures you could do:
1. Chronologically, for example:
baby pictures, childhood pictures, high school, college, dating.
Or
2. By theme example: eating,
moving, vacationing, Mother's side of the family, Father's side of the family,
cars he has owned, fancy dresses she has worn etc.
How long will each photo
appear on the screen?
Each
photo will appear for between 4-10 seconds, 8 seconds is normally the most
suitable but this can vary depending on the nature of the photos, the tempo of
the music and the special effect transitions we're using.
How should I choose my start
and end photos?
Make
these your very best shots, as often they will appear in the screen the
longest, or will have titles overlaid on them.
I'm worried about sending my
photos, how do I know you will return my photos in the same condition as you
received them?
We
can understand why you would be worried, because we know how important your
photos are. It's because we know how irreplaceable photos and the memories
they evoke are that we treat your photos as if they are our own. To this day,
we have never damaged or lost any photo entrusted to us. We guarantee your
photos will be returned to you in the same condition as we received them,
unless something catastrophic happens that is out of our control.
To put you further at ease, we employ all manners
of precautions in our studios to protect your photos (including no liquids or
food allowed in the work room). Due to the shipping process being totally
outside our control, we do need to ask you to sign a waiver on our order form
that absolves us of any responsibility for your materials during the shipping
process.
How do I send my pictures to you?
Many
clients prefer to scan their own photos or have them scanned at a local photo
lab (Wal-Mart's photo labs usually have the best prices), to avoid having to
send their pictures through the mail. We accept photos in .jpg or .bmp format.
Giving us digital photographs is often more convenient and will accelerate the
design of your video album. If you do not have a scanner or other means of
having your photos scanned, we will be happy to scan your photographs for just
$0.75/photo (Seventy-Five cents).
How should I protect my
photos and music while they're in transit?
Package
your photos and CD music well using hard cardboard on all sides to provide a
solid shell for your photos and CD music. We also recommend you use a plastic
Ziploc bag to contain each section of photographs and CD music to protect them
from any spillage during the delivery process.
Do I have to manually forward
the slides?
No,
once you press the play button on your DVD player, the slides will move
through on their own.
Can my old black and white
photographs be transferred to DVD?
Certainly!
We advise transferring as many of your old photographs to DVD to digitally
archive them.
Will you return my
photographs?
Yes,
your original source material (music & photos) will be returned to you with
your order.
I have some specific
questions that I want answered. How can I go about it?
You
can e-mail us, or call us and we will be glad to answer all your questions.
What if I don't organize my
materials?
Please
try and organize your material before you send them, as it will make for the
best slideshow.
Only you know the order you'd like the photos
shown. However, if you don't organize them, we'll try our best and generally
will try to place them in chronological order.
Can't I create my own DVD
Slideshows at home?
Yes.
Many people are interested in the art of home based videography and digital
imaging. Most new computers today come with rudimentary tools that are capable
of creating a digital video production of some type. However to produce the
quality of production that you will receive from us, you would need to invest
a lot of time and expense that you may not wish to undertake.
Will you keep a copy of my
DVD?
We
will keep the master of your DVD on file for 1 year, for purposes of
reordering unless you specify that we don't.
What about Photo Retouching?
We
will do some minor photo retouching of digital images to enhance the Photos To
Music experience. This will include color correction, cropping, straightening,
and enhancing the detail and lighting when needed. This will be done as part
of the service to insure that your DVD Slideshow is a truly moving experience.
Can I pick my own music?
You
can pick your own music for inclusion on the DVD. To include copyrighted music
you must own the original recording to be used in your production. Use of the
track will be covered under your fair use rights of ownership. If you
don't own the CD of the music selections that you choose, you can purchase the
music selections from a reputable online music download site.
Can I use copy-written music?
It
is safe to say almost all music has a copyright. In order for us to use
copy-written music in your video album, you must supply the music selections
that you own or you can purchase a copy of the music selections from a
reputable online music download site. Contact us for more information.
Can I order additional copies
of my video?
Yes.
At the time of purchase you can order additional copies of the DVD We will
also keep products on file for 1 year and you may reorder any time during that
period.
How do I pay? What payment methods
are accepted?
We
accept credit card payments, PayPal, personal checks and money orders.
I do not live in your area. Can I
still use your service?
Yes!
Most of our clients live several states away! Much of our correspondence takes
place online. We ship your DVD Memory Photomontage immediately following
completion, giving you time to review our work before presenting the video.
Where can I view a full-length
sample?
We
have created several "mini" DVD Memory Photomontages. To view the mini
versions, click on any one of our samples.
Can you incorporate my ideas into
my album to make it fit my occasion?
Yes!
We will make every effort possible to create your slideshow with your personal
touch in mind! Contact
us through e-mail or phone to
discuss your idea.
Can I get reprints of the digital
photos?
Yes!
We will send you a CD-R with your digitized photographs! Take this CD to any
photo lab and have reprints made in any size. These photos can be viewed,
edited, and printed on your home computer. Each Archive Photo CD is shipped
back to you with your paper photographs and DVD Memory Photomontage.
What are captions?
You
can add captions to your DVD Memory Photomontage, to create a storyline.
Captions: Words or phrases presented during
a certain photo
Title: Wording before a group
of photographs.
Caption example: Photo
#010: Eric & Corina's First Date
Tite example: Photo #001: Eric & Corina's
Becoming One
I have boxes and boxes of special
photographs. How do I choose just a few?
I know your task seems challenging. What I would
recommend is that you first decide, before you even OPEN a box, what exactly
you want your montage to depict. Then open the first box. Select photos that
stir emotion. Keep pulling photos out until you have twice the number you want
combined into your DVD Memory Photomontage. Then, put the other boxes away.
Sure there are probably many other great photos still undiscovered, but if you
have selected photos that are special and elicit feelings, you will be happy
with your montage. Put all the photos on a table and look at each one for
quality. Are the faces clear? Free from shadows? These will make the best
choices. Is there a variety of expression, of action? If the DVD Memory
Photomontage features just one person, do they look the same in every photo or
do you see differences? Choose your final photographs and send them by one of
the methods listed. If I have any questions, or feel you should select
different photos I will contact you! Don't worry -- I have only happy
customers!
What kind of images should I
include in my montage?
First, the images should not be
under copyright. We cannot use photos with "copyright" written on their front
or backs without the photographer's permission. Please only send images you
own the rights to, or your copyrighted images with a signed release from the
photographer. If you wish, we can print the photographer's name in fine print
on the edge of the printed montage.
When selecting photos to include in your montage,
remember that out-of-focus photos will still be blurry in the montage. Send
the best of what you have available. You can provide Photos to Music with
photographic "paper" prints or with digital photos.