Make your still images come to life (Windows Movie Maker)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Windows Movie Maker
Date:	20/07/09 (188 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: User friendly, lots of choice and some great results can be had

Disadvantages: none to speak of for me

Windows movie maker is an application which usually comes as standard with Windows Operating systems.
It is, as the title states, a program which will allow you to make your own movies/slideshows out of either still pictures of even movies themselves.

Different versions can be used on all Windows OSs, such as XP or Vista, and it mainly comes as a package on most PCs with Windows OS installed.
But if it is not installed then the 7MB application can be downloaded for free from web sites such as www.download.com.

** WHAT IS IT THEN..?

When you open the program you are met with an almost self explanatory screen, the 'top row' gives you options such as ...

* File... open files, start new file, import from a camcorder and save
* Edit... redo/undo, cut/copy/paste and remove, or clear entire project.
* View... Choice of storyboard or time line, zoom options, preview monitor and change look of task sidebar.
* Tools... make auto movie, title and credit options, effects and audio selection.
* Clip... Audio, video trimming, split screen.
* Play... Play, stop, rewind etc... or play project
* Help... Information and help

The side 'Task' bar gives some of the same style of options as the 'top row', but in a slightly easier way of understanding...

* Import... Import from digital camera, video, pictures or audio.
* Edit... Edit project with effects, transitions and title credits
* Publish to... allows you to save you project to either your PC, CD or even e-mail.

* HOW DO I USE IT THEN..?

It is so easy to use and will take about five minutes to understand the way it works.
Firstly, let us say we are using some images that you have taken on your camera and are sat on you PC, and now you want to make a rather splendid slide show to impress your friends.
Open the application and click on picture on the 'task' side (on the left).
You then 'import' your chosen images into your project by clicking on 'Import picture' (side task bar), and locating the wanted images.
Then it is a simple matter of 'dragging' the images into the storyboard, (bottom of screen), adding a single image or multiple images at one time.
Once the images are on the storyboard you can then decide to add opening title credits and ending credits, (click on Titles and credits in tasks option) and adding 'effects' and 'transitions' between your images, making your 'project' exactly how you want it.
Then you have the option of adding some audio onto your project by clicking on Audio or music, (although do try to make the music about the same length as your project).
Then, once you're happy with the entire thing, you can save it to either your PC, CD or just save it to continue with later.

NOTE: you can preview your project at anytime by using the 'screen' controls on the right, where your images appear.
And, you can also change the time that your images and transitions are shown by clicking on 'options' in the 'tools' category.


** MY VERDICT...

It may not be the best of its kind on the market but it is still a cracking little program which is so easy to use and to top it all it comes with all Windows operating systems, which is a bonus.
Once you open the application and have a quick fiddle with it you will soon realise how easy it is to take your photographs and turns them into a 'slide-show' movie which can look a little on the Hollywood side, (almost anyway).
And it is so easy to use that you granny will be hogging it for hours whilst she makes a DVD of the grandkids.

I know it comes as standard with Windows OS's and is therefore well worth having, but actually using as it makes those once boring looking images look so brilliantly special once you've spent time working on a project, creating your very own show which can easily be burnt onto disc by either the application itself or by saving your project to your PC and using a preferred disc burner to do so.
And I do know that there are a lot of applications out there which can do a better job than this but as this comes with you system and is so easy to use, it is well worth using, especially with the kids, to create some simple 'slide-shows' of your favourite pictures.

Personally, I often use it to create slide shows of photographs I have taken, mainly of my kids, but some scenic shots as well, and the results can be quite impressive indeed with the added transitions and effects, with a little music playing gently in the background.
But I have also used it to help with my kids with school homework projects by creating some, may I say, fine little 'cartoon type' sketches involving some little 'plasticine' figures and even my daughters dolls, simply by changing the clip and transition time to the lowest level so the images roll along almost faultless, (think Wallace and Grommet but on a much lower budget and a little more 'tacky' looking). Believe me, the results are quite comical indeed, even if it does take a hell of a long time to take the initial photographs, but it certainly does bring some laughs when you involve the kids. (One warning though, do NOT move the camera whilst taking the pictures as this will ruin the whole project).

I have made many little movies out of hundreds of pictures, adding some rather interesting music to emphasise the projects, burning onto DVDs, bringing life to hundreds of family images which would have simply sat on my PC doing nothing interesting at all. So now I have a shelf which is filling up quite nicely with 'Window Movie Maker' created 'slide-shows' of most of my pictures, (as I am stilling going through my myriads of images, which will take some time).

In all, it is one of them applications which can bring a family together as you all sit around adding your own little bits to a project, then settling down to watch the final result, feeling proud at a job well done.

Would I recommend this..?
Yes I certainly would even if it comes with Windows operating systems.
It takes only a matter of minutes to get the hang of and once there you will be thrilled with the results you can achieve with this simple to understand program.

As I said, it may not be the best program of its kind on the market but it certainly does what it is meant to do, and it does it with some style.

Summary: Hollywood style movies without the hefty budget

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