How to Make a Photo DVD

Making a picture DVD at home can be a little daunting at times, but the memories that it will evoke are well worth the time and effort you put into it.  These are used at Graduation parties, Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthday parties, Family gatherings, Baby books, and last but not least Funerals.

The first thing you are going to need is good software for your computer.  There are many different types to use.  The easiest I have found to use is called Muvee AutoProducer made by Muvee Technologies.  It is user friendly, in that each step is choreographed for you. 

Next, you will need photographs to work with.  If you have a digital camera with a memory chip and a portal for that, all you have to do is insert the chip and upload your pictures.  To make a DVD I recommend creating a new folder on your desk top, compiling all the pictures you want to use in your video in that one folder.  It makes it easier to find them once your muvee maker is open.  This particular software also allows you to upload actual videos that you have taken.  Include the video/videos you wish to use in that same new folder.  Once you have gotten all the pictures and video you wish to use, it’s time to open your Muvee AutoProducer

A window will pop up giving you a brief run down of what you will be doing to make your movie, giving you at least 4 different steps.   You will need to x out of this, after reading. 

Your first step will be to add pictures or videos.  When you hover over the icons to the top right of the screen, each will tell you what it does, ie; Add video, add video from camera, or add pictures.  Click on one of these.  A window will pop up for you to make your selection.  Find the new folder you have created and begin adding your photos.  Once you make that first selection, each time after that the same window will pop up.  You can drag your pictures in the order you wish.  If you have included 1 video, bits of that video will play during your DVD, the software breaks it up into sections, provided you don’t put that in first.  Just slip it in after the first picture. 

Now it’s time to select your music.  Click on the music button, and a window will pop up, you may have to look for your music the first time you use this feature, after this the same window will pop up.  This feature is for music that you have downloaded onto your computer.

Next you will want to select your style, you can change it at any time.  Click title and credits, you will now be able to title your DVD any way you wish and end it the same.  For example:  (Title) To The Ones I love (credit) Your smoochiekins .  Now click Make Muvee.  This may take a few minutes as all information is processed, be patient.  When it is finished processing, your movie will automatically play.  At this time you can determine if pictures need to be changed around.  If you would like to focus on a particular scene in a photo click on the magnifying glass to do so.  This is the time to tweak your movie so it is just perfect.  After you have played it, save your movie, you never know when there will be a power failure.

Once you are certain that you are finished with your movie, you will want to click ‘save’ in the bottom right hand corner.  Now is the time if you have a DVD burner, to make it into a hard copy.  Click burn now load your blank disk into the proper drive and burn your DVD.

After you have finished, you may want to check it out and put it into your home DVD player to make sure all went well.

Good Luck and have fun! 

If by chance you have lightscribe on your computer, there are some fairly cool DVD's that you can purchase to print on your labels. This is an easy program to use, self-explanatory. But when you are finished your project will look fairly professional!