Things you need to know...

-Must have Windows XP or Vista
-Upgrade Media Player to 10 or higher click for download
-Upgrade Directx 9.x click for download
-Then install Photo Story 3 click for download

Integration Ideas

• Use medium to large resolution pictures to prevent pixelization.
• Edit pictures before you place them into Photo Story (I use Picasa, a free download from Google)
• Text will take on the same resolution as the picture on which it is placed.
• Remember that when you crop a picture you are losing resolution because the dimension of the picture remains the same.
• To "uncrop" a picture you must go into the "Edit" button on the "Import and Arrange Pictures" screen.
• Removing black borders is cropping.

     Effects

• A creative way to use "effects" is to place the same picture into your story 2 times, place an effect on one, and have it fade into the other.  Also, removing any motion from both pictures will enhance this "morphing".

     Recording Narration

• The position of the microphone is important when recording.  To reduce the noise of breathing place the microphone even with the nose about 4 inches away.
• When recording narration, make sure you wait until the timer is on 00:01 before you begin speaking due to the hesitation between the time you click the record button and the time it actually begins recording.
• Don't forget to click the "Stop" button. :)
• Narration can be recorded one picture at a time or you can begin recording on the first picture and without clicking the stop button you can click on the next picture and continue recording.

     Motion, Duration, and Transitions

• On the same screen you record narration you will see the "Customize Motion" button which allows you to adjust the motion, duration, and transitions.
• Include restrictions in your rubric about how many different transitions are appropriate.

     Pictures

• When adding music to your story you can click on "Select Music" if you have it saved on your computer.  Remember that the guidelines for fair use allows a copyrighted piece of music to be used but you can only use the smaller amount of 10% or 30 seconds.
• Music can be changed throughout the story by adding the first song, then clicking on the picture where you would like for the next song to begin.  Repeat the process of adding music again.

• Throughout the process you should save your "project".  This will create a ".wp3" file which is the only file type that Photo Story recognizes for editing.
• Once editing is complete you will make your movie which creates a ".wmv" file.  This file plays in Windows Meda Player.  Photo Story will not edit this file type.
• When saving, clicking on the "Settings" button will allow you to save your movie in different sizes and resolutions.