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Sharon Kay McBrayer · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: Videos

How do I add videos from my camcorder to my 3d-albums. Please someone help with the steps to do this. I see all these great movies and
they have video also in them besides just pictures. I want to know how
to do this. Is there some type of software I need?

Help!!!!

coolpop22 · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject:

Somehow you must get the video onto your computer in a video file. My camcorder uses MiniDV tapes and I can transfer the video to my computer using USB or Firewire and ImageMixer 1.5 for Sony. That gives me either mpg or avi video files on my HDD. I then use Ulead VideoStudio 9 to edit the videos to obtain clips for use in 3D Album.

BTW I also use VS9 to combine albums and add sound tracks. For me much easier than trying to do it in 3DA.

Bill Smith · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject:

As Coolpop said, the first thing you hve to do is to transfer the video from your camcorder to your PC. Most likely the camcorder came with software to do this, or at least has a USB or firewire connection that you can use to hook it up to your PC. If you can't find your instruction manual, you might check online with the manufacturer who probably has a PDF file that you can download.

Once you've transferred the video to the PC, you have to decide if you want to import it, as is, straight into 3D-Album.

If you want to edit or clean it up, then you'll need to use some other software to do this. I use Ulead's Video Studio 9, but there are many other choices that should work equally well.

If you want to take it straight into 3D-Album, or if you've done some edititng and you're now ready to import some clips into 3D-Album, then you just have to open up your program and go to the CREATE tab. Choose a style that supports video files. Mostly, this will be one of the MOVIE SHOW styles or one of the 3DTime styles such as Wedding Show. The MOVIE SHOW styles all have an input box or button below the preview window. The 3DTime styles have a VIDEO tab that you select. Depending on the style that you choose, you may or may not have options such as how soon to start the video.

An extra note on importing your video to your PC. I have an older Sony camcorder that has a USB 1 connection. I find that this is just too slow. I think a person really needs a camcorder with either a firewire or a USB 2 connection to sucessfully capture real time video. I recently bought a DVD recorder and found that I could capture the video on it. This leads me to suspect that another option for older camcorders might be create a DVD and then use a video editor to trim selected clips from the DVD. Of course, this can lead to compressing a compressed file (degradation of final quality).