August 6, 2002

Last modified August 6, 2002 - 2:19 am

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Tom Nelson
DIGITAL CORNER

"3D-Album" to the rescue. This software package takes my digital images and organizes them into a stand-alone slide show. I just e-mail the file to my friend. He clicks on the file, and the show is on. The slide shows can also be put on a CD, obviating the need to send the files by e-mail. Recipients need no special software to run the slide shows.

The slide shows created by this program are not your ordinary one-picture-after-another presentations. But just because the shows are extraordinary doesn't mean that you need to be a graphics wizard to create dazzling presentations.

At its simplest, the program is built around 23 "presentation styles," such as tunnels, train, photo storm and Christmas.

Put your photos in a folder. Open up "3D-Album." Select the folder where you put your photos. Click on the program's "Organize" function from the main screen. Arrange the photos in the order you wish them to be played during the slide show. Click OK and you will be back at the main screen. Click on one of the presentation buttons and your pictures will automatically start rotating through. Click on different presentation templates until you find one you like. Then click on "Build." That's it. You now have a really slick slide show to copy to a CD or send off by e-mail.

Your friends and family will get a big kick out of watching 3-D images dissolve, break up, slide by, curl up, fade and explode. It just could be that your neighbors will actually ask to watch a slide show instead of getting a headache when you mention one.

Once you get the idea, there is a great deal more you can do. In the organizer you can write your own personal text, add voice narrations or background music and create screensavers. Most of the styles have settings you can change, such as animation speed and photo size.

And, if you get tired of the 23 presentation styles that come with the program, you can download new ones from the "3D-Album" Web site at no charge. New styles are added regularly.

"3-D Album" is an easy to use, flashy way to put some pizzazz into digital picture presentations.

You can find out more about the $40-plus-shipping program at http://www.3d-album.com/

By the way, the software comes on two CDs, one of which is a tutorial.

I have a very dirty compact disk. How do I clean it?

Donna from Roundup

Cleaning a compact disk requires little more than a soft cotton cloth (an old T-shirt will do) and some warm water. Clean the disk radially, like you were cleaning spokes on a wheel. If the disk is really dirty, a little mild detergent can be used. Rinse the disk well and be sure it is completely dry before you place it in your CD drive.

The critical side of the disk is the side with the label, the top side. Underneath the label is a very thin metallic layer that holds the disk's data. The bottom side with a scratch won't necessarily disable the disk. The top side with a scratch or pinhole will almost assuredly disable the disk. If the bottom side has such a serious scratch that it make the disk unplayable, there are kits available to polish scratches out or to fill them. I have never used the kits, but if I needed to, I would first try "Wipe Out CD Repair Kit" - http://www.cdrepair.com/

In love with neighbors' smoke

My neighbors love to barbecue. Barbecue smoke knows no boundaries and I can't help but think of a fine chunk of meat and a glass of red wine each time they fire up their grills.

It's the height of the grilling season and if you need some inspiration or help, check out these sites:

Vegetarian Society - If you are a vegetarian barbecuer, this is where you want to be. You can type "barbecue" in the search box - http://www.vegsoc.org/

Gems made by animals

If someone were to present you with two beautiful pearls, could you tell the artificial one from the real one? One of the pearls will feel slightly gritty as you rub it gently across your teeth. That's the real one. Real pearls are made by real animals, so they are imperfect. So says the American Museum of Natural History on its Web site "Pearls." I also learned that pearls range in color from white to gold, purple and black. There are more pearls available today then ever in history, thanks to culturing. You can learn a great deal about this fascinating gem at http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/pearls/

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Questions or comments are welcome. E-mail messages included in this column are edited for brevity and clarity. You can e-mail Tom Nelson at tnelson@billingsgazette.com - fax: 406-657-1208. Please put Digital Corner in the subject line.

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