IDVD - is there a way to randomize my photos?

Question

First - this is my first Mac EVER. Please forgive me - I searched the forum and found nothing...
Im trying to make a DVD for clients with their photos using iDVD. My old program (Photodex) would let me rearrange the photos all at once without having to do anything (select randomize photo order) and it's such a pain to do this with 75 photos in one session. Is there a way to randomize it automatically that I'm missing?
I'd also like to randomize the page transitions - is there a way to do that as well without having to do each photo? I can't believe a program this advanced would miss those 2 small things...
TIA.
Cheryl

Answer 1

Welcome to the iDVD forum and the world of Macintosh too.....you won't regret it. I use both PCs and Macs every single day, but I only enjoy working on the Mac......
There is no "randomize" option in iDVD, but we're getting ahead of ourselves........
There are three basic ways to build slideshows in iLife, with other combinations as well. If you’re going to do this a lot, I suggest you try all the methods on short projects and see which you like best for your purposes. Here’s my take on the three basic options, some of their pros and cons, and then a “combo” option I like best.
1) Build the slideshow in iDVD. Pros: Probably the quickest way, and is the only “true” slideshow method that will give you navigation buttons. Cons: fewest number of options. Each slideshow can only use one transition, no titles (other than the picture names). If you use this method, I suggest ordering/reordering the photos in iPhoto I the album before going to iDVD – not quite random, but you can mix them up really fast.
2) Build the slideshow in iMovie. Pros - Gives you the most control over every slide, and gives you lost of options for titles, music, narration, etc. You can even add real video. But it is not a “true” slideshow, you won’t get navigation buttons - you are making a movie. Cons – slowest method, and you have to use Ken Burns to get good quality.
3) Build the slideshow in iPhoto and use “Send to iDVD” Get your stills set into an album in the order you want (there is a random key for viewing slideshows in iPhoto, but alas, it doesn’t help for building a slideshow for export). Select all the photos, and then hit the slideshow button. Then go to the slideshow, set your settings (note you CAN choose random transitions). Auto Ken Burns is nice too. Close the settings, select all your photos and choose “Send to iDVD” from the Share menu. Pros: Fast way to get more effects (and more varied) than iDVD slideshows. Cons: not as much control as iMovie, no navigation buttons.
4) My combo method. Build segments of the slideshow in iPhoto as described above. “Send to iDVD”, but then just close iDVD after it opens. This creates a QT file in your documents folder. Import the QT file into iMovie. Here you can add titles, even video, and you have much more control over adding the music (I don’t add any in iPhoto when I do it this way). Pros: I get a quick build, with lost of different transitions and options, and can still add titles, control the fading of music, etc. Cons: certainly not quite as easy (but still pretty darn fast once you learn it. No navigation buttons.
I’ll stop now and let others add their 2 cents.
John B.