Slideshow with scrabbook (or any other themes)

Question

The option to give each slide its own duration does not work!!! Even if we think of a slide as a group of slides - due to the template with i.e 3 photos - it will not adjust correctly...
This also means, that its not possible to work with videoclips inside a slideshow, since you can not control the duration you see, before the slideshow moves on. Sometime the slideshow will move on long before you clip has finished, other times the slideshow will halt/stop for a long time before it moves on.
I cant seem to find a system or structure in the way Iphoto behave.
Is there any work around ? My goal is to be able to control how long time i see a slide or at least a group of slides - and also to control the duration I see any given videoclip placed in a slideshow. (this will typically be short takes made on the photo camera)
Thanks in advance
Peter G. Larsen, Copenhagen

Answer 1

I would start with the basic, as Klaus suggests: trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder. (Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
*What's the plist file?*
For new users: Every application on your Mac has an accompanying plist file. It records certain User choices. For instance, in your favourite Word Processor it remembers your choice of Default Font, on your Web Browser is remembers things like your choice of Home Page. It even recalls what windows you had open last if your app allows you to pick up from where you left off last. The iPhoto plist file remembers things like the location of the Library, your choice of background colour, whether you are running a Referenced or Managed Library, what preferences you have for autosplitting events and so on. Trashing the plist file forces the app to generate a new one on the next launch, and this restores things to the Factory Defaults. Hence, if you've changed any of these things you'll need to reset them. If you haven't, then no bother. Trashing the plist file is Mac troubleshooting 101.
If that fails: As a Test:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?
However, iPhoto has a limited enough Slideshow Tool. It's good for simple, good-looking slideshows but if you want Fine Control you need a TimeLine of some sort and iPhoto doesn't have one.
Alternatives to iPhoto's slideshow include:
iMovie, on every Mac sold, as is iDVD.
Others, in order of price:
PhotoPresenter $29
PhotoToMovie $49.95
PulpMotion $129
FotoMagico $29 (Home version) ($149 Pro version, which includes PhotoPresenter)
Final Cut Express $199
It's difficult to compare these apps. They have differences in capability - some are driven off templates. some aren't. Some have a wider variety of transitions. Others will have excellent audio controls. It's worth checking them out to see what meets your needs.
However, there is no doubt that Final Cut Express is the most capable app of them all. You get what you pay for.
Regards
TD