Larrie Loc: NE Ohio

I took a bunch of photos at a friends 50th anniversary. Id like to put them on a DVD in a slideshow format with music that can be ploayed on a regular DVD player. Any good commercial software out there?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Powerpoint?

TchrBill Loc: Houston, TX

I have used PicturesToExe ever since my trip to Alaska in 2009. I had always been disappointed in other slideshow software because of the poor image quality. That is not the case with PicturesToExe. It is fairly easy to blend the picture transitions in with the music and the quality is excellent. You can save the files in several different formats including a .exe file to run on your PC (thus the name). And, of course, in formats that can be transferred to DVD. Here is the link. I think you can try it for free but it limits the number of slides you can build into the slideshow until you pay for the software key. I might also mention there is a good online forum to help with any questions you might have.

http://www.wnsoft.com/picturestoexe/

I am PJ

Wiondows 7 has a great little package as standard.
If you want to spend money you can't beat Adobe.

Phocus Loc: Lakeland, Fl

Proshow works well.

molsonice Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I use Windows media player and it does a good job. You can put close to 1300 photos with music on 1 DVD.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Lightroom, not 100% on if you can add music but I know it will build a slideshow.

RavRob Loc: Oromocto, NB

Photoshop CS6 does a great job. You can add Still, movies and music in any combinations you want....you can also add test anywhere you want.

works great.

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

ProShow is the one I use. It has different levels to choose from, the online version is the cheapest. Add video, stills and access their free music. Make DVDs, videos for facebook, exe.files for your computer. Lot's of great transitions and slide effects to choose from. Use the wizard to create something quick and easy, or do each slide yourself. I use Pro Show Producer, but I create DVD slideshow/videos for wedding and event clients. Paid for itself. Worth checking out. Here's a link. http://www.photodex.com

Meredith Images Loc: Stratford, CT

I agree with ProShow Gold. Easy to use - great effects (but don't overdo with the special effects and transitions - makes people seasick!). Add music = great show!

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

Proshow Gold is going to be your best bet for value and features and easy of use.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

There is a free program called Windows Photo Story 3 that will run on Windows 7 tho it was written for the older programs.

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

ProShow Gold... Used by professionals and amats alike. Easy learning curve. Costs about $60 last I looked, although often on specials. Has a trial period, but either the picture count is limited, or there is a Proshow banner across each of the images. I can't remember. I just went ahead and bought it after I saw a few rather sophisticated show done by a friend who used it in his video business.

Use Still, video clips, both together, add your own sound track, narrate with a microphone or add music tracks or loops. I seem to recall you can narrate over a sound track.

Time each slide and each transition individually, or All slides for one time and all transitions for one time. Last I saw the program, it had over 325 different transitions, and you can use use one transition for the whole show, or set them randomly, or pick and choose different transitions between each slide.

Most comprehensive, dedicated program I have encountered for slide shows, or multiple video clips, or both in one show.

Can burn them to CD or DVD for use in home entertainment centers or on computers. Can also copy a show to jump, thumb, flash drives, or external hard drives to run them from.

Good program.

Most good editing programs, even Picasa, have fairly good slide show programs listed under a "Create" heading. Element versions going back to at least version 6.

And some free as mentioned above, presuming you live by the credo, "You get what You Pay For". Be loose on that however, because in the software domain, some of the best is free (open source and shareware), and some of the crappiest is sold for ripoff prices.

Hope this helps...

Me. I'd go Proshow Gold... Tested and proven in the marketplace.

Photo One Loc: Clearwater Florida

If you are looking for a professional slideshow, your best buy is going to be Photodex You can download the Proshow Gold, or if you are really going professional, download (The Producer). I have had the Producer for almost a year now. I do a lot of slideshows, and burn them to a DVD. If you are just getting started in making slideshows, I would recommend (ProShow Gold) to start with, then move up if you want. They have 24/7 Tech. support.

http://www.photodex.com/

TchrBill Loc: Houston, TX

This may be a moot point because I am not sure the OP has even returned to check the feedback on his original question but . . .

I fail to see how you can make a blanket statement like Photodex is the best buy. I checked the prices online:

Proshow Gold from $69.95
Proshow Producer from $249.95
Proshow Style Packs $19.95
Proshow Transition Packs $19.95

PicturesToExe Full Version $75 (includes upgrades to new versions for 2 years)

Admittedly, I have absolutely no experience with either Photodex product. I know nothing about them and, in fact, I had never even heard of them until I read about them in this thread. However, I do use PicturesToExe and find that the clarity of the images in the slideshow is exactly what you find in the original images. That may be true with the Photodex products as well but that hardly makes Proshow the best product or the "best buy". Please note, I am not saying there is anything wrong with the Photodex products but, unless you have used them both and done comparisons it is probably best to simply state that you are very pleased with Photodex as I am very pleased with PicturesToExe and have no intention of trying something else.

Here are links to sample slideshows created with PTE if any of you wish to look. These are not my slideshows.
http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/