Instruction Sheet

PhotoStory3 PhotoStory3 is great starting point for anyone who wants to make digital stories using their photographs. Not only is it a quick to learn and easy to use programme it’s also free. Before starting: It’s a good idea to upload the photographs you intend to use to a folder on your desktop or some other convenient location. PhotoStory3 requires Windows Media Player 10. If this programme is not installed on your PC download it from the Media Player site prior to downloading the PhotoStory3 software Navigation between the various steps in the programme is with the NEXT and BACK buttons that are displayed at the bottom of the screens Instructions: Step 1. Go to the following web address: http://www.nswlearnscope.com/wiki/index.php?title=PhotoStory3 Click on the download button. Select SAVE to allow the file to download and click on OPEN to install the software. Step 2. Tick the radio button BEGIN A NEW STORY when the programme is opened. Click on NEXT. Step 3. Click on IMPORT PICTURES and browse for your photos. Either click on each image individually and then click OK or double click on the image to import it. It is also possible to select more than one file at a time by holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard. The selected image will be displayed in the “filmstrip” at the bottom of the screen. Step 4. Click on an image to select it for editing. The photo will display in the “viewing and editing” window. Additional photos can be added by returning to this screen via the Import Pictures button mentioned above.  The additional pictures appear at the end of the film strip at the bottom of the page. To view the pictures in the film strip, use the scroll bar located below the strip. To move a picture to a different position in the filmstrip, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and click the left or right arrow.  Step 5. From the Import and Arrange Your Pictures screen the pictures can be selected for editing. Use the icons below the picture to rotate the image, correct the colour levels and remove or reduce the “red eye”. To correct colour : Click on "Correct Colour Levels" button and the software will automatically complete a colour correction. OR Click on the Edit link and select the Auto Fix tab. To correct “red eye”: Click on the red eye button located next to the colour correction icon and the software will automatically identify the red eye and correct it. OR Click on the Edit link, select auto fix and access red eye corrections. To rotate the picture: Click on the rotate arrows as many times as required. Step 6. Click on the Edit link to crop the photo. A preview of the photo you are working with will be displayed. Click in the Crop checkbox and a moveable and sizeable cropping box will be displayed. .  Grab the anchors and size and position this box to capture the part of the image that you require. Once completed either click Save or complete more adjustments by selecting the Auto Fix or Add Effect tabs.  Remember that once a photo has been cropped it is the cropped version that is displayed in the preview box. Note: The software will automatically check the imported photos for the correct width to height ratio the programme requires. When system adjustments are required you will see a black border on each side of the photo. Remove the black border by clicking on Remove black borders button. You can then choose to use the automatically cropped picture without the black border or continue making additional amendments. Step 7. To choose from a range of effects such as sepia or black and white click on the Edit button. The effect chosen can be added to one or all of the photos in the story by ticking the box under the relevant photo. Click save after your selection is made and then click close. NB: Save your project with a .wp3 file name. Step 8. Add some written text to your photos. Select the photo you wish to add text to and then type the text in the box provided. Use the icons above the text box to change the position of the text. Use the font button to change the colour and the font style to make sure that the text is visible Additional Information: It is not necessary to add titles to any of your photos. Click Next to bypass. The title can have a maximum of 1024 characters. The text wraps in the picture preview area. To manually control which text appears on which line separate the lines by pressing the Enter key. Edit the pictures on any page that the film strip appears on by right clicking a picture, pointing to Edit and click the required option. Save the project at any time by clicking the Save Project button. In the Save As box name the project and save as a .wp3 file name extension. By default, the the project is saved in the My Videos folder. A final word: This is just the beginning of what can be done in Photostory3. Refer to the website for information on adding music, customising the transition between the images, adding a voiceover and much more. HAVE FUN AND CREATE SOME GREAT PROJECTS. WHO SAID PHOTOS ARE BORING.