Record JPEG scans on DVD player?

[john_b]

So having scanned some imaged, and saved as JPGs, I thought it'd be a doddle to view them on a DVD player...

...how naive am I? The images are fine; there's no problem viewing them on my PC, but the DVD player won't recognise the format. Might there be software that either saves them in a format that can be recognised or, alternatively, creates some kind of slide show/presentation?

And does it make a difference whether I put them onto CD or DVD?

(with apologies if we've been here before)

John

[ktinkel]

I still don’t have a DVD burner, so cannot speak from experience. But I have read about problems with external units in general, the wrong driver, with trying to use USB (you need USB2 or Firewire) to make DVDs, and with disc type (single or double layer). There is no problem with JPEG (must be one of the commonest formats for images, and I have seen them on homemade DVDs).

You could do a couple of tests. First, can you record these images on a CD? If so, you might want to look into speed, discs, etc. If not, can you record anything at all with your unit?

I imagine someone here will have something more specific to say. And there was a long thread on a similar problem on a Mac over on Snarkish (you can read without registering). There is a lot of technical information mixed in that thread, some of which may give you a clue.

[john_b]

Originally Posted by ktinkel

I still don’t have a DVD burner, so cannot speak from experience. But I have read about problems with external units in general, the wrong driver, with trying to use USB (you need USB2 or Firewire) to make DVDs, and with disc type (single or double layer). There is no problem with JPEG (must be one of the commonest formats for images, and I have seen them on homemade DVDs).

I think the title of the thread has been changed and it isn't really about recording onto DVD, so my apologies for any confusion.

I scanned some images and want to make them available to an elderly person who doesn't have a computer, but does have a TV and DVD player. I thought - wrongly, it seems - that most DVD players would be able to show the images, just as if you got your photos put onto CD. Unfortunately, the machine just won't seem to see the individual JPG files...;-(

So I suppose I'm asking if there is a simple way of converting the images into some sort of slideshow at <sigh>minimal cost</sigh>...

I'm going to assume that the DVD player in question can read both -R and +R formats, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry again if I didn't make this clear.

John

[iamback]

Originally Posted by john_b

So I suppose I'm asking if there is a simple way of converting the images into some sort of slideshow at <sigh>minimal cost</sigh>...

Indeed what you neeed is software that converts your images into a DVD format that's "playable" on TV. There are lots of those programs, actually, and I think even freeware - but I have no experience with any of them.

Still, try a Google search for [image slideshow DVD format] (put what's between [ ] in the box - that will bring up several candidates to look at.

[john_b]

Originally Posted by iamback

Indeed what you neeed is software that converts your images into a DVD format that's "playable" on TV. There are lots of those programs, actually, and I think even freeware - but I have no experience with any of them.

Thanks Marjolein. I'm happy to stump up a few Euros if there's a sensible package that isn't all eye-candy. Of course, there are never any guarantees that the finished product is going to run on all DVD players...

...but 99.9% would be good. and if anyone has recommendations then I'd be delighted to hear them!

John

[roaryg]

Not too knowledgeable in this area but I believe all you need is a dvd player that can read cd-rw or dvd-rw disks. The jpegs can be loose on the disk, don't have to be converted into anything. Is this an older player?

[john_b]

Originally Posted by roaryg

Not too knowledgeable in this area but I believe all you need is a dvd player that can read cd-rw or dvd-rw disks. The jpegs can be loose on the disk, don't have to be converted into anything. Is this an older player?

I've tried this on two newish DVD players/recorders using, as you say, just JPG files. One machine wouldn't read the disk at all. The other would actually offer to 'play' the images as a slide show - zoom in/out, forwards, backwards and so on - but only if the files were on CD, and not on DVD...

You'd have thought it would be easy...;-(

[Cristen Gillespie]

John:
I've tried this on two newish DVD players/recorders using, as you say, just JPG files.

I'm not sure how much this will help, but Macs running OSX include free iMovie and iDVD software to do just what you want, and I recall being told the same was true for XP with Microsoft's Media software. IOW, you might have a program already on your hard drive.

[john_b]

Originally Posted by Cristen Gillespie

I'm not sure how much this will help, but Macs running OSX include free iMovie and iDVD software to do just what you want, and I recall being told the same was true for XP with Microsoft's Media software. IOW, you might have a program already on your hard drive.

Thanks Cristen and you may well be right. I'm running XP Media Centre Edition but this is an area - video, audio - that I'm really not familiar with. I did once start the Media Centre Setup Wizard but just became too daunted to continue with it...;-(

I'd hoped there might be a simple solution but now suspect there's learning curve involved - see reply to Elyse...

[Cristen Gillespie]

Originally Posted by john_b

Thanks Cristen and you may well be right. I'm running XP Media Centre Edition but this is an area - video, audio - that I'm really not familiar with. I did once start the Media Centre Setup Wizard but just became too daunted to continue with it...;-(

I'd hoped there might be a simple solution but now suspect there's learning curve involved - see reply to Elyse...

Most of these programs are stunningly simple, once you find the tutorial or Help note that walks you through it<G> I was actually embarrassed, having floundered about with no clue, by how simple it was once I knew how to get it off the ground. iDVD even has a plain slideshow -- no "movie" needed, and you can add music that will time the slideshow to the music. Of course, authoring the menu was the real stumbling block for me there. XP probably does the same with Media Center, but I definitely sympathize with your feelings about the complication when you haven't even had time to pick up the terminology.

I looked at my Nero 6.6 on my W2K machine and it does have a DVD video burner, but it appears you must have made the "video" first. It doesn't make the slideshow from scratch, so maybe that's only v7, as I think Marjolein noted.

Premiere Elements (I'm thinking I'll get that when I get an Intel Mac to run both OSes), will definitely do what you want and more. I found the "and more" rather nice as I quickly wanted iMovie and iDVD to do more. The plus side to PE is you have available to you a LOT of tutorial help, whether from Adobe, on their web site, or from 3rd party books. I know you wanted to just get something done quickly, but now that it isn't going to be quick, may as well be fun. '-)