Full-featured slideshow overview

Creating, editing, and sharing slideshows containing your photos is a fairly simple process. Here are some of the typical steps in the multimedia slideshow creation and sharing process.

Stage 1: Select photos, audio clips, and video clips

Gather your initial selection of photos and video clips in the Browser. Locate any audio clips you plan to use in your slideshow presentation.

Stage 2: Create a slideshow album

Create a slideshow album in the Library inspector from the selection of photos and video clips in the Browser, and choose a theme for the slideshow. Drag additional photos and video clips into the slideshow album as necessary.

Note: The Classic and Ken Burns slideshow themes are the most customizable. Use the dialog that appears when you create a new slideshow album to preview the slideshow themes that come with Aperture. If you want to significantly modify a slideshow theme, choose Classic or Ken Burns.

Stage 3: Arrange the slideshow presentation

Arrange the photos and video clips in the Browser, below the Slideshow Editor, from left to right to tell the story you want. Each photo and video clip functions as an individual slide.

Stage 4: Preview the slideshow in the Slideshow Editor

Preview the slideshow in the Slideshow Editor to verify that photos and video clips play in the correct sequence.

Stage 5: Select music

Choose the music or audio clip that will play during the slideshow. You can apply a looped song to the main audio track and then add voiceover audio clips and other audio clips to the secondary audio track.

Stage 6: Adjust transitions

Adjust transitions to emphasize the most important photos in the slideshow or give a particular treatment to photos with similar subject matter. Make sure that the sequence of photos and the duration of the transitions match the cadence and tempo of the music or audio clip you selected for the slideshow.

Stage 7: Add a slideshow title and slide text

Add a title to your slideshow using the titling controls. Insert a blank slide at the beginning of the movie to display your title. You can also use blank slides to act as chapter dividers. Add text to individual slides where appropriate.

Stage 8: Preview the slideshow again

Preview the slideshow once again in full-screen mode to make sure the photos and video clips are playing in the correct sequence. Ensure that the music or audio clip matches the theme of the slideshow and the cadence of the photos and video clips, that the effects and transitions are to your liking, and that the title text is correct.

Stage 9: Export the slideshow

Export the slideshow as a movie in the format that best fits the platform by which you mean to share it. You can choose a format that is optimized for iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, iPad, YouTube, Apple TV, 720p HD, or 1080p HD. You can also create a custom movie in a wide range of frame rates and frame sizes.

Stage 10: Share your slideshow

After exporting your slideshow movie, tell your clients and friends. If you’ve posted your slideshow on your website or YouTube, send an email announcement.