How to Make a Video Slideshow with Music on Picasa

by Shannon Adragna

            To begin, you must first download Picasa.  Simply google Picasa and the official Picasa website will pop up.  On the right hand side, click on “Download Picasa 3” and follow the directions to download the software.  Once you’ve installed the software, Picasa will automatically search your computer for pictures and upload them to it’s library.  Depending on how your pictures are cataloged, Picasa will put them into separate folders which you can name and organize. 

            To start making your video, choose which pictures you want showcased and put them into their own separate folder.  Once you’ve done this, click on the “Create Movie Presentation” button.  This button is located directly below the title of your folder and is the 3^rd from the right. 

After you click this button, a new window will open called “Movie Maker.”

            The title of your folder will be the first slide with the date below it.  To change or edit this, click on the “Slide” tab located in the upper left corner.  You will then be able to change the title, font, size, color and many other functions of the initial slide.  Every other picture you have selected will be displayed on the bottom of the screen in the order in which they will appear.  To view these pictures in the larger screen, simply click on the slide and it will pop up.  To edit a slide, click on the image then click on the “Slide” tab. 

            To upload music, click on the “Movie” tab.  The new tab will pop up and a button saying “Load” will be displayed in the upper left corner.  Click on this button and a new window will pop up saying, “Open.”  Browse your music library, choose a track, and click “Open.”  The track will then be uploaded to the slideshow.  To change how you would like the slides to be displayed with the music, click on the “Options” button.  This selection will allow you to either time the slides so they will last the duration of the music, to spread them to your choosing, or to truncate the slides.  Additionally, under the “movie” tab you can choose how you would like the slides to transition by clicking on the “Transition style” tab. 

            Once you’ve tailored your video to your choosing, click the green play button located above the picture tray in the lower left corner.  This will allow you to preview your selections.  If you are satisfied with your movie, click the “Create Movie” button.  This will solidify your selections and automatically play your movie.  If you need to change anything, you may click the “Edit movie” button in the upper left corner.  This will take you back to the original window and allow you to edit anything.