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How to Make a Slideshow with Music and Pictures
Want to share your travel adventures, family memories, or career achievements? Dynamic slideshows with music and pictures are a perfect kind of video for it. They can be easily sent via messengers and played on your TV set. This format might also suit you if you need to make promotional materials, pitch decks, and tutorials.
Can’t wait to make such a video of your own? Then follow our guidelines to create a striking slideshow with animation effects, catchy music, and cool pictures. To show you the process, we’ll be using SmartSHOW 3D. This is beginner-friendly software packed with tons of ready-to-use templates. If you want to see alternative tools for making a presentation, you’ll find some good solutions as well. So let’s begin!
Step 1. Download and Install the Video Maker
Hit the button below to download the software and start a free trial of SmartSHOW 3D. Once you load the installation file, install the slideshow maker on your PC.
For Windows 11, 10, 8, 7
Step 2. Choose the Project Type You Need
Launch the slideshow maker and select Blank Project to create your own video from scratch. Alternatively, you can choose Slideshow in 5 Minutes to make a movie with the use of a template. There are 250+ ready-to-use slideshow templates almost for any occasion which is really helpful in case you're running out of time. Whether you want to showcase your trips or wish someone a happy birthday in a creative way, this software has got you covered.
Step 3. Add Your Pictures and Spice Them Up
To import your pictures, drag and drop the needed media to the Storyboard or load the whole folder with a single click. When done, go to the Animation tab and animate the images. There are tons of effects in the built-in collection to choose from. You can also hit Edit Slide and create your custom animation - switch to the Animation tab, add keyframes, and adjust the motion.
Step 4. Jazz Up Your Slideshow with Music
Now let’s accompany your movie with a cool soundtrack. In this video maker, you can upload your own file or browse through 200+ royalty-free tunes in the built-in music library. After you add a song to a slideshow, you can adjust the section of the track and change the volume. It’s also important to select the one that matches the number of your photos. Let’s say, your video has around 30 pictures. Then the music track in the slideshow should be 3-4 minutes long.
Step 5. Save Your Slideshow
To preview the final result, hit the Play button. If you’re satisfied with the project, click Create Video to save it in the desired file type. SmartSHOW 3D lets you pick formats for popular devices such as an iPhone or Samsung. You can also burn your movies to DVD and make high-quality videos for social media or websites: Instagram, YouTube, etc.
Would you like to see SmartSHOW 3D in action? Then watch this video tutorial and see the simple steps to create a slideshow with music and pictures on Windows.
This is how to create a video from your photos with transitions and animation effects. So, take a moment and make a music slideshow that is dynamic and interesting to watch!
Wondering what else you can do with this software? Its animated collage maker allows you to apply pan and zoom effects, rotate pictures, and make elements fade out. In addition, there are 100 slide and video backgrounds and dozens of collages, titles, and clips for your projects. You can also make a slideshow with special effects more engaging by adding text captions, transitions, and voice comments. So, get this slideshow maker and unlock your creative potential!
Making a Slideshow with Pictures and Music: Alternative Ways
The method we’ve described above is accessible for any level of skill. But your choice of software is not confined to it. Want to create a music video using a smartphone or some other desktop programs? Then let’s have a look at 4 alternative tools that can help you make a perfect slideshow.
Let’s start with mobile slideshow makers. iPhone users can try SlideShow Maker Photo to Video. There are filters, funky transitions, stickers, and music tracks. If you create videos for social media, you might also like the sharing feature. It lets you instantly upload your new slideshows to Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Users find it quite handy, but you need to take into account that some of its features are paid.
As for Android devices, there is a mobile slide editor called Scoompa Video that they can give a try. This program offers you a bunch of stickers, filters, and more than 50 fonts for your projects. But you can create slideshows with only 30 photos if you use the free version. To avoid this limitation, get the pro version of the slideshow maker. This version also lets you get rid of ads and edit your slideshows with no distractions.
If you prefer editing slideshows on macOS, use Photos to combine music and pictures. This program lets you add several images, set a theme, and accompany the video with an audio track. There are also useful functions like inserting text captions, slideshow duration adjustment, and adding transitions. However, the choice of music is rather limited.
There is also a simple online tool, Kizoa, that lets you edit videos in your browser. It allows you to make a DVD slideshow in 7 different formats to adapt your video to the screen type you need. You can make slides with pictures, text captions, and GIFs. This program offers an extensive collection of effects and animations that can help you make a video more engaging. But this tool is only available with a stable Internet connection.
Tips to Create a Slideshow with Photos and Music
While making a slideshow is technically simple, there are still some intricacies you should consider to create a professional-looking video. We’ve compiled a list of useful tips to help you with your own project. They include suggestions considering different aspects of a video, from its duration to pacing. Let’s discover the ins and outs of making a stunning slideshow.
- Use high-resolution images. Crisp and clear pictures are key to an eye-pleasing slideshow, and it's extremely important to use high-resolution photos. Otherwise, your images can look blurry when the video is played on bigger screens.
- Select a good soundtrack. Choosing background music is not easy. For personal videos, you can simply pick your favorite songs. But if you make a slideshow for someone else, be they your potential customers or followers on social media, opt for trendy music. People like to hear something familiar, so a popular hit or a song that’s gone viral are a perfect choice. You should also consider the mood and lyrics of the music track you add to your slideshow.
- Pace your slideshow. You should also pace the slides right to make a naturally flowing sequence. Rapidly changing pictures can leave the viewer confused. On the other hand, they feel bored when slides last too long. This might also affect the mood of the whole video. A fast-paced slideshow is suitable for action videos. As for sentimental or educational slideshows, a lower tempo works better.
- Consider the slideshow duration. It might be tempting to add a bunch of pictures to your project. However, you should think about the length of your slideshow first. If you want to make a video tutorial or a heart-warming family slideshow, you can make a 3-4 minute movie. But reels or TikTok videos should not be that long - typically they last 15-20 seconds.
- Optimize the video for sharing. While editing your slideshow, take into account how you’re going to share the file. For example, you should create a vertical slideshow if you want to watch the video on a smartphone or post it as an Instagram story. It’s better to use the 9:16 aspect ratio for such cases. For computer monitors and TV sets, select 4:3 or 16:9. Then your slideshow won’t have black bars. Also, make sure you pick the compatible file format to play your video on the needed device.
Putting pictures and music together is a breeze. As long as you follow our easy guidelines, you can create your own unique video in a flash. Using SmartSHOW 3D is the easiest way to make such videos on Windows. For those who prefer trying different options, there is a couple of alternative ways to combine photos and music. Whether you prefer editing slideshows online or on your phone, you have a few handy tools at your fingertips to choose from.
So don’t keep your huge photo archive only on your computer’s hard drive. Turn it into a video and make the special moments in your life timeless today.
Making Slideshows with Music & Pictures: FAQ
What is the easiest way to make a video with pictures and music?
To create a slideshow with ease, you should use an automatic program with templates. For instance, SmartSHOW 3D has 250+ pre-designed templates. Just load your pictures, and the slideshow maker will generate a video for you.
How do I make a photo slideshow with custom music?
To add your own music file, you need a video maker with a handy audio editor. Make sure it lets you change the volume of the entire song or parts of it. The selected soundtrack should also be trimmed to fit the number of pictures in your slideshow. For example, a music track that is 3 minutes long is perfect for a presentation with 25-35 images. If it contains more than 50 photos, it’s recommended to use several songs in your video.
How to choose music for a photo slideshow?
Set the right tone with a soundtrack that complements the mood and message of your video. To give your slideshow a romantic feel, use a classic or a pop song. In more dynamic videos, upbeat and R&B music might help you create the desired mood.
How do you apply animation to collage slides?
If you want to animate collage slides, you can add transition effects. You can also animate different elements in the slides, including photos, graphics, and text captions.
Get started with SmartSHOW 3D, automatic video maker!
For Windows 11, 10, 8, 7