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How-to Resources
FAQ
How-to Resources
REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST
REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST
VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
Features Details
Features Details
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3D Special Effects Chapters and Menus Color Enhancement Digital (Pre-Scanned) Photo Discount DVD DVD Copy Gallery Page Handcrafted Professional Production Morphing Opening and Closing Titles Pan & Zoom Photo Captions Photo CD Photo Restoration Photo Scanning Song Purchasing Sound Track Editing Synchronized Sound Track Transitions VHS Tape
3D Special Effects
Gold packages and up include 3D special effects transitions. These effects, produced by specially designed computer software, add interest and keep your audience entertained. We will make use of them to their maximum effect. But the key to the use of these kinds of transitions is not the quantity of their use, but how and where they are used. Overuse of these kinds of effects will be distracting rather than entertaining. We will use them consistent with good production values and ensure that the effects themselves do not become the show. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Chapters and Menus
Silver packages and up include DVD chapters and menus. Chapters are usually used to designate the different sections of your Photo Memory Video. Menus are how you can select a particular chapter to play with your DVD player. You may specify that your chapter divisions be anywhere you want them, and you may specify how they are to be labeled. You may specify that the menu use thumbnail images from your photos. If you make no selection, we will use an attractive graphic-style button. Gold level and up packages may have a motion background for the menu. You may select which song from your sound track you want to be playing while your menu is on the screen. If you make no selection, we will choose a pleasing musical loop. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Color Enhancement Service
All packages include color enhancement on each photo that can benefit from it. Color enhancement is very effective in renewing the vibrant colors that have faded and in removi; Transitions VHS Tape
Gold packages and up include 3D special effects transitions. These effects, produced by specially designed computer software, add interest and keep your audience entertained. We will make use of them to their maximum effect. But the key to the use of these kinds of transitions is not the quantity of their use, but how and where they are used. Overuse of these kinds of effects will be distracting rather than entertaining. We will use them consistent with good production values and ensure that the effects themselves do not become the show. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Chapters and Menus
Silver packages and up include DVD chapters and menus. Chapters are usually used to designate the different sections of your Photo Memory Video. Menus are how you can select a particular chapter to play with your DVD player. You may specify that your chapter divisions be anywhere you want them, and you may specify how they are to be labeled. You may specify that the menu use thumbnail images from your photos. If you make no selection, we will use an attractive graphic-style button. Gold level and up packages may have a motion background for the menu. You may select which song from your sound track you want to be playing while your menu is on the screen. If you make no selection, we will choose a pleasing musical loop. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Color Enhancement Service
All packages include color enhancement on each photo that can benefit from it. Color enhancement is very effective in renewing the vibrant colors that have faded and in removi; Transitions VHS Tape
3D Special Effects
Gold packages and up include 3D special effects transitions. These effects, produced by specially designed computer software, add interest and keep your audience entertained. We will make use of them to their maximum effect. But the key to the use of these kinds of transitions is not the quantity of their use, but how and where they are used. Overuse of these kinds of effects will be distracting rather than entertaining. We will use them consistent with good production values and ensure that the effects themselves do not become the show. Return to top Return to Features Overview
ng the color cast that is common on older photographs. The color cast, color saturation, and contrast of each photo is individually examined and the color cast is corrected, saturation and contrast improved, if in the judgment of our technician, it will benefit the photo. If the photo requires more extensive restoration, that is available as an optional service in all packages except Platinum, where it is included standard. To see the result of a combination of color enhanacement, cropping, and photo restoration, click here. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Gold packages and up include 3D special effects transitions. These effects, produced by specially designed computer software, add interest and keep your audience entertained. We will make use of them to their maximum effect. But the key to the use of these kinds of transitions is not the quantity of their use, but how and where they are used. Overuse of these kinds of effects will be distracting rather than entertaining. We will use them consistent with good production values and ensure that the effects themselves do not become the show. Return to top Return to Features Overview
ng the color cast that is common on older photographs. The color cast, color saturation, and contrast of each photo is individually examined and the color cast is corrected, saturation and contrast improved, if in the judgment of our technician, it will benefit the photo. If the photo requires more extensive restoration, that is available as an optional service in all packages except Platinum, where it is included standard. To see the result of a combination of color enhanacement, cropping, and photo restoration, click here. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Many studios charge you extra per photo to scan your photos. Scanning your photos is a necessary step for any studio to produce a Photo Memory Video. We believe it is our job to do all the work of turning your photos into a Photo Memory Video - all you have to do is gather your photos together and organize them. However, if you want to save some money, we offer a pre-scanned or digital photo discount. Contact us for details. Return to top Return to Features Overview
DVD
Your DVD is delivered with an attractive theme-appropriate label in an attractively labeled protective case. Gold and higher packages will have theme-appropriate color label graphics, or you may select a photo for the disc label and a photo for the case label.
Since recordable DVDs are not a universal standard, but rather are made according to agreements reached among various manufacturers, you need to know that not all DVD players are capable of playing all recordable DVDs. We can provide you with a test DVD to confirm that your player (or the player to be used at your event) can play our DVDs. If you cannot test your player in advance, our advice is for you to purchase a copy of your Photo Memory Video on VHS tape to use as a backup. Return to top Return to Features Overview
DVD Copy
If you want to have extra copies of your Photo Memory Video for family or friends, we can make extra copies for a very economical price. Contact us for details. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Gallery Page
Do you have friends or family who will not be able to attend your special event? As a standard part of all of our packages, we provide you a page on our web site that contains a streaming video of your Photo Memory Video. The streaming video will be compatible with Windows Media Player version 8 or later, just like the Gallery on this site. Longer productions will be posted as multiple video files and will follow natural breaks in your Photo Memory Video. Your web page will be on our site within 3 business days after your event and will remain there until one month after your event. The web address of your site will be included as an insert in your DVD case. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Handcrafted, Professional Production
Unlike some studios, we do not make a big thing about our technology. We focus, instead, on the resulting production. We pride ourselves in producing an entertaining and emotional product that uses high technology but always follows professional production values. Anyone can buy technology, but an artistic eye and a professional touch are much more rare.
Our productions do not use automated software that builds a slide show from a list of photos. These programs make boring shows with no sense of mood or content. But, they make photo montages quickly and cheaply, allowing montages to be included as almost a give-away in some photographer's or videographer's packages.
With our productions, each photo is scanned with a meticulous attention to cleanliness, individually examined for needed color correction, and put into the production by hand, individually. Its time on the screen is individually adjusted based on the music, the mood, and the subject. Transitions between photos are chosen based on the photo content, the music elements at the time, and the style of the video segment (for example, sentimental or humorous). Pan and zoom effects are are individually crafted per photo, taking into account the subject of the photo, the condition of the photo, and what has happened before and after this photo. Your video production will be entertaining and professionally constructed. It will bear no resemblance to either a boring slide show or to one of those automated zoom in-and-out montages. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Your DVD is delivered with an attractive theme-appropriate label in an attractively labeled protective case. Gold and higher packages will have theme-appropriate color label graphics, or you may select a photo for the disc label and a photo for the case label.
Since recordable DVDs are not a universal standard, but rather are made according to agreements reached among various manufacturers, you need to know that not all DVD players are capable of playing all recordable DVDs. We can provide you with a test DVD to confirm that your player (or the player to be used at your event) can play our DVDs. If you cannot test your player in advance, our advice is for you to purchase a copy of your Photo Memory Video on VHS tape to use as a backup. Return to top Return to Features Overview
DVD Copy
If you want to have extra copies of your Photo Memory Video for family or friends, we can make extra copies for a very economical price. Contact us for details. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Gallery Page
Do you have friends or family who will not be able to attend your special event? As a standard part of all of our packages, we provide you a page on our web site that contains a streaming video of your Photo Memory Video. The streaming video will be compatible with Windows Media Player version 8 or later, just like the Gallery on this site. Longer productions will be posted as multiple video files and will follow natural breaks in your Photo Memory Video. Your web page will be on our site within 3 business days after your event and will remain there until one month after your event. The web address of your site will be included as an insert in your DVD case. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Handcrafted, Professional Production
Unlike some studios, we do not make a big thing about our technology. We focus, instead, on the resulting production. We pride ourselves in producing an entertaining and emotional product that uses high technology but always follows professional production values. Anyone can buy technology, but an artistic eye and a professional touch are much more rare.
Our productions do not use automated software that builds a slide show from a list of photos. These programs make boring shows with no sense of mood or content. But, they make photo montages quickly and cheaply, allowing montages to be included as almost a give-away in some photographer's or videographer's packages.
With our productions, each photo is scanned with a meticulous attention to cleanliness, individually examined for needed color correction, and put into the production by hand, individually. Its time on the screen is individually adjusted based on the music, the mood, and the subject. Transitions between photos are chosen based on the photo content, the music elements at the time, and the style of the video segment (for example, sentimental or humorous). Pan and zoom effects are are individually crafted per photo, taking into account the subject of the photo, the condition of the photo, and what has happened before and after this photo. Your video production will be entertaining and professionally constructed. It will bear no resemblance to either a boring slide show or to one of those automated zoom in-and-out montages. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Morphing
Morphing is advanced photo processing that will create a short video where one photo seems to evolve into the other. Hollywood used morphing in the Harry Potter movies to turn a woman into a cat, for example. While this is with still photos, the effect is similar. Morphing can be used to take a baby picture and have it evolve into a toddler, and the toddler into an adolescent, the adolescent into a teenager, and the teenager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Opening and Closing Titles
All of our packages include an opening and closing title. The background for the titles will be a graphic or picture appropriate to the theme. Your titles may say anything you wish them to say. Typically, the closing title will be more of a farewell message. For Silver and higher packages (that is, those with DVD menus) your opening title may be the menu, or it may be a separate title that is displayed prior to the menu. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Pan & Zoom
All packages can include the Pan & Zoom feature. It is optional on Basic, and standard on Silver through Platinum. This effect adds motion to your still photos. It is a very effective technique for keeping your audience interested and entertained. As with the 3D effects, we will make use of this feature to maximum effect consistent with good production values. Of course, overuse or careless use of this effect can be more annoying to your audience than entertaining. Beware of studios that offer this effect standard in their lowest cost videos, since that may be an indicator that they use software to automatically add pan and zoom, which will result in seemingly pointless zooming into parts of the photo determined by software. Doing pan and zoom properly requires individual attention to each photo and to the photos and other effects surrounding it. Pan and zoom is hand-crafted into our prodenager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
All of our packages include an opening and closing title. The background for the titles will be a graphic or picture appropriate to the theme. Your titles may say anything you wish them to say. Typically, the closing title will be more of a farewell message. For Silver and higher packages (that is, those with DVD menus) your opening title may be the menu, or it may be a separate title that is displayed prior to the menu. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Pan & Zoom
All packages can include the Pan & Zoom feature. It is optional on Basic, and standard on Silver through Platinum. This effect adds motion to your still photos. It is a very effective technique for keeping your audience interested and entertained. As with the 3D effects, we will make use of this feature to maximum effect consistent with good production values. Of course, overuse or careless use of this effect can be more annoying to your audience than entertaining. Beware of studios that offer this effect standard in their lowest cost videos, since that may be an indicator that they use software to automatically add pan and zoom, which will result in seemingly pointless zooming into parts of the photo determined by software. Doing pan and zoom properly requires individual attention to each photo and to the photos and other effects surrounding it. Pan and zoom is hand-crafted into our prodenager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Opening and Closing Titles
uctions. We believe this is essential. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Photo Captions
All of our packages include captioning on your photos. A photo caption can be used to identify people in the photo, or to identity the event, the date, or any other information or message you wish to convey. The "caption" can be a separate title screen if you wish. Basic and Silver packages have a limit on the total number of captions. Gold and higher packages may have an unlimited number of captions or title screens. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Photo CD
A photo CD containing each of the scanned and processed images may be optionally purchased with each package. The price varies with the amount of custom processing done on each photo. Return to top enager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
uctions. We believe this is essential. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Photo Captions
All of our packages include captioning on your photos. A photo caption can be used to identify people in the photo, or to identity the event, the date, or any other information or message you wish to convey. The "caption" can be a separate title screen if you wish. Basic and Silver packages have a limit on the total number of captions. Gold and higher packages may have an unlimited number of captions or title screens. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Photo CD
A photo CD containing each of the scanned and processed images may be optionally purchased with each package. The price varies with the amount of custom processing done on each photo. Return to top enager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Opening and Closing Titles
Return to Features Overview
Photo Restoration Service
More extensive than color enhancement, this service includes such things as repair of tears, correcting of overexposed or underexposed photos, removing stains or scratches, correction of other lighting problems, such as lens flare, editing out unwanted people or background items, or more sophisticated photo "creations" based on elements in your original photos. What is possible may be limited by the condition of your original photo. Poorly focused or severely underexposed or overexposed images may be only marginally improved by digital processing, for example. This service is available as an option in all packages and is included in the Platinum package. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Return to Features Overview
Photo Restoration Service
More extensive than color enhancement, this service includes such things as repair of tears, correcting of overexposed or underexposed photos, removing stains or scratches, correction of other lighting problems, such as lens flare, editing out unwanted people or background items, or more sophisticated photo "creations" based on elements in your original photos. What is possible may be limited by the condition of your original photo. Poorly focused or severely underexposed or overexposed images may be only marginally improved by digital processing, for example. This service is available as an option in all packages and is included in the Platinum package. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Return to top Return to Features Overview
Before
After
We created a portrait of a boy and his grandfather from a family group picture.
Photo Scanning
All of your photos will be senager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
All of your photos will be senager into an adult. It can also be used for more humorous effects, such as having a man become his favorite "toy" - his car or truck. This service is available only as part of the Platinum package. If your system has difficulties viewing the example of morphing to the right, contact us and we will e-mail the example to you. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Opening and Closing Titles
canned on a high-end photo scanner, providing excellent resolution and color depth. Photos will be scanned at a higher resolution that is necessary for DVD production, ensuring high quality images even if projected to a very large screen, with nearly fanatical attention to cleanliness and a high quality scan. Packages which include pan and zoom or which make greater use of digital effects will employ a much higher scanning resolution to ensure excellent resolution even when such features as digital restoration and zooming are employed. Return to top Return to Features Overview
canned on a high-end photo scanner, providing excellent resolution and color depth. Photos will be scanned at a higher resolution that is necessary for DVD production, ensuring high quality images even if projected to a very large screen, with nearly fanatical attention to cleanliness and a high quality scan. Packages which include pan and zoom or which make greater use of digital effects will employ a much higher scanning resolution to ensure excellent resolution even when such features as digital restoration and zooming are employed. Return to top Return to Features Overview
If you select a song for your sound track that is not in our royalty-paid library and is not in your personal library, we may be able to purchase the song for you, to avoid you having to purchase an entire CD just for one song. Contact us for details. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Sometimes, you will want to shorten or lengthen the song you have selected for your sound track to match the number and timing of the photos in your Photo Memory Video. We provide this as an optional service on each of our packages. There are additional details in the "Photo Memory Video Preparation Guide" on the How-to Resources page. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Synchronized Sound Track
The transition from one photo to another will always be synchronized to the beat of the music in the sound track. While this takes quite a bit of care, we believe that to allow random photo placement is to create a mere slide show rather than a professional video production. Therefore, even our least expensive Photo Memory Video will be synchronized. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Synchronized Sound Track
The transition from one photo to another will always be synchronized to the beat of the music in the sound track. While this takes quite a bit of care, we believe that to allow random photo placement is to create a mere slide show rather than a professional video production. Therefore, even our least expensive Photo Memory Video will be synchronized. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Transitions are video effects that are placed between photos. All of our packages make use of transitions. Transitions can be anything from a simple "cut" (that is, just a change from one picture to the next) to fancy 3D transition effects. Even our Basic package will use a variety of transitions. Transitions add interest and visual appeal to the Photo Memory Video, but they are very easy to overdo. If overdone, they can turn what would have been an entertaining and interesting story into anything from an annoyance to a show-off of computer effects with no point. Handling transitions must be done with good production values in mind. Return to top Return to Features Overview
A DVD is standard for each of our packages. If you want your package also provided on VHS tape, we can do that. Depending on where you willsound track editing">Sound Track Editing
Sometimes, you will want to shorten or lengthen the song you have selected for your sound track to match the number and timing of the photos in your Photo Memory Video. We provide this as an optional service on each of our packages. There are additional details in the "Photo Memory Video Preparation Guide" on the How-to Resources page. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Synchronized Sound Track
be playing your Photo Memory Video, you may want to have a VHS tape backup as insurance. Of course, DVD-only features, such as menus, will not be available on VHS tapes. Each tape will be attractively labelled and provided in a protective sleeve. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Synchronized Sound Track
be playing your Photo Memory Video, you may want to have a VHS tape backup as insurance. Of course, DVD-only features, such as menus, will not be available on VHS tapes. Each tape will be attractively labelled and provided in a protective sleeve. Return to top Return to Features Overview
Specialists in Photo Memory Videos
Specialists in Photo Memory Videos
Remembrance of Things Past Video Productions is a professional video production company serving the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota.
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The contents of this web site may not be copied without written permission from RTP Video Productions.
All rights reserved
The contents of this web site may not be copied without written permission from RTP Video Productions.