We took lots of photos during the holidays and, in order to keep them longer, we decided to make a CD containing all the shots, so that we could review them in the future. Instead of creating a simple data disc (which will only be accessible from a computer), we can use some free programs to make a photo CD with automatic slideshow, background music and initial choice menu, so that we can access the memories we care about even more when we are in the living room, with the help of the trusty table DVD player. In this guide we will show you all the free programs that we can use to create a CD full of photos and with interactive slideshows, to give to our relatives and friends or to jealously keep in our memories box. READ ALSO: Create photo videos, music, effects as image slideshows
The best programs to make photo CDs with slideshows
Even if CDs are no longer used as they once were, they are still very useful for storing files for a very long period of time: compared to USB sticks and mechanical discs, a disc can be kept in a safe place, without fear of 'act of the time (10 years and more). Below we have collected all the free programs that we can use on Windows to make photo CDs with interactive slideshows.Icecream Slideshow Maker
The first program that we recommend to use to create the CD with the photos is Icecream Slideshow Maker.
With this program, with a simple interface, we will be able to create our CD disc by inserting transitions, music, sound effects, start menus and personalized texts (both within the photos and as covers before a series of photos), choosing to time to time the transition time of the photos. Once the slideshow has been created, we can preview it in the small window at the top right, so as to immediately check the result. When we are ready, just click on the Create button, insert a blank CD or DVD and proceed with the burning of the project.
Movavi Slideshow Maker
One of the best programs in the category is definitely Movavi Slideshow Maker, available for free for Windows.
The program has an interface very similar to that of a real video editor, with which we can add the photos for the slideshow directly in the timeline in the lower bar. After adding the photos, we can use one of the numerous transition effects available with the program to create the actual slideshow, but also add texts (on the photos or as covers), start menu, make adjustments in color, brightness and contrast and add audio files (great as background music) or voice comments (via microphone).
At the end of the creation we can choose to export the video slideshow created on an MP4 file (therefore transferable to any disk or device).
PhotoStage Slideshow Software
Another very useful program that we can use to create an artistic photo CD is PhotoStage Slideshow Software.
With this program we will have a complete interface, complete with a lower timeline, with which we can add all our photos in sequence, choosing the transition effects, the duration of the slideshow and the addition or not of special effects (text, cover, menu etc.).
Also in this case we will be able to burn our project immediately, inserting an empty disc inside the burner and pressing on Export .
Freemore Slideshow Maker
Another program to make a free photo video on Windows is Freemore Slideshow Maker.
The interface is very simple, within the reach of non-computer science users: to create the disc with slideshow we will only have to insert the photos into the interface, choose to activate the transition effects (generated randomly) and add, if we want it, an audio file. At the end of the configuration we can create an MP4 video with the photos in slideshow, ready to be burned on CD or DVD (we can also use the burning functionality included in Windows).
Free Bolide Slideshow Creator
Another very good program for making a photo CD is Free Bolide Slideshow Creator.
The simple and linear interface of this program will allow you to organize your photos in the convenient sequence timeline, where you just need to add the various photos and choose the desired transition effects to make the video. At the end of the creation, we can admire the final result using the video player included in the program, so as to immediately notice any possible error. After verification we can export the video in MKV format, so that we can save it on any empty CD or DVD inserted in the burner.
Conclusions
If we have many photos of an event that we particularly care about, we can make the memory indelible by using one of the programs we mentioned above, so we can create a photo CD with breathtaking effects, musical background and captivating titles.If the program we used does not integrate the burn functionality (we have therefore obtained only one video file), we can burn the video slideshow using one of the recommended programs in our guide on How to Burn CDs and DVDs for free .
Instead of a simple data CD we want to create a video DVD with the slideshows created "> How to create a video DVD to watch it on TV.
If, on the other hand, the video is in an unreadable format with a simple data CD or DVD, we can convert it to a format supported by all table players by reading our guide on Converting MKV video to AVI or burning MKV to DVD .
