10.2. Real World: Creating the Adventure Slideshow
The clock was ticking and we had only hours to put together a slideshow of our week's work for a reception at the Apple Store in Reykjavik. Amazingly, even working with a beta version of Lightroom, we were able to do the job. Here (modified to take into account the latest versions of the software) is what we did.
Starting in the Library Module
Although it's possible to make a selection and arrange the order of images in the Slideshow module, it's a lot easier if you do all that first, in the Library module.
Here's what we did after importing a selection of photos (1600 × 1200 pixels each) from the Adventure photographers:
We created a collection in the Library module and named it Adventure Slideshow.Figure 10-16
Figure 10-16. Figure 10-16
We dragged and dropped the thumbs into order. Do this by placing your cursor over the image area of the thumbnail, click, then drag the image into position. A dark line will appear in between the two existing images. Figure 10-17 Release the cursor and the image will settle in place. Note that you can't sort if you select All Photographs in the Library pane. You need to be in a Folder or Collection. You can also sort a Folder or Collection from the filmstrip. (After custom sorting, the Sort criteria in the toolbar will revert to User Order.)
Figure 10-17. Figure 10-17
We checked to make sure the Creator field in the Metadata pane (circled) was filled in correctly with the photographer's name. Figure 10-18 (Most of the photographers submitted their work with this field filled in, making our job easier.)
Figure 10-18. Figure 10-18
Switch to the Slideshow Module
Next, we switched to the Slideshow module. We started with the default template (called Default) shown here. Figure 10-19 But then we customized it. The default template contained text boxes based on Identity Plate and file name. We deleted the file name box by selecting it and choosing delete. We made a custom text box, one based on the Creator field. (I'll show you how to do this in detail in the next section. ) We left positioning of the caption and Identity Plate until last.
Figure 10-19. Figure 10-19
Choosing the Righthand Panel Settings
Here are our custom settings for the various panes in the right panel:
Options
These settings gave our slides a hint of depth:Figure 10-20
Figure 10-20. Figure 10-20
Cast Shadow: checked
Opacity: 22%
Offset: 34 px
Radius: 32 px,
Angle: −144 degrees.
Layout
These layout settings gave us enough room for our captions and framed our images nicely:Figure 10-21
Figure 10-21. Figure 10-21
Show Guides: checked
All sliders: 106 px
Overlays
At first, we tried using a graphic Identity Plate. Figure 10-22 But wasn't readable, so we switched to a textual one.
Figure 10-22. Figure 10-22
There are a couple ways to bring up the Identity Plate Editor. In the main viewing window, double-click on the Identity Plate text box. From the Overlays Pane, with Identity Plate selected, Option-click (or Alt-click) on the box and select Edit from the contextual menu.Figure 10-23
Figure 10-23. Figure 10-23
In the Overlays pane, our Identity Plate settings are as follows:Figure 10-24
Figure 10-24. Figure 10-24
Override Color: Checked
Opacity: 38 %
Scale: 41%.
We didn't elect to use Rating Stars. We were showing our work in a party environment as entertainment, and not to clients who might have found ratings useful.Figure 10-25
Figure 10-25. Figure 10-25
We selected Text Overlays and used the following settings:Figure 10-26
Figure 10-26. Figure 10-26
Font: Myriad Web Pro, which is very readable
Face: Regular
We didn't add a drop shadow to the text.Figure 10-27
Figure 10-27. Figure 10-27
We created a backdrop with a slight Color Wash and a neutral gray color. Figure 10-28 Our settings were:
Figure 10-28. Figure 10-28
Opacity: 50%
Angle: 45 Degrees
Background Image: deselected
Background Color: selected
Playback
In the Playback pane we opted to use a Soundtrack (a classic Icelandic melody). Figure 10-29 We set our Slide Duration as follows:
Figure 10-29. Figure 10-29
Slides: 1.0 sec
Fades: 0.3 sec
Final Step
As a final step, we sized and arranged our text boxes directly from the main viewing area. I'll show you how to do this in the next section.
Press Play
Once we created the slideshow and hit the Play button, the elegant Lightroom interface went away and our images were revealed in all their glory, one by one. Figure 10-30 You can see our final creation by going to http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/lightroom/ and checking for Lightroom Adventure Iceland Slideshow in the Resources pane.
Figure 10-30. Figure 10-30
Mikkel Aaland
Suddenly, as we were driving on a rugged dirt road on our way to Geyser, a group of women riders appeared. We pulled to the side of the road, and I took many shots of them smiling as they rode by. Then another group of riderless horses followed, trotting smoothly past us. This particular horse caught my attention with its lion-like mane bouncing up and down, reflecting the morning sun. The shot is slightly blurred, because I shot it with a 300mm at 1/180th a second, but I like the way the motion conveys the spirit of the powerful horse.