How to Create a Digital Story Using Photo Story - GoNorth ...

Getting started:
How to Create a Digital Story Using Photo Story
• Download the free software* from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=92755126-a008-49b3-
b3f4-6f33852af9c1&DisplayLang=en (or just visit www.microsoft.com + downloads) *This program only works with Microsoft XP
• If you want to add narration or other sounds, make sure you have a working microphone attached to your computer
Collect photos:
• Use a scanner to scan printed photographs
• Take photos using a digital camera
• To use images from GoNorth!, visit www.polarhusky.com
• To copy, right-click your mouse over the image, choosing Save Image As
• Save your graphics in a folder that is easy to find
• You can also find free photos at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us
Collect sounds:
• To use sound files from GoNorth!, visit www.polarhusky.com
• To copy sound files, right-click your mouse over the sound file,
choosing Save Link As
• Save your files in a folder that is easy to find
• You can also find free sound files at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us
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Begin presentation:
• Open the Photo Story program from your computer’s Start Menu
• Choose Begin a new story and Next
Add photos:
• From the Import and Arrange window, click on Import Pictures
to navigate to your saved graphics folder
• Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard with your left pinky finger
(keep holding it down!)
• While holding down the CTRL key, use your mouse to click on multiple
pictures to import
• Once you have selected all the pictures you want to import (you can let
go of the CTRL key now), click OK
• You will see all your pictures in a small filmstrip format at the bottom
of the Import and Arrange window—this is a timeline showing the current
order in which your pictures will display
• To rearrange the order of your photos in this timeline, click and drag an
image you want to move—release your mouse button to drop the picture to
its new position
• You can also use the Arrange Buttons to rearrange photos:
Click once on a picture you want to move (it will highlight in
blue), then click the left and right arrows until your image
is in the correct position
(Careful! The X button will delete your picture!)
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Edit photos:
• To edit a picture, click it once in the film strip—
it will highlight in blue and appear in your main
window (use the arrow buttons to navigate
through them all)
• There are several ways to edit your photo:
Correct
Color
Levels
Correct
Red
Eye
• Choose any of these options to automatically
adjust your picture
Rotate Edit
• To undo any of your edits, simply click the same
editing button again and your image will go back to its original format
• If any of your photos have a black border, you can remove this by clicking on Remove Black Borders
o Photo Story will analyze your pictures to see if it can effectively remove the black borders
o If you are happy with how your pictures will change (a before and after preview will be provided for each photo),
choose Yes (to edit photos one at a time) or Yes to All (to edit photos all at once)
o To cancel the removal of black borders and keep your picture in its original format, click No or click Cancel to stop black
border editing completely
o The photos that have had their black borders removed will have this small
pencil and paper icon appearing below them in the film strip view:
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• The Edit button will open an Edit Picture window that has more editing options:
• Under the Rotate and Crop tab:
o Use the Rotate buttons to turn a picture clockwise or counter-clockwise
o To remove unwanted parts of a picture, check the crop box to activate a cropping border—move the crop box by clicking
and dragging it in the middle, or resize the crop borders by click and dragging the edges
o Click Save to keep your changes or Reset to go back to your original, unedited picture
• Under the Auto Fix tab:
o To auto-correct contrast, color levels, and red-eye—click the On or Off buttons to see how the image will change
o Click Save to keep your changes or Reset to go back to your original, unedited picture
• Under the Add Effect tab:
o Use your mouse to activate the special effects drop-down menu—click on an effect to see how the picture will change
o Click Save to keep your changes or Reset to go back to your original, unedited picture
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Add titles:
• When you have finished editing your photos, click Next to add titles to your pictures
• Click once on a photo to select it
(highlighting it in blue)
• Type the title of your image—you will
see it appear on top of your photo
• Use the text formatting boxes to
change how your title will look
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Record narration:
• To configure your microphone and set the recording volume, click on the microphone icon:
A wizard will test your sound hardware to make sure it can record your voice and play sounds—just follow the instructions
• Click on the slide you want to add narration to—it will highlight in blue and appear in your main window
• Add any talking notes for
yourself in the Type
Notes Here work box
• To record, push the
red circle button:
• To stop recording,
push the blue
square button:
• To delete your
narration, click
this button:
• The recording length will display in seconds
• Click the next slide you want to add narration to
• When you are done adding narration to your
chosen slides, check out your Photo Story by
clicking the Preview button
• Here you will be able to watch and listen to your
new Photo Story—use the pause, stop, rewind and
fast-
forward
controllers
as you
need
• When
you’re
done
reviewing,
click Next
to continue
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Customize motion:
• Clicking on the Customize Motion button will allow you to customize motion, duration, and transition
• Do nothing and your picture will appear for an automatic amount of time
• Or, you can specify how long you want the picture to show by editing the seconds box
• Click Preview to see how your story will look
• Click on the Transition tab to experiment with different transitions for you pictures as they play during your Photo Story
• You can also specify how long you want the transition to take by editing the seconds box
• Click Preview to see how your story will look
• When you are happy with your changes to a picture, click Save
• Repeat these steps to customize other pictures in your story
Add music:
• You can add background music to a set of pictures—using the film strip, click once to select the picture where you want the
music to start playing (it will highlight in blue)
• Click Select Music and navigate to your saved sounds folder
• Double-click on the music you want to include in your project
• Click the Preview button to watch and listen to your Photo Story complete with pictures, titles, narration, and music
• Use the pause, stop, rewind and fast-forward controllers as you need
• Choose Delete Music to leave the music out
• When you’re done adding music, click Next to continue
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Save your story:
• For the purposes of submitting your Photo Story to
the Collaboration Zone, choose the first saving
option:
Save your story for playback on your computer
• Save your story in a folder that is easy to find
• Click Next—Photo Story will build your story
for sharing
• Upload your new Photo Story digital story to the
Collaboration Zone
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