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A slideshow is a powerful and innovative tool to showcase your memories and express ideas. Putting your pictures into a slideshow can bring them to life in a way that static photos can’t. A photo slideshow allows you to be creative and artistic, creating a storyline that will engage the viewers. In recent years, due to the emergence of user-friendly software applications, creating a photo slideshow has become easier than ever.
Whether you are making a slideshow to exhibit your photography skills or generating a presentation for a client, selecting the right slideshow software is imperative to ensure excellent results. In this blog post, we will provide you with an overview of the best six photo slideshow makers for Windows.
Video Tutorial:
What is a Photo Slideshow Maker?
A photo slideshow maker is a software program that helps users create photo slideshows from a collection of images. The software allows you to add several images, music, and transitions that create a story. Moreover, these slideshow makers provide users with various customization options that enable them to alter the animations and timings of the slided to make a tailored production.
Top 6 Photo Slideshow Maker Recommendations
Top 1: Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe
Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe is the perfect photo slideshow maker tool for users who want to create professional-grade slideshows. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows you to upload your photos and videos and choose from over 480+ ready-made templates for creating the perfect slideshow.
If you like to customize your pictures and videos, this software allows you to use its advanced editing features, which include adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, and other parameters. Moreover, you can add your favorite music, text, and add beautiful transitions to make your slideshow stand out.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Offers more than 480+ pre-designed templates
- Advanced editing features like adjustment of brightness and contrast
- Ability to add favorite music, text, and beautiful transitions
Cons:
- It’s somewhat expensive compared to other tools
- Not easy to navigate for beginners
- Sometimes audio and video may not sync properly
Top 2: Adobe Premiere Elements 2021
Adobe Premiere Elements 2021 is designed explicitly for video making, and slideshow production is just one of its features. It’s suitable for both beginners and seasoned users. It is a tool with excellent editing features, and its intuitive user interface lets users customize their slideshow easily.
It has over 50+ music and sound effects options that users can add to their slideshows, making them engaging and lively. Adobe Premiere Elements provides advanced editing features like auto-generation of transitions and automatic color correction.
Pros:
- User-friendly and offers a simplified interface
- Over 50+ sound effects and music options
- Comprehensive editing options
- Auto-generation of transitions and automatic color correction
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other options
- Not customizable to suit user needs and preferences
- Unstable when processing large files
Top 3: iSkysoft Slideshow Maker
iSkysoft Slideshow Maker is a tool that offers several advanced features for its users with a user-friendly interface. With this tool, users can create exciting slideshows. The software has multimedia options such as adding pictures, text, music, and videos and supports several file formats.
Users can choose from over 140+ predesigned templates, including themes, styles and colors that make it an excellent choice for users who do not want to make slides from scratch. In addition, the software allows panoramic slideshows and has in-built editing features that allow you to edit videos and adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Pros:
- User-Friendly with a professional look
- Has several templates and themes to choose from
- In-built editing features that allow adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation
- Allows creation of panoramic slideshows
Cons:
- Lacks some extra functionalities and customization to some extent
- Not suitable for professional video editors
- The free version offers few features
Top 4: Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is an entirely free and suitable-for-beginners software. It’s simple and easy-to-use software that allows quick slideshow creation, making it one of the most popular free slideshow software for Windows users.
Windows Movie Maker offers several soundtracks and sound effects. Additionally, users can edit their videos, add effects, and customize transitions to suit their preferences.
Pros:
- Simple, fast, and easy-to-use
- Offers several soundtracks and sound effects
- Very lightweight software
- In-built editing features that allow adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation
Cons:
- Less customization options compared to paid software
- Not suitable for professional video editors
- Has limited transitions unless you download additional transitions
Top 5: CyberLink MediaShow 6
CyberLink MediaShow 6 is an excellent tool that offers a streamlined user interface with comprehensive editing features. The software has a feature called FaceMe, which detects faces and sorts them in a specific folder, making importing images and creation of slideshows a streamlined process.
The software has over 40+ ready-made designs and templates with different styles and colors choices of logos, frames, and menus. In addition, CyberLink allows users to upload their slideshows on popular platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, making it easy to share their work.
Pros:
- Allows detection of faces and sorting in a special folder
- Comprehensive editing options
- Over 40+ ready-made designs and templates
- Allows uploading of slideshows on popular platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo
Cons:
- Does not allow for creating custom templates
- Limited export options
- $70 is quite expensive for the software
Top 6: Movavi Slideshow Maker
Movavi Slideshow Maker is another excellent software that offers its users an intuitive interface with several editing options. The software generally works well for creating simple, customized slideshows.
Movavi Slideshow Maker has several unique features, such as color adjustment and opacity, making it possible to customize the videos’ colors. The software has several built-in transitions that allow users to add compelling motion effects to their videos. Moreover, it has options for adding text captions and audio clips to their slideshows.
Pros:
- Intuitive interface with several editing options
- Several unique features like color adjustment and opacity
- Built-in transitions for adding compelling motion effects to videos
- Allows for adding text captions and audio clips to slideshows
Cons:
- Some essential functions are available only in the paid version
- Rendering times can become quite long for larger-sized files
- Limited text formatting options
Comprehensive Comparison of Each Software
We’ve put together a table comparison of the six best photo slideshow software for Windows. We have compared them based on the features that matter to the users the most, such as free trials, pricing, ease-of-use, and value-for-money.
| Software | Free Trial | Price | Ease-of-Use | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe | Yes/Limited | $69.95/ Annual Subscription | Easy/Some Features May Take Time Finding | Good |
| Adobe Premiere Elements 2021 | Yes/7-days | $99.99/ Lifetime Subscription | Easy-to-Navigate/Intermediate Skill Level | Good |
| iSkysoft Slideshow Maker | No/Free Version Available | $39.95/Lifetime License | Easy-to-Use Interface | Good |
| Windows Movie Maker | Yes/Free | Free | Easy-to-Use Interface | Good |
| CyberLink MediaShow 6 | Yes/30-Days | $69.99/Lifetime License | User-Friendly/Advanced Features are Hard to Find | Good |
| Movavi Slideshow Maker | Yes/7-days | $29.95/Lifetime License | Easy-to-Use Interface | Good |
Our Thoughts on the Best Photo Slideshow Software for Windows
Choosing the best photo slideshow software for Windows can be challenging, but it all comes down to your needs and preferences. For beginners and those who do not wish to spend a lot of money, Windows Movie Maker is an excellent choice. In contrast, Adobe Premiere Elements or Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe are good options for users who seek advanced editing options and do not mind spending more. However, if you prefer a simpler, user-friendly interface with excellent designing and creation choices, iskySoft Slideshow Maker is an excellent option.
5 FAQs about Photo Slideshow Makers
Q1: What is the best photo slideshow maker for Windows?
A1: Choosing the best photo slideshow maker tool for Windows depends on your specific needs. However, some of the best options include Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe, Adobe Premiere Elements 2021, iSkysoft Slideshow Maker, Windows Movie Maker, CyberLink MediaShow 6, and Movavi Slideshow Maker.
Q2: Can I get a free trial of photo slideshow maker software?
A2: Yes, most photo slideshow maker software tools offer a free trial of their services. The free version may allow you to access only limited features.
Q3: Is it hard to create a photo slideshow?
A3: Not at all! Creating a photo slideshow is relatively easy and straightforward with photo slideshow makers. All you have to do is drag and drop your photos and videos and select some music and templates, and the software will do the rest!
Q4: What file formats can I use in a photo slideshow maker?
A4: The file formats that you can use in a photo slideshow maker depend on the software you choose. However, most software supports several image formats, including JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF. Video file extensions such as MP4, MPG, AVI, and MOV are also supported by most software.
Q5: Can I share my slideshow on social media?
A5: Yes, most photo slideshow maker tools allow users to upload their slideshows on social media platforms like YouTube and Vimeo easily.
Final Thoughts
Creating a photo slideshow is a fantastic way to document your memories and showcase your photography skills. With the best photo slideshow maker software, you can create stunning slideshows that will please your viewers. However, you have to choose the right software that will meet your needs and preferences. The six photo slideshow makers discussed in this article offer some of the best options available for Windows users.