Creating a Visual Audio Story in Microsoft Photo Story 3

Prior to beginning this tutorial, you will need to save images and sounds to file ready for use. You may like to use photographs from a digital camera, illustrations that you have scanned, or images saved from the internet. Sounds may be found on the internet or you may like to save a copy of a song from CD onto your computer. You may even like to be daring and create a sound file of your own by recording yourself singing or playing instrument…go on be brave!

To save an image from the internet

  1. Place your cursor on the image you would like to save and right click the mouse
  2. Select Save Picture As
  3. Select the folder you would like to store your image in and click Save

To save a sound file from the internet

  1. Place you cursor on the sound file and right click the mouse
  2. Select Save Target As
  3. Select the folder you would like to story your sound file in and click Save

Using Microsoft Photo Story 3

Microsoft Photo Story includes a Wizard that will take you through the step by step process to create an audio visual story.

  1. Select Begin a Story
  2. Click Import Pictures, locate and select the images you would like to use in your story and click OK

  1. Once you have imported your images onto the film strip, select Next

Adding Text to Your Images

You may like to include some text on your images such as names, dates, quotes etc.

1.Select the image that you would like to add text to from the timeline. Type into the textbox and adjust the font, colour and positioning to suit

2.Continue adding text to individual pictures by selecting them on the timeline. Once you have completed adding text to all your images, select Next

Customising a Motion Path

Microsoft Photo Story 3 has a unique feature of panning in and out of your images. In this step you select how and where you would like the panning to occur.

  1. Select Customise Motion
  2. From the Motion and Duration tab, tick Specify start and end position of motion

  1. Two copies of your image is presented. The first one is titled Start position: and the second identical image End position: Both images have a box that can be repositioned by dragging the resize handles. If you would like your image to show the full view then zoom in to a specific spot, you would leave the Start Position image as is and adjust the size and position of the box on the second image to suit. Alternatively, you may like your start in and pan out. Once you are happy with your choice, select Save
  2. Use the arrow button to view and adjust your next image. Once you have adjusted the panning properties for all images select the Transition tab
  3. The transition menu allows you to select an effect that will be played as your images move from one picture to the next. Make you selection and click Save. Once you are happy with the transition effects you have selected for each image in your presentation, click Close

Recording the Narration

Before recording your narration, ensure that your microphone is plugged in, switched on, and configured… this always helps!! Before recording your narration, you may like to type your text into the prompt box. This allows you to read from the screen while recording. Alternatively, you may prefer to print out your speech and read from that. The choice is yours.

  1. Click the red record button and begin speaking.
  2. Once you have recorded the information for the first slide, it is a good idea to hit the stop button, select Preview and listen to your recording. This will give you an indication of whether you need to slow down, speak louder, or add more animation to your voice.
  3. Continue recording the narration to accompany each picture. Remember to speak clearly and slowly.

  1. When you have completed recording your narration, select Preview Story to view your work. You can erase your narration and start over if need be. Once you are happy with your narration click Next

Adding Sound and Music Files

This is where we get to add the atmosphere to our presentation.

  1. Highlight the image that you would like the music to begin playing from.
  2. Click Select Music and locate your music or sound file from your folder

  1. Adjust the volume to ensure that the music is complementary without drowning out the narration. Select Preview Final Story to ensure that everything is exactly how you want it
  2. Select Save Project and follow the wizard prompts. Saving your work as a project allows you to reopen this file to make further adjustments to your presentation. Click Next

Saving Your Presentation

Now that we have saved the file as a project, we need to save it as a presentation that will play in Windows Media Player and other elected devices.

  1. Select what you want to do with your story from the list of options
  2. Choose a location that you would like your story saved to by clicking Browse
  3. Click Next. Your story will be saved to file and at the completion of the save process you will be asked if you would like to view your story or begin a new story. Make the choice that best suits you because you are now done!Easy as pie.