F.A.Q.

Choose pictures that are candid and show character
Choose a mix between close-ups and group photos
Choose photos that show the most important stages in someone's life. Choose more horizontal shots than vertical shots. The reason for this is that TV screens are wider than they are high, so horizontal shots will the screen and look much better.
Stay away from photos that are too small or out of focus.

What are special effect transitions?

Special effect transitions are the way the slide show moves from one picture to the next. The song you choose typically dictates which transition effect you'll use. With a slower song, a simple fade in/fade out usually looks the best. For an upbeat song a little livelier transition may go well. If you don't specify which you'd like, all we will choose which will look the best.

How many photos do I need to make up a 5, 10, or 20 minute production?
The amount of photos is dependent on your music selections. We can vary the length of time a photo is displayed based on the length of music we have. For example, if you have 175 photos and 12 minutes of music each photo will be displayed for approximately 3 seconds. If you have a specific time requirement, please let your project manager know and we will do our best to get it to exactly what you are looking for!

What size pictures can I send?
We can work with any size pictures up to and including 11 x 17. If you have a picture larger than that please

e-mail us with the dimensions and we will try to accommodate you.
Can I scan the pictures myself and send them to you?
Of course! In fact it will save you money. You may scan them and burn them to a CD and mail it to us. If you are scanning the photos yourself, please keep the following in mind. The higher the resolution, the better your photos will look on the screen, so up to 300 pixels/inch is great. Unfortunately, less than 100 pixels per inch will result in a very grainy picture. You need to save the images as JPEG files, and please label the picture in the order you would like to see them appear in your slideshow. Please see the below chart for ideal scan resolutions:

Picture Size (width or height) Scan Resolution

Less than 4 inches 600 dpi

4 to 6 inches 300 dpi

Greater than 6 inches 200 dpi

Should the photos I send be vertical or horizontal?
Horizontal (landscape) photographs will look best on a TV screen. Vertical photos will look good but will have some blank space to the left and right of the photo.

Can I send photos to you still in their frames or scrapbooks?
Please remove photos from the frames or scrapbooks prior to sending to us. If you are not able to do so, it is recommended that you have the photos scanned before sending them to us. Even taking them to a copy supply store and having a color copy made of the page will typically come out ok.

Will you digitally crop my photos?
Typically we will not crop the photos unless it makes sense to for a better viewing experience. If you would like us to crop a picture, please include a note on your order form.

How should I choose the order for my photos?
We will prepare your project in the exact order that you send the photos to us. For rehearsal/wedding slide shows, most people will show pictures of the groom growing up, pictures of the bride growing up, and then pictures of them together. For other pictures, options include: Chronological Order: baby pictures, childhood pictures, high school, college, dating
By theme: Christmas, vacation, Mother's side of the family, Father's side of the family, pets, grandchildren etc.

Please keep in mind if you are ordering your pictures with post-it notes to label the order of your pictures, write the number on the note first, then apply the note to the back of the picture. Do NOT write directly on the back of the picture as the ink may bleed through to the front, ruining your photograph! Also, be aware that if you apply the sticky note to the back of the picture and then write on the note, the impression of the pen/pencil may show through the front of the picture.

How long will each photo appear on the screen?
It depends on the length of your music. In most slideshows pictures are displayed for about 3 seconds. We find this is long enough to really see the picture but not become bored with it. If you have a picture that you would like displayed longer than the rest, please let us know in the comments section of the Customer Information Forms.

How do I know you will return my photos in the same condition as you received them?
We can understand why you would be worried, because you know how important your photos are. We know how irreplaceable photos and the memories they evoke are, so we treat your photos as if they are our own. To this day, we have never damaged or lost any photo entrusted to us. We guarantee your photos will be returned to you in the same condition as we received them, unless something catastrophic happens that is out of our control.

To put you further at ease, we employ all manner of precautions in our studios to protect your photos (including no liquids or food allowed in the work room). However, since loss or damage in shipment is totally outside our control, we do not need to ask you to sign a waiver on our order form that absolves us of any responsibility for your materials during the shipping process.

How should I protect my photos while they are in transit?
Package your photos well using hard cardboard on all sides to provide a solid shell for your photos. We also recommend you use plastic Ziploc bag to contain each set of photographs to protect them from any spillage during the delivery process.

Do I have to advance the slide manually?
No, once you press play button on your DVD player, the slides will move through on their own.

Do I need to watch the DVD on a computer only?
No, the DVD that we create can be watched with a set-top DVD player or a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive. All you need to do is to insert the DVD disk into the DVD player and press play to watch it on the TV. Please note that some older models of DVD players may not play the DVD-Rs that are used in our recording process. Please check your DVD Player Specifications.

Can my old black-and-white photographs be transferred to DVD?

Of course! We advise transferring your old photographs to DVD to digitally archive them.

Will you return my music and photographs?
Yes, your original materials will be returned to you in the same package as your new DVD. If you have chosen to allow us to buy the music for your slideshow you will also receive a CD with the song files on it.

How many photographs can be transferred to a DVD?
It depends on the duration of a slide and the transition and other special effects applied to the photographs. It is, however, possible to put about 600 photographs on one DVD.

How long will it take you to complete my project?
The turn around time is typically 7-10 days, after all materials have been received. If you have a deadline please e-mail us and we will do our best to get it to you by then. We do have a 24 hour turn-around available for an additional cost. Please e-mail us for more information.

How do I send in my photos and music?
All photos and original music files should be mailed to:
Priceless DVD Show
7 Garden Drive
Clifton Park, NY 12065

We recommend using Priority Mail USPS, UPS or FedEx, simply because you can track your photos.

If you are located in the Capital Region of New York, please contact us to utilize our free pick-up and delivery option.

What if I don't organize my materials?
Please try to organize your material before you send it because this enables us to create the best slide show possible. Only you know the order in which you'd like the photos shown. However, if you don't organize them, we do our best to put them in some sort of order. This does increase the length of time it will take us to return your DVD and materials to you.

Can't I create my own DVD Slide Shows at home?
Yes. Many people are interested in the art of home-based videography and digital imaging. Most new computers today come with rudimentary tools that are capable of creating a digital video production of some type. However, to produce the quality of production that you will receive from us, you would need to invest more time and money than you may be willing to spend.

What if my DVD doesn't play?
On average 98% of all players will play back our DVDs. If your DVD does not play, we will do everything we can to suggest a solution.

Will you keep a copy of my DVD?
We will keep the master of your DVD on file for one year for purposes of reordering. Remember that these DVDs make great gifts for any occasion. If it has been over a year, please contact us. We save as many of our projects as we can in storage.

What about photo retouching?
We will do some minor photo retouching of digital images to enhance the DVD slideshow experience. This includes color correction, cropping, straightening, red-eye correction, and enhancing the detail and lighting when needed. We do this as part of the service to ensure that your DVD slide show is a truly moving experience.

Can I pick my own music?
You can pick your own music for inclusion on the DVD. To include copyrighted music, you must provide an original recording to be used in your production (no burned copies please). Use of the track will be covered under your fair use rights of ownership. If you would like us to provide the music, we can purchase it on your behalf, and that cost will be included in the price of your finished package. When requesting music, please specify the name of the song and the artist.

Can you scan other types of documents for use in the slide show?
Yes, we can also scan other tapes of paper media for use in your slide show. This would include items such as announcements, newspaper articles, brochures, flyers, ticket stubs, cards and letters or just about anything that can be digitized on a flatbed scanner.

Can I order additional copies of my video?
Yes! At the time of purchase, you can order additional copies of the DVD. We also keep products readily available for 1 year and you may reorder any time during that period. The cost for additional DVDs is just $9.99; 5 copies or more are $7.99 each.

What if I want a refund?
The amount of time and labor involved in creating a Priceless DVD Show, does not allow us to offer full refunds. However, if you notify us within 30 days of receiving your project, we will happily redesign your project with the specifications you have in mind. The client is then responsible for all shipping and reproduction costs that may be incurred for the replacement discs.

I have some specific questions that I want answered how can I go about it?
You can send us an e-mail or call us, and we will be glad to answer all of your questions. You may also fill out the "Call Request Form" and one of our sales reps will contact you as soon as possible. We realize that you want specific answers to specific questions. Every video montage is unique, and therefore we do not send out the kind of "one size fits all" canned answers that are common among many Internet-based services. See our Contact Info page for contact information.

Picture Size (width or height)	Scan Resolution
Less than 4 inches	600 dpi
4 to 6 inches	300 dpi
Greater than 6 inches	200 dpi