ProShow Producer 9.0

Generates professional slideshows with support for audio and video files. Features transitions, effects, audio editing, multi-output formats, and more.

ProShow Producer creates slideshows from photos and clips. The application allows you to add multiple effects, such as transitions and music backgrounds. It certainly has more features and produces nicer slideshows than other similar programs. As a result, it is also more difficult to use; that is probably the reason why most users will be grateful that there is an optional wizard to guide you along the way. Thankfully, the product is accompanied by excellent help documentation.

The application has three different preset workspaces that match the typical workflow. You can always start from the Build Workspace, which is mainly intended to import all necessary resources. Luckily, the application supports opening practically all video and picture file types. The resources can be imported directly as slides or placed on a timeline. Then, there is the Design Workplace, in which the interface layout gives you more room to preview the slideshow and work on specific details. Finally, once everything is ready, you can move to the Publish Workplace and set the output options.

The program has multiple very convenient features. Fortunately, there are a lot of ready-made transition effects to choose from. Likewise, the tool allows you to use soundtracks for your slideshow, which you can import from local files or an impressive online repository of royalty-free audio files. You can also use the built-in animations or create your own. In this respect, it is excellent there is keyframe animation available. Moreover, you can arrange contents in layers and add captions. In the case of videos, it is possible to trim just a segment from them or adjust their playback speed.

A great advantage of this tool is undoubtedly its multiple ways to publish the resulting slideshow. If you decide to export as common video, you will probably be surprised by its support of more than 50 video formats, including standard high definition and even 4K. Besides, it can upload movies directly to various video-sharing sites or burn them to DVD and Blu-ray discs. Other useful types of output are creating executable slideshows or standalone HTML5 video.

All in all, PhotoShow Producer creates professionally looking slideshows. From my own experience as a software reviewer, I could say that it is by far the best application of its kind. Unluckily, it can be a little tricky to use if you do not have much experience. Besides, its high price can make it unaffordable for most home users as not many people are willing to spend over 200 dollars to watch family photographs in a fancy way. However, its developers also sell ProShow Gold and ProShow Web, which have different features and prices. Similarly, packs with more than 2300 additional effects are also available.