Introduction

The Application settings dialog allows you to define options for the application. This dialog is called with the  button on the toolbar.
It consists of following 4 tabs:

Application options



Application options

Remember Windows size and positions
  • If this box is checked, the sizes and the positions of all windows and dialogs will be saved and reused the next time you use ffDiaporama.
Remember last used folders
  • If this box is checked, the directories for images, videos, projects, music and the generation of your movie will be saved and reused the next time you use ffDiaporama.
Enable "raster" Graphics system
 For Linux users only :
  • If this box is checked, the graphic system "raster " is used instead of the default graphic system. This option is used only at application start up.
The "raster" Graphics system accelerates the display but can raise problems on some computer in particular with KDE.

Preview options

Frame rate
  • Defines the number of images per second which will be generated to show the preview.
Note: the higher this number, the more smooth the preview will be. On the other hand, more computer resources will be required.
Reduce this number on slow computers or if the gauge for your multimedia reader is frequently in the red zone.
Image transformation (Apply to video during preview)
  • If this box is checked, the effects of transformations will be applied to the images of videos during the preview.
Note: certain effects take particularly long to calculate and can cause the preview to run slowly. In such cases, unchecking this box makes for a smoother preview.

Editor options

Coordinates unit
 This option allows to select the unit for the coordinates which will be used in the properties dialog. You can choose:
  • Percentage: Coordinates (X, Y, Width and Height) are expressed in percentages
  • Pixel: Coordinates (X, Y, Width and Height) are expressed in pixels relative to a screen in 1080p mode
Object position
 This option allows you to adjust the positions occupied by new objects inserted into the timeline.
  • If this option is placed to Insert after the current selected object, then the new slides will be created after the current slide.
  • If this option is placed to Append to the end of the project, then the new slides will be created at the end by the project.
Multiple file insertion
 This option allows you to adjust the way files are sorted when you select several files in Add file.
  • If this box is checked, files will be added in order of their numerical suffix :
    Example: if you select IMG_0025, IMG_0032, MVI_0029 et MVI_0040,
    the files will be inserted as follows : IMG_0025, MVI_0029, IMG_0032 and MVI_0040
  • If this box is unchecked, files are added in alphabetical order.
Object deletion
 If this box is checked, a confirmation prompt will be displayed every time you remove an object:
  • A slide from the main window
  • A shot or bloc from the slide properties dialog box
Default framing
 Defines the framing to be made during the file insertion:
  • Files will be reframed so that the total width of the image is shown 
  • Files will be reframed so that the total height of the image is shown
  • Files will be reframed optimally
Default transition
 Defines the transition to be inserted between inserted slides :
  • A transition chosen randomly from the library
  • No transition
  • Cross-fade transition

Project options


New project geometry
 Selects the image geometry to be used for the creation of projects.
Three geometries are available :
  • 4/3 : Corresponds to an old TV with (almost) square screen
  • 16/9 : Corresponds to a modern TV with rectangular screen
  • 2.35/1 : Corresponds to the Cinema format (on a TV, this format will use black strips at the top and below.)
Note: the geometry of a project is defined once and for all when it is created. It is not possible to modify it afterwards.
Default 1st shot duration
 Defines the default duration of the first shot for slides during their creation.
Next shot duration
 Defines the default duration of further shots.
Speed wave
 Defines the speed curve to be used for the transitions and the animations:
  • Linear : The speed of the transitions and the animations is linear (i.e. the speed is constant).
  • Sine quarter : The speed of the transitions and the animations follows the first quarter of a sine curve (i.e. transitions and animations start slowly, accelerate, then end slowly).

Rendering options



Default device mode rendering options

Smartphone
 Selects the default type and equipment model when you will click the "Player and Smartphone" button of the "Render movie" menu
Multimedia system Selects the default type and equipment model when you will click the "Multimedia system" button of the "Render movie" menu
For the WEB
 Selects the default type and equipment model when you will click the "For the Web" button of the "Render movie" menu

Default advanced rendering options

File format
 Selects the default file type to use for the rendering out of the proposed list.
Video standard
 Selects the default video standard to use: PAL or NTSC.
Format
 Selects the default image format to use for the rendering out of the proposed list.
Video codec
 Selects the default video codec to use for the rendering out of the proposed list.
Bit rate
 Selects the default bit rate to use for video during the rendering out of the proposed list.
Audio codec
 Selects the default audio codec to use for the rendering out of the proposed list.
Bit rate
 Selects the default bit rate to use for audio during the rendering out of the proposed list.

Manage Device Database



This tab allows you to modify the equipment profiles database. The database is actually composed of two parts:
The device type zone allows you to select the type of equipment to be shown in the list.
The list shows the categories and the device types present in the database. The following buttons allow you to act on the database:

Add device: Allows you to create a new device which will be added to the database.
The creation of a new device is made in 3 steps:
1- You must first create a device
2- You define the various parameters
3- You click the "Apply modifications" button to register the parameters

Remove device: Allows you to delete a device.
Note that you can delete only devices which you created - those shown with the icon

Reset to default: Cancels the modifications that you made on a device defined in the default ffDiaporama database

Device subtype: Allows you to select the category in which the equipment is classified
Device model : Enter here the name of the device (free text entry field)

Then enter all the parameters required for rendering videos that are to be associated with the device profile (File format, video Standard, etc.)

See also


ffDiaporama 1.0