Mike Goodger

MakubX - Thank you, I have not yet reinstalled PhotoStage Free, but I am pretty sure that you have given me the right answer. I have had things like that before.

Many thanks!

I was downloading some jpg files from Google Drive online to a folder on my Windows 10 laptop when the Photostage Free icon suddenly appeared in my folder and I could only download the files into Photostage Free, as if I wanted to make a slide show.

I could not get out of this, so I uninstalled Photostage Free until I can learn how to prevent this from happening. Usually, Photostage Free is not in my Start menu and it sits dormant with its Desktop Shortcut until I double-click on the shortcut item.

Why has Photostage Free suddenly gone "busy-body" and intrusive, please?

4 hours ago, Nationalsolo said:

No!    The short slideshow example I posted was set up in Photostage   (Unlicensed)  Non-commercial home use only  (The slideshow creator)

Not Videopad. 

Here are  the same slides treated using some of the available effects.....Photostage - (not Videopad). . . . . .

Thanks Nat, that is clear. I now understand better the relative strengths of Photostage and Videopad.

I really do appreciate the free versions of both programs, with the availability of the paid versions at very reasonable prices.

Nat, thank you for the video - done with Free Videopad Home I assume ("Free" is different from "Trial", I think?).

Very neat, and as you managed to export to MP4, I'll persevere with the Free Videopad for a while and see whether I need to buy the Paid version.

Very helpful, thank you.

Mike

Yes, I probably exported my video to a default format and then converted it to MP4.

Does Videopad Free let me Export to e.g. MP4, etc? Or Export in a limited way?

(I have found a Videopad Free video that I must have exported, but I can't remember how I did it?)

Nat - many thanks. I'll try your suggestions, especially the export function.

From the little that I did with Photostage before, I think that it is a bit of a "sleeper"/secret - a useful tool for less technical amateurs. Since Microsoft killed Movie Maker (why?) there has been a gap in the market, and with NCH calling Photostage a "slideshow producer", that under-sells it, but obviously they have put more work into Videopad and they want to sell it.

They are both great value for money and buying Photostage Home is still an option for me.

14 hours ago, borate said:

Yes, it's likely that the reason VP tutorials are more extensive is that it is a more complex program.  Nat's suggestions are solid.

Thanks again.

Nat - many thanks, that is very helpful and has increased my leaning towards Photostage as the easier-to-learn software.

I have also been searching around looking for the answer to the question:
"What are the limitations of the Free Version of Photostage, compared with the Paid "Home" version?"

Can you help me with this, please?

Mike

3 hours ago, borate said:

Whichever is the easiest learning curve for you to accomplish the goal is the way to go.  For simple slideshows PS may be your best bet.

Borate - thank you.  Re "For simple slideshows Photostage may be your best bet.", I am confused about "slideshow" - with Photostage I have mainly combined several video clips, adding an occasional still photo, so the results are mainly video - so may Photostage still be "my best bet" for this?

I.e. both Photostage and Videopad will combine video clips and stills into "movies", but Videopad has more advanced capabilities for enthusiasts?

And that is why there are more tutorials for Videopad than for Photostage?

Is that correct?

I am not an enthusiast but I occasionally combine stills and videos into very simple home videos. Often to demonstrate a product that I have bought, or designed and made.

I have tried to use Free versions of both Photostage and Videopad and I think (I fumble with software) that Photostage seems a little easier?

Should I buy Photostage Home or Videopad Home? Both are reasonably priced, so it is not about price.

Pros and Cons please?

Do both have good Tutorial Software?

Thanks,

Mike

On 7/26/2021 at 2:19 PM, borate said:

The free version link from the home page...   https://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/vpsetup.exe

Sorry Borate, I forgot to say "Thanks" for this, but the link saved me some time so I do appreciate it.

Mike

I am not an enthusiast but I occasionally combine stills and videos into very simple home videos. Often to demonstrate a product that I have bought, or designed and made.

I have tried to use Free versions of both Photostage and Videopad and I think (I fumble with software) that Photostage seems a little easier?

Should I buy Photostage Home or Videopad Home? Both are reasonably priced, so it is not about price.

Pros and Cons please?

Do both have good Tutorial Software?

Thanks,

Mike

Many thanks Nat, I have found the Cache and emptied it, and I have installed Photostage too, where the cache handling is similar. For me, Videopad and Photostage do much the same things, so I shall decide which one to keep and use.

Mike

Hi, I am new here.

I already get rid of Projects as I go along by hitting Discard not Save, but I think I have got some old projects left in there somewhere.

I don't really do Projects, I just shorten/split clips and then Export them to MP4.