There are a lot of uses for slideshows. They are a quick and easy way to create videos that can commemorate special events by showing photos with accompanying music. Suffice to say, there are tons of software out there that try to accommodate the need for beautifully made slideshows. We have the industry giants and mainstays like Windows Movie Maker and Animoto, but looking for new and better software is always a good idea. SmartSHOW 3D developed by AMS Software is a slideshow maker that includes 3D effects. Is it a good enough replacement for the industry staples?
The SmartSHOW 3D definitely leaves a good first impression. The installation process was standard. Users won’t get lost since all it takes is a quick download of the installer file and running the program. The program had no noticeable mistakes and typographical errors. It also experienced little to no performance issues. It does slow down sometimes when you’re previewing animation.
The interface does seem a bit juvenile and unprofessional, however. Usually, for programs such as these, you’d like to look sleek and modern. This program, however, doesn’t follow that aesthetic. Instead, it looks a bit childish with its rounded buttons and large animations. I will grant the program this: The large icons are extremely useful. The large font size and readable text also make the program easy and convenient to use.
All those technical elements aside, the SmartSHOW 3D does perform well in its advertised function. It has a lot of features that slideshow makers will greatly appreciate. For example, the program has both a Storyboard and a Timeline. This may not be a big deal to most people, but for people who plan to make professional slideshows, having both a timeline and a storyboard will be really great.
You can also add animation effects and transitions. There’s a wide variety of options to choose from such as falling snow, sunbeams, clouds, spring blossoms, snowfall, butterflies, heart effects, blur effects, and more. One negative aspect about the program, though, is that whenever you need to preview effects and animation, you’ll be taken to a pop-up dialogue box instead of playing directly when on the gallery. Additionally, you can’t customize the effects that the SmartSHOW 3D came with. You’re going to have to work with these effects on an as-is basis. That said, there are a lot of these effects, so its lack of customization features are offset by the fact that it has a lot of them.
There’s a lot of things to love about the SmartSHOW 3D. It’s not perfect, but if you’re just looking for a program that you can use to make quick slideshows then this program is for you. It may be a bit difficult to use at the beginning, but if you give it a little bit of time and just practice with it, there’s no doubt that you’ll be making awesome slideshows in no time.
Version
20
License
Trial version
Platform
Windows
OS
Windows Vista
Language
English
Downloads
45
Developer
AMS Software
