The Photopia Blog
Tips, tutorials & inspiration for making slideshows
May 23, By Photopia
Applying Random Transitions

Photopia gives you the ability to randomly apply transitions to multiple slides at once. There is an option to use all of the transitions installed in your program, or you can create your own custom set of transitions. Read more
May 17, By Photopia
Creating Scrolling Captions – Full Pan Up

Creating your own scrolling captions is a simple animation that can be done using one of two methods: using Keyframes or the Full Pan Up Behavior Effect. In today’s blog you’ll learn how to create this effect using the Full Pan Up Behavior Effect. Read more
May 9, By Photopia
Creating Scrolling Captions – Keyframes

Creating your own scrolling captions is a simple animation that can be done using one of two methods: using Keyframes or the Full Pan Up Behavior Effect. In today’s blog you’ll learn how to create this effect using Keyframes. Read more
May 2, By Photopia
Contained Layers in the Layer List

Certain types of layers in the Layers List can contain other layers inside of them, such as Groups, Masking Layers, and Adjustment Layers. Read more
April 25, By Photopia
Installing an Effect Package

There is a new tutorial video that shows how to install and manage Effects Packages. Watch Video
April 18, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Layer Order in the Layers List

The numerical layer order in the Layers List does not represent a position on the screen or the order in which the images were added to the slide. The Layer order represents a stacking order, like a deck of cards. Read more
March 28, By Photopia
New Photopia Update – Build 949

There are lots of exciting additions and updates to this new Photopia Build! Click here to view the entire list of updates.
The most notable update is the introduction of Effects Packages for Photopia Director users. An Effects Package is a collection of effects, compiled into a single file that can be exported and distributed to others.
Read more about creating Effects Packages in Director.
March 21, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Using the Font Browser

The Font Browser gives a visual representation of the fonts installed on your system. This feature can be helpful in finding specific fonts, seeing which fonts are already used in the current show, and viewing what a custom phrase looks like in different fonts. Read more.
March 14, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Applying Styles to Multiple Slides

You can apply a single Slide Style to multiple slides at one time, saving time and creating your shows that much faster. Read more.
March 7, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Nudging

Did you know that you can nudge the position of your layers using the arrow keys on your keyboard? Read more.
February 28, By Photopia
Suspending Photopia Subscriptions

Your Photopia subscription can be temporarily suspended when you know you won’t be using it for a while. This pauses your billing and program activation but doesn’t cancel them. Read more or watch explanation video
February 14, By Photopia
Deactivating a Photopia License

Your Photopia subscription allows you to install Photopia on two computers, but what can you do if you want to change one of those computers? How can you remove a license from one computer and add it to another? Learn more
February 7, By Photopia
Transferring Projects and Effects between computers

Your Photopia subscription allows you to install Photopia on two computers, even if they are different operating systems, such as Windows and Mac. This allows you to work on a Project on a home computer, then transfer it to a laptop to work on the go.
Transferring Projects from one computer to another can be done easily using the Export/Import Libraries feature. Learn more
January 31, By Photopia
Preview Modes – Single, Dual, Triple

When working in the Animations tab, specifically with keyframes, there are options to view your preview with one, two, or three windows. Each window represents a keyframe. Learn more
January 24, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Image Orientation and Aspect Ratio

There are two terms that describe the shape of your images: Image Orientation and Aspect Ratio. Read more about these terms in todays’ Training Tuesday. Learn more
January 17, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Slide Names

Slide names can provide visual information on your slides, including the name of an applied Slide Style or custom information that you add. Learn more
January 10, By Photopia
Include / Exclude Background from Transitions

When adding a transition between two slides, there is an option to include, or exclude, the background from the transition. This gives you extra visual options when applying some transitions. Learn more
January 3, By Photopia
Slide Background vs Show Backgroud

Shows in Photopia can have a single Show Background seen on all slides, different backgrounds in individual slides, or both. Learn more
December 21, By Photopia
File Modification Detected

Have you ever noticed a yellow notification in the lower right corner of Photopia that says “File Modification Detected.”? In today’s blog post you’re going to learn exactly what it means, and what your options are. Learn more
December 6, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: rearranging images in the Content List

The Content List does more than list the contents in your slide. In today’s tutorial you’ll learn how rearranging your images in the Content List affects your images in the Layers List and in Slide Styles. Learn more
NOVEMBER 29, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Managing Linked Content

Linking between layers happens when the same source content is used in a single slide or show template. This makes it easy to change content across all linked layers. When changing the image source in one layer that is linked to others, they all get updated. Learn more
NOVEMBER 22, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Rotation Center Point

The Center Point Tool shows the location where a layer rotates and tilts around. You can change its location using the Rotation Center Axis settings. This gives you some amazing animation options! Learn more
NOVEMBER 15, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Animation Tools

There are four animation tools that allow you to transform your layers right in the Preview window. Learn where to find and how to use these tools in today’s blog. Learn more
NOVEMBER 8, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: The Selection Tool

The Selection Tool allows you to select images in both the Layers list and in the Preview window. When it is disabled you can only select layers in the Layers list. Learn more
NOVEMBER 1, By Photopia
Lily Memorial Style Pack Released

Today we are releasing a new Lily Memorial Style Pack. This Style Pack comes with 14 Slide Styles, including a Title slide and slides that use 1 – 4 images. Many of the Styles will adjust to fit any image orientation. You can download this pack directly from the News Section of your Photopia Home Page. The song used in the preview is called “Another Good Day (Instrumental)” and is available in the Director Music Library. The transitions used in the preview are Blur-Zoom and various Push transitions that come with both Photopia Director and Creator. Watch Video
OCTOBER 25, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Video Trimmer

The Video Trimmer window allows you to trim either the beginning or ending of any video file in a slide. Learn more
OCTOBER 18, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Audio Trimmer: Trim and Fade

The Audio Trimmer window allows you to trim and fade either the beginning or ending of any Soundtrack. Learn more
OCTOBER 11, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Creating the Typewriter Effect

The Typewriter Effect (individual letters in a text layer appearing one at a time in a specific order) can be created in Photopia by using the Fade In Fly In Effect. Learn more
OCTOBER 4, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Animating Captions with Layers

If you have both an image layer and a caption layer that you want to move together, you may find it easier to animate them as a single unit by putting them in a Group. Learn more
SEPTEMBER 27, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Hidden Slide Styles

Have you ever searched for a Slide Style that you know you have installed, but just can’t seem to find it? Well, it may be hidden from you if you previously set a Search Filter. Learn more
SEPTEMBER 20, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Slide Timing Mode

There are several options for how your slide time is set. In the bottom right corner of every slide you will see a Timing Mode icon. Learn more
SEPTEMBER 14, By Photopia
Sending a Problem Report

SEPTEMBER 6, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Remix With Wizard

The Wizard is a great tool to start building a new show with some assistance from Photopia, but did you know that the Wizard is available to be used while you are working on a show? Continue reading more to learn about all the Wizard Remix options. Read more
AUGUST 30, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Deleting and Restoring Projects

One of the new additions to Photopia 2.0 that allows for more flexibility in deleting shows is the new Trash Project Group. Read more
AUGUST 23, By Photopia
Today is the day! The next version of Photopia is finally here!

We just released version 2.0 of Director and Creator. There are a ton of new features and improvements. Read more
AUGUST 16, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Adding Sound to a Slide

You can add a sound file to a single slide or record your own voice narration from the Slide Sound Tab. Read more
AUGUST 9, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Go To Slide

Did you know that you can jump directly to a slide that has a specific image in it?
The Browser indicates that an image is included in your slide show by placing a green number in the upper right corner of that image. Read more
AUGUST 3, By Photopia
We Hear You

We receive a lot of requests from our wonderful customers, everything from small changes to entirely new features. Rest assured, we hear you. A big Photopia update is on the way and here are some of the most popular requests you can expect to see included.
Watch Video or Read more
July 26, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Change Duration of Multiple Slides or Transitions at Once

When working in the Slides list, you can set the duration of an individual Slide / Transition OR change the duration of multiple Slides / Transitions to the same value all at once. Read more
July 19, By Photopia
Training Tuesday:
Animating Layers inside an Animated Group

In the last blog, you learned how to Animate a Multi-Layer Group. This week, we’ll take it one step further and animate some of the layers inside that Group, while the Group is also animated. Read more
July 12, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Animating a Multi-Layer Group

If you want two or more Layers to move, zoom, tilt, or rotate in unison, the best way to do this is to put them in a Group then animate the Group. Read more
July 5, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Removing a Slide Style from your Slide

There are two ways to remove a Slide Style after it has been applied, if you decide you don’t like it. Read more
June 28, By Photopia
Training Tuesday:Adding and Removing Slide Styles from Favorites

You may have hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Slide Styles in your Photopia program. Finding just the right style that you’re looking for can by easier by using the Favorites category. The Favorites category allows you to select Slide Styles from multiple categories and access them in one place. Read more
June 21, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Adjusting Slide and Transition Times in the Timeline View

In this weeks Training Tuesday we have a look at the different ways you can adjust slide and transition times in the Timeline view. Read more
June 14, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Trim and Fade in the Timeline View

The Timeline View in Photopia can be used to visually Trim and Fade your Soundtrack. Read more
June 7, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Basic Soundtrack Settings

With Photopia you can customize Volume, Fading and Offsets for your soundtrack. You can set options for the entire show or customize individual tracks. Read more
May 31, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Adding a Banner under a Caption

Captions can be difficult to read when placed over an image that has varying light and dark areas. A common way to make captions easier to read is to add a banner underneath them. Read more
May 24, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Multiple fonts in one Caption

Photopia uses a feature called Rich Text that allows you to assign different fonts in a single caption. This is done after the caption is created, so when you add a new caption, simply enter your text, and choose a single font. Read more
May 17, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Which Font Did I Use?

Let’s say you’re working on a slideshow and you’ve used several different fonts. You want to be consistent when you add more caption layers but can’t remember which fonts you’ve used in previous slides. You don’t need to hunt through those slides to find the fonts you’ve used. Read more
May 3, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: What is a Global Layer?

A Global Layer is present on every slide in your show. It is designated with a “G” and a number on the right side of the layer in the Layers Tab. Each slide in your show has a global Watermark and Background layer by default. The Global Watermark sits above the Transition divider and defaults to empty. The Global Background sits below the Background divider and defaults to a black Solid Color layer. The images in these layers can be changed. They can also be hidden on individual slides by clicking the eye icon. Any layer in your slide can be turned into a Global Layer. Read more
APRIL 26, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Sections of the Layers List

There are three sections to the Layers List separated by the Transition and Background dividers. These sections determine how layers behave during transitions. Read more
APRIL 19, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Copying / Moving Layers and Slides in the Advanced UI

In today’s installment of our Training Tuesday series we explain how to copy and move layers and slides in the advanced UI. Read more
APRIL 12, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Copying / Moving Images and Slides in the Light and Basic UIs

Today we show how to copy and move images and slides in the Light and Basic User Interfaces. Read more
APRIL 5, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Creating a simple show in the Light User Interface

In this post we explain how you can easily create a show from scratch in the Light User Interface. Read more
March 29, By Photopia
Training Tuesday: Four different User Interface Modes

We’re starting a new “Training Tuesday” series today. In this first installment we take a look at the four different UI modes. Read more
March 11, By Photopia
Winter Theme Pack

Today we are releasing a new Winter Theme Pack! You can download it directly from the News Section of your Photopia Home Page. This Wizard theme comes with 18 Slide Styles in three themed sets, each with its own Title Slide. There are also 6 new Winter Themed Transitions
If you have any issues that you need help with or think something odd is happening in the program that you would like Photopia to know about, use the Send Problem Report option. Learn more