Maximizing Image Editing with Pixela's Capty Line of Products
by Masaaki Urano

Are you a Mac owner and looking for a solution for digital photo/movie editing?

Pixela’s Pixe VRF Browser, Capty MPEG Edit EX, and Capty DVD/VCD 2 may provide you with a good solution. Using these products in combination can maximize your editing experience.

Pixe VRF Browser is a digital photo/movie viewing and editing software designed for Macintosh. With Pixe VRF Browser, you can directly view motion or still pictures recorded with a DVD recorder or DVD video camera on a Mac without using any additional software. Pixe VRF Browser also supports viewing and editing of popular DVD formats not supported by Mac. Any movie recorded in the Video Recording Standard is readable, as are DVD-R, VOB format files used for DVD-Video, and +R/+VR files. The downloadable version of Pixe VRF Browser  for Macintosh is available for $49.95.

Capty MPEG Edit EX is an advanced digital photo/movie editing software designed for Macintosh. With its advanced MPEG-2 editing features, you can create professional quality DVDs at an affordable price. High performance frame by frame video and sound track editing features, with Dolby Digital support, allow you to tell your story the way you want it, without compromise. Particular cut points set as markers by Pixe VRF Browser can be automatically loaded from your saved file by using Capty MPEG Edit EX. Just like more expensive professional software, frame editing allows for finer, more accurate editing than GOP (Group of Picture), enabling you to precisely splice and edit specific scenes. The downloadable version of Capty MPEG Edit EX for Macintosh is available for $49.95.

Capty DVD/VCD 2 is a menu making software for digital pictures and movies designed for Macintosh. Use Capty DVD/VCD 2 to add the final touch to your edited pictures and movies. Capty DVD/VCD 2 creates professional title menus with your favorite images, buttons and sounds. Use your own images or select from an abundance of ready made professional templates. The downloadable version of Capty DVD/VCD 2 for Macintosh is available for $69.95.

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Prolonging Birthday Party Ambiance
by Richard Sikes

It's no secret that kids love birthday parties. But, as all parents know, kids live in the moment and, after the excitement of the party has worn off, there remains little or no memory of the event except in photos or videos. In the past, we tended to think of photos as subject to delay in becoming useful due to the time needed to have film developed, choose prints, etc. But the immediacy provided by digital photography has changed that time horizon forever.

In Canada, where we are located, it is common practice to give "loot bags" to each of the guests as they leave after the party. This way, each child receives a few trinkets and perhaps something sweet to extend the party experience a little longer and give them a sense of participation in receipt of celebratory gifts.

Now it is possible to quickly shoot, edit, and print pictures to include in loot bags. This way, as the kids leave the party, they have a printed picture of themselves eating cake, playing a game, or posing with the group or the birthday King or Queen! You can use ImageMixer to speedily sort through the photos to select and print the best shots for each guest.

One of my friends took this concept a step further. As soon as all the party guests had arrived, he took a group shot. Then, while his wife supervised the party action, he hustled out to a local tee-shirt printing store and had a shirt printed with the group portrait for each of the guests. He made it back to the party in time for the good-byes and loot bags. The kids – not to mention their parents – were totally blown away by the shirts. Now they could wear their memories of the happy event for weeks to come!

If the printed tee-shirts idea sounds a bit over the top to you, there is a cheaper, yet very effective use of ImageMixer. Sort the party photos in the order you wish, add some titles and background sound as desired, then burn a VCD for each guest. This way the kids can relive the party experience on a computer or DVD player together with their parents later at home, or for years in the future when they wish to reminisce.