Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto

Do you know the very nice slideshows that Airtight can provide for your web site? Here are two examples: SimpleViewer demo and PostcardViewer demo. Now you can create these slideshows directly from iPhoto!

Download and install the CustomHTMLExport export plugin for iPhoto:

Be sure that iPhoto is in Applications folder.
Uncompress the Sample Templates folder that's included with the plug-in. Copy the template folders to your user's Library -> Application Support -> CustomHTMLExport folder (which you'll need to create).

Then launch iPhoto, select the album or individual photos you want, choose File: Export, then click the first tab, CustomHTMLExport. Now select either the SimpleViewer or PostcardViewer template from the pop-up at the bottom. After a bit of processing time, your Flash slideshow will be saved in the folder of your choice, ready to be uploaded to your web site.

[robg adds: The CustomHTMLExport plug-in seems to work fine with the latest iPhoto. I hadn't heard of either the plug-in or the Flash-based slideshows before. Since both are free, and the results quite nice (if you don't mind Flash), I felt it worth sharing.]

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Doesn't work for me
Authored by: agkmf684 on Jun 28, '06 08:43:07AM

iPhoto 6.0.4 MacOS X 10.4.6 on a MacBook Pro 17. Plugin seems to be installed but doesn't show up under export.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: mattybinks on Jun 28, '06 08:45:12AM

this worked perfectly for the simpleviewer gallery option. i wish this was out a year ago when i was manually making these damn things for my new baby's photo galleries. It's fast and I'm thankful for this!

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: jump420 on Jun 28, '06 09:30:23AM

once again Rob, thank you.
This is why i'm a daily visitor to macOSXhints.

great hint. i hadn't used simpleViewer in a while now.
i have the simpleViewer source code and will try to customize my settings.

thanks!

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: elventear on Jun 28, '06 09:43:16AM

The plugin is only compiled for PowerPC based processors so it won't work on Intel Macs. It says the app is open source, but the source is nowhere to be found ... so I've been unable to test it on my MBPro.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: mozart111 on Jun 28, '06 09:46:25AM

Doesn't work for me either. iPhoto 6.0.4.

Now how do I unistall it?

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: sd on Jun 28, '06 02:11:22PM

to uninstall:
- right-clic on 'iPhoto' > 'Show Information', then 'PlugIns'.
- select 'CustomHTMLExport.PhotoExporter'
- choose 'Delete'

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: reidjazz on Jun 28, '06 10:26:48AM

If you, like me, updated your Flash Viewer to version 9 (announced this morning here, then you'll get the Upgrade error page instead of viewing your slideshow. The fix is easy...for each of the templates, just update the file "flash_detect.js", replacing

var latestFlashVersion = 8;

with

var latestFlashVersion = 9;

. You also may have to empty your cache if you viewed the slideshow prior to upgrading your version of Flash Viewer.

---
"When you're finished learning, you're finished."

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Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: mclbruce on Jun 28, '06 10:31:28AM

There is a standalone program that does this called iPhoto Export.app. No installing to iPhoto necessary.
http://www.hagus.net/taxonomy/term/14
I just found it and tried it once. It seems to work.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: reidjazz on Jun 28, '06 11:01:59AM

Problem is, you can't do any new templates/customization with this...which is why I like the HTMLExport option better...

---
"When you're finished learning, you're finished."

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: mclbruce on Jun 29, '06 04:38:45PM

Actually the templates are editable. Right click on the iPhoto Export.app and select "Show Package Contents." The templates are easy to find and editable in any text or HTML editor.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: Gabs on Jul 01, '06 05:50:42AM

It's good but _much_ slower than CustomHTMLExport. But then again, since I've upgraded to Flash 9, CustomHTMLExport is still having trouble with flash_detect.js. The only way I'm getting a result is to comment out the call on this script in the index.html page. Mmm. I'll also be looking at www.slideshowpro.net now - thanks to who ever it was that mentioned that one.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: croasmun on Jun 28, '06 10:46:15AM

Doesn't work for me either. iPhoto 6.0.4, Macbook Pro. I don't even have an "CustomHTMLExport" tab in the export window...

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: rarkai on Jun 28, '06 11:09:43AM

GREAT hint. Works perfectly on my g4 with iPhoto 6.0.4.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: kzaidi on Jun 28, '06 11:22:55AM

Hey, he just realeased a Universal Binary one, it's 1.7.1 . It' works perfectly on my MB.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: kau on Jun 28, '06 11:25:29AM

The newest version is 1.7.1. It's unibin, so running perfectly on my macbook. (source code included)

Thanks Daniel for this great export plugin.

I bought an another nice flash photoalbum export plugin, (http://www.slideshowpro.net/) but this free!!

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: Gabs on Jul 01, '06 06:43:46AM

SlideShowPro looks lovely, but requires Flash MX 2004, Flash MX 2004 Professional, Flash 8, or Flash 8 Professional. The free SlideShowPro iPhoto export plugin requires SlideShowPro (and the rest).

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: dstaudigel on Jun 28, '06 11:47:44AM

Wow! You guys are fast!

Yes, I just posted a universal version (with source code). I am really glad of the popularity of this software. Thanks so much for the publicity, MacOSXHints!

Keep writing me, I'm pretty fast at taking suggestions.

Daniel Staudigel

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: sd on Jun 28, '06 02:05:50PM

Hi Daniel !

If you remember, I am the one who suggested you could add these Airtight templates! And I can confirm you are FAST!

Few things you could add:
- a warning about iPhoto not being in /Applications
- the new Airtight's Autoviewer slideshow
- a way to specify the gallery options

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: Bakari on Jun 28, '06 01:51:37PM

Daniel, first off thank you for developing this. It's a plug-in that Apple should have already included in iPhoto.

I would also like to add for those who little or no background in web development, you have to select and install the templates that Daniel includes in the download of the plug-in. After you select the photos in your iPhoto library/folder, go to File>Export. At the bottom of the Export dialogue box, click on Templates and add navigate to the Templates folder that Daniel provides. Once the template is added, you should be good to go.
To find the page, of course, open up the folder you chose to export the page and source material to, locate the "index" file and open it. I would try 5-8 photos at first just to get the hang of it.

One day, I'll learn to build my own custom template. This plug-in is such an inspiration.

Now one question: can the page created by this plug-in be used in iWeb? If so, how?

Appreciate the feedback.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: mkurth on Jun 28, '06 02:04:28PM

Works fine in iPhoto 6. The menus are a little different however, also the postcard one WILL not work unless you change the name of the file imageData.xml to imagedata.xml (from the exported folder)... This little doozie took me about 30 minutes to figure out what was happening.. .but it's working great now. Great little application!

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: dudemac on Jun 29, '06 08:17:41PM

THANK YOU!!

I have been looking at this all night trying to figure out why it would work on the desktop but not from the web server.

This is really cool.

Thanks again

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: barryjaylevine on Jun 28, '06 08:36:49PM

Wow! What a really nice set of export templates. Well worth a donation to show my thanks! :D

---
-----
Two things in this world aren't overrated: Macintosh and Lemon Meringue Pie.

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Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: leandro on Jun 29, '06 11:36:24AM

wow, nice work and pretty cool.

Can these exports be used with iWeb somehow? I know so little about web publishing.

thanks.

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: photojunkie on Jun 29, '06 12:00:56PM

I've been trying to figure out how to up the image size limit for the simpleviewer template - I've used it before so I know to just edit the imageData.xml - the problem is that the file is created by the app with no way to pass options from within iPhoto to this file. Since iPhoto is being used to create the photos, it's also necassary to have it output larger sizes.

Now that the source is out, is there anyone brave enough to figure this out? Either a way to add the option to select max size in the iphoto dialoge, or a way to set a default size that's larger than the 480 currently set?

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: vmonkey on Jul 06, '06 11:53:43AM

This is a great plug-in. I keep getting a two pixel translucent white line across the tops of my images when I use the simpleviewer template with iPhoto 6.0.4 though. Any thoughts?

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: montylee on Jul 28, '06 07:41:47PM

OK, I give up. This works great on my laptop (G4, iPhoto 6.0.4), but not on my Desktop (G5, Dual 2 GHz, iPhoto 6.0.4). I don't get it. In my user folder-Library-Applications Support-CustomHTMLExport. In that folder is the required folder simpleviewer along with others. Yet when I launch iPhoto and select the Custom Export, I get: cinema_e, iFrame 1.0, Pepper, Photo Essay, Built-In, Kitchen Sink Sample. The postcardviewer and simpleviewer are in the folder, but don't show up. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong?

I am using version 2.2 of BetterHTML Export

Monty
m o n t y l e e - at - mac.com

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: redfitz on Oct 24, '06 11:23:56PM

Does anyone know whether there's a way to use simpleviewer as an export option from Aperture? I had been using it in iPhoto and loving it but just made the switch to Aperture and would love to continue using it.

Thanks!

Nick

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: montylee on Dec 05, '06 03:26:44PM

Well I can't get it to work anymore. I've checked the flash_detect.js code and it looks to see if the version is < 6. Well I've got 9 installed on my Mac (OS X 10.4.8) and it always directs me to the upgrade.html page. I finally deleted the code and it works, but that means it's not checking to see if the user has Flash installed.

Anyone know how to get this to work properly?

Monty

Create Flash-based slideshows directly from iPhoto
Authored by: ddye on Dec 01, '07 02:15:12PM

Could someone give a little advice here? I hate to look like a dummy, but I simply cannot get this to work in iPhoto.

I put everything where (I think) it's supposed to be, created the Library -> Application Support -> CustomHTMLExport folder, and when I'm in iPhoto, the CustomHTMLExport option is not there. I get File Export, Web Page, QuickTime and WebExport and that's all.

Thanks,

Doug Dye

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