Help
General help
Q: Can any computer make or receive a photomovie?
A: To create and view movies you simply need the Adobe Flash plugin which can be downloaded from Adobe. If you want to send a movie to someone, and aren't sure if they have the plugin installed, be aware that recent statistics show that over 90% of all Internet users already have this plugin, so chances are they will have no problems.
Q: Do I need a high speed internet connection to make a movie?
A: Yes, a good broadband connection is necessary to enjoy the service.
Help making movies
Q: How long does it take to make a photomovie?
A: This depends on how long it is (that is, how many photographs you want to use etc.) and what level of involvement you choose in making it. We have two levels: Assistant Director and Director. The Assistant Director level is a straightforward route which should only take ten minutes to make. If you choose to take the Director's role you have a lot of options to consider in the movie creation process and, ultimately, the length of time it takes will depend on how much fun you're having with the process and how much of a perfectionist you want to be.
Q: Can I change my mind later and go back to any part of the film?
A: Yes, use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate freely back and forth through the steps. Or you can wait until after you have shot your movie and then move to specific steps via the Review and edit page.
New entries
Q: How do I make my movie?
A: You have reached the Shoot your photomovie page. There is the tantalising black screen waiting to show your photomovie premiere. What do you do now? Simply click on SHOOT MOVIE and you will read the words Generating movie on the screen and then a timer will show as your movie loads. When your movie is ready to show and a countdown clock will play. Watch your premiere and see if it works the way you want it to. You can click on REPLAY MOVIE to watch it again. If you are not happy with your movie and want to change something, click on EDIT MOVIE and you will be taken to the edit page to choose which aspect of your movie you'd like to change.
Q: What do I do next if I like my movie as it is?
A: If you are happy with your movie just click on PURCHASE MOVIE OR USE CREDITS and you will be taken through the straightforward payment method or be asked if you want to use your credits. Once you have paid or used your credits, your photomovie will automatically be stored on your very own photomovie page from where you can share it with your friends.
Registration help
Q: Why do I have to register before I begin?
A: This is to enable you access into the "My Photomovie" section of the website, where you can store,view and share your creation.
Payment help
Q: When do I pay?
A: You don't pay anything until you are totally happy with your photomovie. You will have the opportunity to edit your photomovie before you pay.Remember your first three photomovies are free. You cannot store photomovies that are not paid for or are not made with credits.
Q: How much does it cost to make a photomovie?
A: £2.50 or $5.00 a movie. Once you register your first three movies are free. All prices quoted are inclusive of VAT and all applicable taxes.
Q: Do all photomovies cost the same?
A: Yes. The cost is £2.50 or $5.00 regardless of the length of the photomovie and the number of effects used. Your first three photomovies are free, discounts are available if credits are purchased.
Help with photomovie titles/messages
Q: What is a typeface?
A: You're going to give your photomovie a title and you may want to add different captions to the title. We thought you might like a choice of different typefaces to use. A typeface is a set of characters in a particular size and style. Each typeface looks different and can provide a different feel to your photomovie – from a serious look, to a kind of crazy look. You can preview each typeface before you choose it right here. Choose a colour for your typeface and this will be used for your titles and for any captions you add to your images. Once you've chosen your typeface and colour write your titles and end message here.
Q: What's the difference between first and second introductory messages?
A: A first message might be 'It's Dave's 40th birthday!', while the secondary message could follow with an invitation 'Come and celebrate with him on Saturday night'. You could think of the first message as the title of your movie and the second message as a part of that, eg The Smith Family Reunion as the title and Manchester 2007 as a second part of that title.
Q: Why do I need to write opening and closing messages?
A: Opening and closing messages give you the ability to set up and end your photomovie in style. For example opening messages might be 'Our Holidays' or 'You are invited to' ...and closing messages might be 'See you next year' or 'Reply to...'. Check out some photomovies for examples. (If you change your mind about either of these messages once you've made the movie, remember you can always edit at the Review and edit stage.)
Q: What do I do if I don't want to add any messages?
A: Just leave those sections blank in the movie-making process. And if you decide you do want to add in a message you can do it when you review the finished film.
Q: How many words can I put in the opening and closing messages?
A: Shorter phrases tend to work better, due to the fact that each letter of your caption is animated. A good range would be somewhere between 10 and 20 characters, with a maximum of 30.
Q: What counts as a character?
A: Letters, numbers and punctuation are all characters. So 'It's Dave's 40th birthday!' would count as 23 characters. So do bear this in mind when you're counting!
Q: Can I add a link for people to respond to me by email in the closing message?
A: Yes. At the end of the movie-making process you will be given the chance to do this. People can click on your message and email you. This is especially useful if you are using your photomovie for an invitation. Not only do your friends enjoy your invitation, but they can respond to you quickly and easily. Party organized!
Help with photos
Q: How do I add photos from my computer?
A: To select photos held in your own computer files click on the first empty frame where it says 'Click here to add image'. This will open your computer files automatically. Browse your files and select the photo you would like to upload. Click on the photo and, after a short while, it will automatically appear in the frame. Then carry on to the next empty frame and click to upload an image there too. You can only add one photo at a time. A loading bar will show in the frame as your photo uploads. Once the image shows in the frame you can click on the next frame.
Q: How do I upload photos from my storage photo site?
A: Click on the phto storage button on the left. This will provide links to some of the most popular photo storage sites. If your photo storage site is not listed you will need to retrieve your selected images and download from your computer.
Q: Can I speed up the photo upload process?
A: Yes. Just click on the 'Click here for faster uploading options'button and follow the instructions. You will have to download the SuperUploader software, but once it is installed you will be able to upload multiple images and really save time. The SuperUploader will automatically pull up your computer files and once you have opened the file you want you will be able to see all the images. Simply tick the box on the photos you want and then click on Send. Once the upload is complete you will see a small window which will tell you this. Minimise or close the SuperUploader and you will be able to see the images uploaded into the frames. You can change the order of images at this stage simply by dragging them from one frame to another. Once you have downloaded the software it will be available to you each time you make a photomovie with MyElephantBites but you will have to reopen it for each different photomovie.
Q: How do I add other photos and images?
A: Click on the photo library button to access our library of images. Some will have been selected to match your occassion or click on the full stock library to see all the available images. Simply click on the image and drag it into the moviemaker. When you have found an image you like click on Add Image and it will upload automatically. You can also add in photos from your social networking sites.
Q: Are the photos on the site free?
A: Yes, the images and photos in the MyElephantBites photo gallery are free to use. Others can be purchased from our partner 123RF by clicking on the link which will come up once you've clicked on Click here to view other image options.
Q: How do I view my own photos on my computer before I upload
A: Once you have opened your photo folder on your computer, click on the view tab and then click on thumbnails or icon options. This will allow you to view small images of your photos and will make choosing quicker and easier. (This may not be possible on all operating systems) It's a good idea to select the photos you want before beginning the moviemaking process and put them in a file. This will make it much quicker once you start.
Q: Can I change the order of the photos once they are uploaded?
A: Yes. Click on the photo and drag to another frame.
Q: Can I delete photos once they are uploaded?
A: To remove a photo, simply click the "Delete" (X) icon directly beneath the photo you wish to delete.
Q: Can I rotate images once they are uploaded?
A: To rotate an image so that it shows correctly in the frame, just click on the rotate icon and after each click the image will make one clockwise turn. Wait to see each turn until you are happy the image is displayed correctly.
Q: Does the size of my photos matter?
A: Please be aware that all files have to be transferred across the Internet from your machine to our webserver before we can construct your movie and, because of this, the smaller the file the faster this will happen. Generally, for high speed connections, large files are not a problem. However, dial-up users should be aware of the potential delay.
Q: Can I mix colour and black and white photos?
A: Yes. Not a problem.
Q: What quality do my photos need to be to look good?
A: The quality of your movie can only be as good as the source images provided. Many older photos degrade over time, and some cell phones can take low quality images. If you are concerned about the quality of your source images, consider the following: If your pictures are digitally sourced, be sure that the camera is a higher quality digital camera or phone. If your pictures are scanned from original photos, be sure to use a high quality scanner.
Q: My photos won't upload - why might this be?
A: Probably the biggest reason an image may fail to upload is network failure. You need to have a good, sustained connection in order to transfer data to us. If your network occasionally drops out, you will have to cancel and restart the image upload. If you are not having network issues, check your browser settings. Be sure you have the most recent version of your browser, and the latest version of the Flash plugin. Are you in a highly security-restricted environment (such as a workplace)? If so, you may want to create your movie from a machine in a more normal security setting. If none of the above are issues, please contact our technical staff for assistance.
Help with the words
Q: How do I add words to my photos?
A: Add your words to the text box below each photo frame in the movie maker.
Q: Why should I add text to photos?
A: Because words will not only offer useful information (especially for invitation movies) but can also enhance your movie 'story' with emotion, humour and fun. Think of your words as structuring the story of your photomovie. (Go to Photomovie Showcase to see some examples.)
Q: Do I have to add text to photos?
A: No you can leave the text box empty and the photomovie will just show the photo without words. Sometimes this can work particularly well, so no, words aren't always vital.
Q: How many words should I add?
A: Short and sharp tends to work best. The optimal number of characters to use is somewhere between 10 and 20. And the absolute maximum would be 30. Remember to include numbers and punctuation in your count.
Q: What will the words look like in the photomovie?
A: The words will be animated and appear over the photo. At Step 3 you will be able to choose a typeface for the words as well as a colour for this typeface. Remember to choose a colour that won't blend into the photos!
Q: Can I change the words later if I am not happy with them?
A: Yes, you will be able to review and edit your words before you complete the photomovie. You can also use the Previous button to return to Step 2 and change the words before you reach the editing stage.
Focal points
Q: What is a focal point?
A: A focal point is a specific area you choose to be "zoomed" in on in your photo. If you select a focal point, this area will be given extra consideration when applying effects to the image so as to make this area most prominent and not cover it with text. When you're adding focal points bear in mind that the centre of the image is an automatic focal point in the movie-making process.
Q: When should I use focal points?
A: There's no need to highlight the focal point on every image. You should use focal points whenever there is a photo you particularly want to bring to your viewer's attention. Many photomoviemakers use the feature to zoom in on people's faces but if you opted to do this on every shot it might get a little repetitive.
Q: How do I select a focal point on a photo?
A: If you want to create a focal point just click on the area of the photo you want to select and a circle will emerge showing the areas selected.
Q: Can I remove focal points?
A: If you have applied a focal point you will see a yellow circle with a number inside it. You can apply a maximum of 5 focal points per image. To remove all focal points in an image simply click to apply a sixth focal point and they will all disappear.
Q: Should I have a focal point on every photo?
A: It is up to you, it's your photomovie. However, too many focal points may slow the pace of your photomovie down. We suggest you use a focal point only when there is a clear area of interest which is not in the centre of the image already.
Fine-tuning info
Q: What's the difference between Assistant Director and Director?
A: The difference is in the level of control you will have when editing your photomovie. Directors have more control in choosing and mixing individual special effects.
Q: What can an Assistant Director do?
A: The Assistant Director level is the ideal start point for your first photomovie. As an Assistant Director you can make the most our photomovie software to create great movies. If you are not entirely happy with your movie you can ask the software to come up with new effects for each individual scene, and make editing changes to your caption, focal point, and music choices.
Q: What can a Director do?
A: A Director has unlimited creative control. As a Director you will be able to choose and modify every effect, down to the smallest detail so it may take a little longer to make a photomovie in Director mode.
Q: How does the Director mode work?
A: As a director you will have greater editing control over your photomovie than in Assistant Director mode. You will be able to edit transitions, movements and overlays for every image in your photomovie. See if you can do better than our movie software! You will also be able to make changes to your captions, focal point and music choices.
Q: What is an overlay effect?
A: An overlay effect is a visual that plays over your titles; for a wedding invitation for instance you could choose hearts or confetti; for a party invitation you could choose balloons. These overlays will not play over your images – they will only be applied to the titles and end messages.
Q: What is a transition effect?
A: A transition effect is the way one image moves on to the next image.
Q: If I change the level of control (ie Assistant Director to Director) will I lose all the choices I have made in a different mode eg Director to Assistant Director?
A: Yes, if you switch to a level that has incompatible design choices, those incompatible choices will be lost.
Running time
Q: Why can't I choose any length of photomovie?
A: The time is specified to ensure that any music and special effects you add are properly synchronized by the moviemaker.
Q: How long should my photomovie be?
A: It's up to you. A minute is a good time to watch anything that is not interactive on a computer, but it really depends on how compelling your photomovie is to your viewers.
Q: How many photos should I use in my photomovie?
A: The table at Step 1 shows how many photos you should expect to include for each photomovie running time. In an averagely paced film each photo will be viewed for about 5 seconds; in a fast film the photo may be viewed for about 3 seconds, and in a slow film the viewing time for each photo may be about 8 seconds. So if, for example, you have 5 photos in your photomovie and you want to show it at normal speed choose a 30 second photomovie and if you want a slightly slower pace choose a 45 second movie.
Q: Will a long photomovie take longer for people to download than a short one?
A: The download size of a photomovie depends on many elements, including the source images, text and music, as well as the type of effects used. Generally though, longer movies will take longer to download than shorter ones.
Help with movie genres
Q: What are the Recommended Movie Genre Options?
A: To make it easier for you, we have picked what we believe are the best choices for your occasion. You can easily select another genre by clikcing on the relevant icon.
Q: How can I review the effects I have chosen?
A: You'll have the chance to review and edit your photomovie before you shoot it.
Q: What are the movie genres?
A: There are 12 different movie genres to choose from; Thriller, Comedy, Romance, Home Movie, Documentary, Horror, Sci Fi, Rock Music Video, Children's, Silent Movie, Mystery/Film Noir and Slideshow. Each one has built in special effects to create the feel of the genre for your photomovie. Each provides a different style of photomovie with a different package of visual effects to suit the mood of your film. So Romance would be a good choice for a Wedding invitation and Horror for a Halloween party and Horror for a Halloween party.
Q: Do I have to choose a genre to fit the occasion?
A: Actually, no. It can be quite exciting to combine apparently incompatible genres and occasions – for instance the Horror genre for a Valentine's greeting! If you do not want to use a genre at all simply choose the Slideshow button.
Q: How can I check whether I like the style of the genre and typeface I've chosen?
A: If you click on the icon a short preview of effects will play. If you like what you see click to highlight and click on NEXT to continue. Otherwise click on a different genre and see what that looks like.
Help with music soundtracks
Q: How do I choose music?
A: Simply click on the preview icon to listen to the different tracks. Click on Close to stop the preview. Click on your preferred track and it will be highlighted with an orange band. Then click on Next.
Q: What if I don't like the recommended movie genre or music genre options shown?
A: You will be able to see the full list of movie genre options by clicking on the View full list of genres button. Then you can listen to a sample of as many as you like before selecting one. You can play a sample of each track by clicking on the musical notes in the Preview column of the track you want to hear. A new window will open with the Player and you will hear a short burst of music for the track you wish to preview. After you have listened to a sample click Close Player to return to the track listings. Once you have chosen your track, click on it to hghlight it with an orange band. Then click on NEXT.
Help with editing
Q: What do I do if I decide I want to make some changes?
A: Click on the Edit Movie button and you will be taken to the Edit Options page. You will be able to make changes to the settings for your whole movie, for example movie genre, titles, end messages, movie length or changes to the effects and movements in individual scenes. Alternatively, just click on RESHOOT and see if you prefer this production of your photomovie. You can reshoot as many times as you like.
Q: My captions play too quickly and I can't read them, what can I do?
A: First of all click on RESHOOT and see if reshooting your movie has fixed the caption issue. If it doesn't, see if changing the length of your photomovie via the Edit page will make a difference. For instance, if you put 6 photos in a 45 second time length try changing to a 60 second time length and see if the captions will fit now? Make sure your captions aren't too long. Remember 30 characters is the maximum per frame.
Help with sending your movie
Q: How many people can I send it to?
A: As many as you like. The more the merrier. However please note the service may not be used for business purposes without our written permission.
Q: Who will be able to view the photomovies?
A: Anyone with a computer and a good internet connection. The only additional requirement is that they need to have the Flash plugin (version 6 or higher) installed.
Q: What if some of my friends can't open the movie I send them?
A: Please direct them to http://www.myelephantbites.com/diagnose.aspx. This is our diagnostic page through which we can test and determine what the problem is. Once we do that, we will provide your friend with instructions for resolving the issue.
Q: How big are the files?
A: These will vary depending on the length....from a few hundred kilobytes to 3-4 megabytes.
Extras
Q: What are the movie extras?
A: These are some special effects to give your photomovie the red carpet treatment. You can choose a movie countdown clock to appear at the beginning of your photomovie and you can choose to add in credits which will appear at the very end of your film (after your own closing message). Credits could be people who have appeared in the photographs, or special mentions, or thanks, or your own film company 'branding' – you've seen the movies, you know what to do! You can also add in an email message to go with your photomovie and a return email address (especially useful if you're sending an invitation and need RSVPs).
Assistant director choose edit option
Q: What's the difference between Edit Movie Settings and Reshoot Individual Scenes?
A: The movie settings are the decisions you have made when you made your movie; for example the number of photographs, captions or focal points. By clicking on the Edit Movie Settings button you can change these. The Reshoot Individual Scenes button allows you to reshoot individual scenes for different effects.
Q: Can I make more than one change?
A: You can carry on making changes until you are totally delighted with your movie.
Q: If I make an Edit Movie Settings change can I also make a Reshoot Individual Scenes change?
A: Yes. You can make as many changes as you need. Once you have finished your Edit Movie Settings change, click on Finished and you will be given the option to Edit Movie Settings (in case there are more you need to do), Reshoot Individual Scenes or Reshoot Movie.
Q: If I make a change will the rest of my movie be affected?
A: No. The movie will be the same except for the edit changes you have made.
Edit movie settings
Q: How do I make changes?
A: Simply click on the 'Click to Edit' button for the movie component you want to change and you will have the opportunity to make your change. When you click on 'Finished' you will be given the chance to continue editing, Reshoot Individual Scenes or Reshoot Movie.
Reshoot individual scenes
Q: What is a scene?
A: A scene contains all the effects and movements applied to one of your images.
Q: How do I edit a scene?
A: Click on the scene (the image) you want to change. The image highlighted in yellow will appear in the large window. Click on Reshoot this Scene to look at different effects scenarios. Continue doing this until you find the effects and movements that you think are just right. There will a number of different potential outcomes for your scene. Once you're happy you've got the scene just as you want it, click on the Finished button. This new scene will now be incorporated into your movie.
Q: Can I make changes to individual effects or movements within the scene?
A: No. You are in Assistant Director mode. For this level of editing control you need to make your movies in Director mode. You can change from Assistant Director mode to Director mode by clicking on the Go to Scene by Scene Editing at Director level button.
Director choose edit option
Q: What's the difference between the Edit Movie Settings and Scene by Scene Editing?
A: The movie settings are the decisions you have made when you made your movie; for example the number of photographs, captions or focal points. By clicking on the Edit Movie Settings button you can change these. The Scene by Scene Editing Button allows you to select a variety of different special effects for individual scenes.
Q: Can I make more than one change?
A: You can carry on making changes until you are totally delighted with your movie.
Q: If I make an Edit Movie Settings change can I also make a Scene by Scene Editing change?
A: Yes. You can make as many changes as you need.
Q: If I make a change will the rest of my movie be affected?
A: No. The movie will be the same except for the edit changes you have made.
Director edit movie settings
Q: How do I make changes?
A: Simply click on the 'Click to Edit' button for the movie element you want to change. When you click on 'Finished' you'll be given the chance to continue editing or reshoot your movie.
Director scene-by-scene editing
Q: How do I make changes?
A: Click on the scene you want to make changes to and it will be highlighted in yellow. You can now make multiple changes to the movements, transitions and effects in that scene. Every time you make a change the scene will play in the large window showing the changes you have made. When you have completed your changes to one scene, you can select another and do the same. When have finished Scene by Scene editing click on 'Finished' and you will be given the chance to continue editing or Reshoot Movie.