Software Reviews
AutoFX, Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition.
Reviewed by d.a.w DESIGN
Create stunning flash presentations in a “flash” with the new Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition.
The user interface is simple and easy to navigate; there are numerous combinations of Presentation Styles. Twice as many professional designed presentations (over 500) are now included, with several new categories such as Artistic Frames, Artistic Single Categories, and Artistic Storyboards also added.
Flash experience is NOT required to create presentations really fast and at the same time cool looking. After you have picked a Presentation style you import your digital photographs, video, MP3 and WAV audio files.
The clean, tidy looking interface has four tabs running along the top.
• Manage Presentation.
• Manage Content.
• Edit Content.
• Preview and Publish.
The left side of the Interface is where one Manages Tasks (Presentation, Transition, etc.) These tasks will change according to the tab that is selected. The Tabs and Tasks will guide you through your production. You get a really nice large preview area to see your effects at work.
Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition publishes your final presentation quickly, placing all of the necessary files in one folder. All you have to do is upload the entire folder to your website.
Figure01 –Manage Presentation.
There is a training video available at:
http://www.autofx.com/videos-training/pixtivity.html
Select the Manage Presentation Tab to access the –
MANAGE PRESENTATION TASKS
SELECT PRESENTATION
There are 13 presentations. When you select a presentation you will be presented with thumbnails in the interface window from which you can choose a layout.
SELECT TRANSITION
• Fade Effects
• Image Effects
• Mask Effects
• Motion Effects
A Transition is the effect that takes place while your photos are changing. This can be a simple fade or dynamic mask effect, or more complex like an image effect that actually changes the way your photo looks.
Select the Manage Content Tab to access –
MANAGE CONTENT TASKS
• Import New Photos
• Delete Selected Content
Figure02 – Manage Contents.
Select the Edit Content Tab to Access –
EDIT CONTENT TASKS
CROP / ROTATE
• Crop Photo – When using crop photo you will notice that your photo has a box inside it that makes a large portion of your photo clear, while portions outside the box are grayed out. This is the area that will be cropped and NOT be shown in the presentation.
• Rotate Photo - Click on either the Rotate Clockwise or Rotate Counterclockwise button to rotate your photo in 90 degree increments.
TITLE / CAPTION / LINK
• Title / Caption / Link Content - You can enter a Photo Title, Caption, and a Link.
ADD FUN STUFF
• Animations - Select from the drop down menu Accents, Bodies, Bubble Text, Scene Text, or User Entered Text. You can click and drag an animation from the scroll window over onto your photo. Once there, you can resize and rotate the animation by clicking and dragging on the animation corners.
Figure03 – Edit Contents.
Select the Preview and Publish Tab to access –
PREVIEW AND PUBLISH TASKS
• Show Full Preview
• Show Quick Preview
• Stop Preview
• Publish to Disc
OPTIONAL ADJUSTMENTS
• Change Background Color
• Add Background Music
• Resize Presentation
• Adjust Item Display Time
• Change Title / Caption Color
Preview - Click the Show Full Preview button. Watch your presentation.
Save your presentation.
Figure04 – Preview Contents.
Conclusion:
Ideal for anybody that’s not familiar with the program Flash, Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition enables a novice to make cool looking flash presentations really easy.
The user interface is simple and easy to navigate.
Create great looking presentations in a “flash”.
Pros:
Presentation Styles: Over 500
Transition Viewer Styles: 38
Animations:
Photo File Support: *.JPG, *.PNG, *.TIF, *.BMP,*. PSD
Movie File Support: *.AVI;*.MOV;*.QT;*.MPG;*.MPEG;*.MP4;
*.3GP;*.3G2;*.3GPP;*.WMV;*.WMA;*.ASF;*.DV
Music File Support: *.MP3 and *.WAV
Importing Photos: Bulk Importing / Drag-and-Drop
Organization: Multiple Categories Supported
Captioning: Presentation Title / Photo Title / Photo Caption
Editing: Dynamic Non-Destructive Crop and Rotate
Cons:
May be too many Presentation Styles to choose from. (Very hard not to change your mind on a Style). (may be a bad thing or is it)
It would be nice if you had an option for some of the presentations to have a transparent background, there is an option to change the color of the background, but if you place your presentation on a webpage that as a gradient background, you will get a solid frame around your presentation. E.g. http://www.dawdesign.net/vegas08.html
That would be the icing on the cake for me.
Installing:
AutoFX Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition was a breeze to install just follow the on screen information. The first time you launch the program it will ask you for the serial number.
System Requirements
ONLY available for Windows at the moment
OS: 2000 / XP / Vista
Memory: 512 MB
Disk Space: 200 MB
Purchase: $149
Purchase Upgrade: $59
Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition is available for download and a physical CD.
AutoFX, Pixtivity 2.0 Pro Edition.
Marks: - 
www.autofx.com
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