Menus

-> Keyboard shortcut

"File" menu

New > Project

Creates a new Photostory deluxe project. This will open the start dialog.

Open

This menu item loads a previously saved Photostory deluxe project. Please note that the program must be able to access files associated with the project. Photostory deluxe searches for sounds, pictures and videos used for the project under the path to where you last saved the project.

Recently opened projects

Project that you have recently opened in Photostory deluxe are listed and can quickly be opened with a click.

Open automatically saved project

This option loads an automatically created project backup. This type of automatic backup gets the file extension MV_ (underscore). This command is only intended for use in emergencies, e.g. if you unintentionally saved your change and wish to return to the previous version of the project.

Manage Photostory

Remove from project: With this option you can remove the current Photostory from the project.

Rename: You can enter a name for the current Photostory here.

Attach: This function attaches an opened Photostory to another one. This attaches it to the end of the opened Photostory and automatically applies the original Photostory's settings.

• Attach an opened Photostory: An already opened Photostory can be selected from the list and attached. This option is only available if your project contains multiple Photostories.

• Attach the last edited Photostory: All of the Photostories that were last edited are listed. This option is only available if other Photostories have been previously edited.

• Load and attach a Photostory: Click a folder and a dialog will open to select a Photostory. Navigate like in Windows Explorer to the folder that contains the desired Photostory. Double-clicking on a file (*.mvm) opens it and attaches it to the current Photostory.

Import Photostory file:

Use this option to load a Photostory into your project. Please note that all related photos must be accessible. Photostory deluxe searches for pictures, sounds and videos used for the project under the path to where you last saved the Photostory.

Export Photostory file: A dialog opens where you can specify the path and name of the Photostory. The Photostory may then be imported into other projects again.

NOTE The Photostory file (*.mvm) contains all information about the used media files, cuts, effects, and titles, but not the picture and sound material itself. This is always contained in the recorded or imported media files, which remains unchanged during editing with Photostory deluxe. In order to save a Photostory in its own folder, e.g. for use on another PC, use the function "Copy Photostory and media to folder".

Saving

The current project is saved with the name displayed in the project window. If you have not yet specified a name for your project, a dialog will open wherein the program asks you to do so.

Save as...

A dialog opens where you can specify the path and a name for saving the project.

Import from camera

Opens the import dialog for digital cameras, so you can insert images into Photostory deluxe directly from your memory card.

Import from computer

A dialog for selecting media files opens. The selected files will be imported into the current Photostory after Open is clicked.

NOTE Media files can be dragged and dropped into the Photostory from the Media Pool much more conveniently.

Export

This provides all export formats supported by Photostory deluxe. For more information, please see the section Export.

Internet > Manage your login details

Manage the login details for accessing your MAGIX Online Services. This way you can access these directly without having to enter your details every time.

This information applies to all of my online services: If this option is activated, then the account details you have entered will be applied for all our online services. Deactivate this option if you have different details for individual services, then choose the corresponding service via "Select service and enter the associated login details.

Export to device

This command opens the dialog for creating the completed video or its soundtrack to various mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs. More information about this is available in Export project.

Batch conversion

With batch conversion it is possible to bring multiple video files, movies, objects or whole projects in just one step into another format.

Burn to CD or DVD

Opens the Burn interface to burn the current Photostory.

Backup copy

Files must be saved to be able to be easily retrieved in case of a hard drive crash or a mistake.

Copy project media to folder: The project and all of the files it contains are saved together in one folder. Use this function to transfer an entire project to another computer, for example.

Copy Photostory and media to folder: The Photostory and all necessary files can be saved in any folder of your choice.

Additional programs

This menu item provides direct access to the tools and programs included.

Preferences

All dialogs related to the Settings for the Photostory, project, program and effects can be found here.

Load project in simple track mode:

The new advanced track mode provides more than the standard 8 tracks. As your project grows, new tracks are automatically added by Photostory deluxe as needed.

Projects made with pre-2019 versions of the software might have track arrangement issues when you open them in advanced track mode. The objects in the project might get distributed across more than the normal 8 tracks, and many of the tracks might be completely empty.

If you're having issues like this with older projects, simply open them in simple track mode instead.

Load project in advanced track mode

The new advanced track mode provides more than the standard 8 tracks. As your project grows, new tracks are automatically added by Photostory deluxe as needed.

Old projects made with pre-2019 versions of the software can also be opened in advanced track mode. It might occur that older projects have track arrangement issues. The objects in the project might get distributed across more than the normal 8 tracks, and many of the tracks might be completely empty.

If you're having issues like this with older projects, simply open them in simple track mode instead.

Reset program settings to defaults:

Use this function to reset all program settings you made in Photostory deluxe to their original settings.

Close

Closes the program. You will be asked whether you want to save changes or not for the open project.

"Edit" Menu

Undo

This way you can undo the last changes you made. This makes it easy to try out different features, effects, etc.

Redo

This function undoes the previous "Undo" function.

Cut

This function deletes the selected photo (or the selected object in the Timeline mode) and copies it to the clipboard. You can then use "Paste" to copy it into any Photostory.

Copy

This command copies the selected photo (or the selected object in the Timeline mode) to the clipboard. You can then use "Paste" to copy it into any Photostory.

Paste

This command inserts the clipboard material (photo or object) into the slideshow.

Clear

This command deletes the selected photo (or selected object) in Timeline mode.

Wizards

This menu entry contains different special programs for different tasks in Photostory deluxe.

Divide Photostory: You can divide up your whole Photostory into several individual shows using this Wizard.

Slideshow Maker: Opens the Slideshow Maker.

Soundtrack Maker: Opens the Soundtrack Maker.

Musical editing adjustment: Opens the musical editing adjustment to adjust the photo display to match the beat of the music.

Cleaning Wizard: Use this function to free up disk space for future projects.

Travel Maps: Opens MAGIX Travel Maps to create travel route animations.

Start preview rendering

You can "prerender" the current project if smooth playback is not possible due to the applied effects and transitions.

Remove range(s) for preview rendering

The preview that has been created is discarded and the project is rendered and played back in real time. This may result in juddering during playback again.

Exchange object

Replaces the selected object with an object selected in the Media Pool. Length adjustment moves the objects following it correspondingly. If photo objects are removed/exchanged, then the display duration will remain.

Splitting objects

This command cuts a scene at the point where the Start marker is positioned. This way, two free-standing objects are created.

This way you can isolate a part of an object in order to delete it:

1. Place the start marker where you'd like to have it by left-clicking in the timeline.
2. Select the video object by clicking on it and click on the cut button.
3. Place the start marker at the end of the part you wish to remove and click on the cut button again.
4. Select the middle object that was created and press Del.
5. Pull the object at the back to the front, it should automatically snap into place. All subsequent objects will also be moved so that no gaps appear.

You can also use this function to apply effects to a certain part of an object only.

Search empty sections

With these Wizards, you can spot gaps in your Photostory quickly.

Select all

All objects found in the project are selected.

"Effects" menu

Image optimization

This places the image material in the right light, sharpens shaky recordings, corrects tint and more, all conveniently from the Media Pool.

TV picture: This submenu item performs various adjustments for the TV picture.

• Anti-interlace filter: Choose this option for still pictures with detailed structures and high contrast. This filter reduces line flickering during playback on a TV monitor.

• Border cropping offset: Select this option if the edges are cropped during playback on your television. Values stored in "Photostory effect settings" will be applied.

Distortion

Image material can be transformed according to various artistic guidelines; a broad palette of effects is available to you for this in the Media Pool.

View & Animation

These effects allow properties like section, image size, position, and rotation of image and video objects to be specified in the Media Pool.

View and animation

Stereo3D

This accesses the program's Stereo3D functionality.

Design

Add different decorations, speech bubbles, and animations to photos directly in the Media Pool to add life to your Photostory.

Rotate 90 degrees to the right

Rotates the photo 90° clockwise.

Automatically cut to fit monitor

This option enables photos to be adjusted to suit the current format. In this case, the picture is zoomed in to such an extent that the upper and lower parts of the photo are hidden and the annoying black bars to the sides disappear. The consequence of course is that portions of the image will be missing.

Display time

Enter the display duration for the current photo here in [minutes]:[seconds]:[frames].

Apply to area between the start and end markers: Applies the settings to all photos located between the start and end markers.

Apply to all: The settings are applied to every photo in the current Photostory. The settings will not be applied to photos in additional Photostories in the project.

Edit image externally

Click this button to open the current image in an external program. You can specify the external program in the Program settings under Path.

Create Panorama

With only a single click, you can Create a panorama in Photostory deluxe – fully automatic or manually, if you want to experiment.

Fade in and out

Hides or shows the selected object.

Picture-in-picture collages

These work similarly to normal picture-in-picture effects, but more objects are used. Depending on the collage, arrange the selected objects one after the other and drag the collage onto the first object.

Collage templates can be found by going to Templates > Design in the Media Pool.

Transitions

Transitions: Opens the transitions section in the Media Pool. Click on a category to see all the transitions in a list.

To load a transition, drag it with a held-down mouse key onto the selected object.

Background design

Select a color, a picture, or any video on your hard disk, which you would like to serve as the background for the photo displayed. This feature is especially useful when photos have black bars around them, or if they are reduced in size.

You can use the arrow to move quickly to the previous or next photo in the Photostory and adjust the background.

Reset background

Resets the background for the currently selected object.

Image stabilization...

Opens the image stabilization dialog to help you correct shaky footage. Please read the "proDAD Mercalli 2.0" section.

Title Editor

Opens the Title Editor.

Save as title template...

If you have designed special titles, these can be saved as a template. Titles will be saved in the titles folder in Photostory deluxe to make them easier to find in the Media Pool (under Titles).

Convert 3D titles...

The title object is transformed into a 3D object. You can choose a template in the Media Pool in Title > 3D.

Fade in date as title

Photostory deluxe is also able to insert the time and date into the image material. To add a timecode, right click the image and choose the Fade in date as title option from the context menu.

If a photo file is involved (i.e. a photo created with a digital camera that contains EXIF data), then the date the picture was taken will be added. If another type of file is involved, then the creation date of the file will be used as the timecode. The title editor is then opened in order to customize the entry.

Sound optimization

The "Audio cleaning" dialog will open to help you remove noise.

Adjust loudness of selected objects

This function adjusts the loudness of all selected objects to fit the last activated object.

You can find more information about this under "Adjust loudness of selected objects".

Decrease in volume

If you have added background music to your Photostory or created a collage of several videos that will be played back simultaneously, you can specify the "foreground audio" by reducing the volume of all other audio tracks.

The "Volume decrease of other tracks" dialog will open.

Show volume curve

You can have the volume curve of the slideshow display to adjust it.

• Click on a point on the curve to set a location marker.
• If you want to adjust the position of the location marker, click the point and move it to the desired position while holding down the left mouse button.
• Double-click on a location marker to delete it.

Effect Settings

Apply to all objects: Copies the current effects settings to all objects in the Arranger. Use the dialog to specify which settings should be copied.

Apply to all following objects: Copies the current effects settings to all of the following objects in the Arranger. Use the dialog to specify which settings should be copied.

Copy: Copies the current settings to a new object. Use the dialog to select which settings should be copied.

Insert: Inserts the current settings on a new object. Use the dialog to select which settings should be copied.

Reset: All effects will be deactivated.

Object properties

This function displays all the information about the currently selected objects such as file name, position on the hard drive, tempo, etc.

You can also set a background color for the object to make it stand out in the Photostory and easier to find.

"Help" menu

Help

This command is available at almost every point of this program and opens the program Help at the corresponding topic. You can use this command to get help on any function in Photostory deluxe.

Context help

The mouse cursor will turn into an arrow with a question mark.

Click on any button in the main screen to open program help.

Download manual (PDF)

Downloads the manual in PDF format. An Internet connection is required for this. It contains all of the important information about the program, as well as the program Help, which can be accessed by pressing F1.

magix.info - the Multimedia Community

Do you have questions, need help, or are looking for expert tips and tutorial videos on your MAGIX product? At https://www.magix.info/ you will find answers and solutions as well as professional training courses and workshops on software and multimedia close to you.

Finding the software course

This opens a MAGIX webpage with offers for software courses for MAGIX applications.

Show introduction video online...

The online introduction video is a great way to quickly familiarize yourself with Photostory deluxe.

Show tooltips

Tooltips are small information windows that open up automatically if the mouse pointer stops briefly on a button or some other area. They provide information about the function of the button. They can be switched on or off with this option.

Register online

If you are using a trial version of a MAGIX program, you can extend the period of use by registering the product or purchasing a full version.

Update online

This option connects directly to the MAGIX online update page where you can get the latest version of your program.

Free download

Opens a dialog where you can download and install additional program content for free. New program content will be continually provided for you.

Crossgrade offer

If you have purchased Photostory deluxe, then you are eligible for special offers on other MAGIX products. Follow the link to the MAGIX website to learn more.

Activate content pack(s)...

If you have a coupon code for downloadable plug-ins or Soundpool packs, this option can be used to redeem your code. The content package will be automatically downloaded and added to the corresponding template section in the program, where you can begin using it right away.

Download local Store content

Downloads all previously purchased and activated Store content and adds it to the Templates section of the Media Pool.

Delete local Store content

Deletes all previously downloaded Store content. Deleted content can be downloaded again at any time.

Product Information

Opens MAGIX' webpage for Photostory deluxe.

Deactivate program

This menu item deactivates Photostory deluxe with immediate effect. After deactivation, it is possible to immediately install and activate Photostory deluxe on another computer.

About Photostory deluxe

Displays copyright info and version number of Photostory deluxe.