NOTICE: DVD PLAYER COMPATIBILITY - viewing DVD's on DVD players
Will the video DVD's play on my home dvd player? Since we use the standard DVD-R formats with MPEG-2 coding, most newer DVD players (approx. 98%) will play our DVD's. Check your DVD players manual to verify it will play these formats. The manual should state the player accepts MPEG-2 video & the DVD-R formats. If not, then replace it with a newer model if necessary. Worst case, a new player can be purchased for around $35.00. DVD players manufactured in the past year or two should have no difficulties. We proof all DVD's for video & sound quality before considering any transfer project complete.
For your convenience we are adding a few sites that list various dvd player models along with their MPEG-2 & DVD media compatibility on our Links page. We are not affiliated with any of these sites and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information they provide.
Scroll down the page to view questions or link to the 4 general topics below:
1. General Information - payments, sorting & packaging, shipping address, resolution, processing time, dust & scratches, JPEG format, cleaning slides, media accepted.
2. Slide Scanning Questions - preparing & packaging tips, types of slides: 110, 126, 127, 35mm, processing time, CDs and/or DVDs, cropping & rotating, adding titles.
3. Video Tapes to DVD - menu & navigation, copyrights, DVD information, types of video accepted, shipping information, NTSC format, resolution, processing time, DVD player compatibility.
4. Background Music - Royalty free music is optional & added at no additional charge. Another option is to have no music played during the presentation; Note: professional musicians that hold their own copyright may send their music selections on CD to be added to their presentations at no additional charge.
Q. Is there a minimum order charge? Yes, there is a $35.00 minimum for all transfer orders. When sending your order, be sure to include the order form.
Q. Do you accept personal checks? Yes, but please make check or money orders payable to Skye Breeze Solutions and be sure to include the order form.
Q. Do you accept payment by credit card? Yes. Credit card payments may be paid securely through Paypal. Visit the order page or log onto the Paypal web site.
Q. What type of CD's & DVD's are used? "Data" DVD's & CD's are used with a computer's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive. We use CD-R and DVD-R discs for your images and they are PC & MAC compatible. Always check with your disc drives manufacturer for compatibility. "Video" DVD's can be viewed on Television with a DVD player. Once again, check with your players manufacturer for DVD - R compatibility.
Q. Are my slides & other materials returned to me after they are digitized? Yes. All your film & other items will be returned. The transfer process does not damage the slides, film, photographs or video tapes. Some clients with several trays full of 35mm slides instruct us to return only the slides with the new cd's & dvd's when finished to avoid extra return shipping charges. If you prefer this method, then please send along signed note with those instructions along with your order.
Q. Don't want to count & sort hundreds of 35mm slides? It is not necessary to sort & count the slides when just having them scanned onto a CD/ data DVD ROM that will only be used for printing or viewing the images over the computer. When the order is completed we will notify you with the total number of images scanned. No manual counting is necessary. In fact, even if your order includes the DVD Slide Show Movie, you do not need to sort or categorize the slides if you do not want to do it. We will scan the slides in a random order, which often makes for an interesting video slide show. IMPORTANT Notes: If the slides are not placed all facing in the proper direction (see "Prepare & Package your Order") we cannot guarantee that some images will not be 'mirrored'. Unless the slide happens to have an obvious sign, words or visible license plate we have no way be sure that it is not reversed or mirrored. Also, don't be surprised at how many slides you may actually have. As a simple reference, over 200 (2x2 35mm) can fit inside one small Ziploc sandwich bag.
Q. How long will it take to process my order? It all depends on the size of your order and how many jobs we have in house at the time. Most orders are competed within 10 days depending on our current workload, however, large orders may take longer. Orders are processed on a first come, first served basis. If you send us an email with the amount of slides, images or videotapes to be transferred along with the Package you have selected, then we can give you a closer estimate. Rush service is available for an additional charge, please email for details. You will be notified by email when your order has been received & again when it has been completed. All orders are return shipped with insurance & a tracking number.
Q. Do you do pick-up & deliver orders? Yes, for an additional charge depending on your distance from St. Peters, MO 63376, we will pick up and deliver orders in St. Louis & St. Charles County, Missouri. For other surrounding areas in Missouri & Illinois, we charge by distance from St. Peters, MO. Contact us for more information.
Q. May I drop-off my order? Yes. Please contact us to schedule a time & for directions to our physical address. We are a family run business & you may drop-off your order in St. Peters, Missouri.
Q. Can you create slides from digital images? No. Not at this time.
Q. How do I pay for the transfer services? Payments can be sent along with your order or paid securely through Paypal. Please make check or money orders payable to Skye Breeze Solutions. Credit card payments are accepted through Paypal under the Decades of Photos email address: skyebreezesolutions@charter.net. For assistance calculating your order just contact us by email.
Q. What is your mailing address? Please ship the items through the US Postal Service (local post office) with insurance and/or tracking to: Skye Breeze Solutions, P.O. Box 1651, St. Peters, MO 63376. If you prefer UPS or Fed Ex email for our physical address at 1980 Saint Peters Howell Road, St. Peters, MO 63376, as those carriers will not deliver to P. O. Boxes. Do you prefer a UPS or Fed Ex for a return shipment? Include the completed form with your order and make sure to bill shipping to your account or your credit card with the packing slip information. Please don't forget to send in your order form.
Q. What are the return shipping charges? We try to charge the same amount that we pay for return shipping. There is a minimum $8.95 return shipping charge because all packages returned will have insurance and tracking added. Shipping charges vary depending on the destination, size of the order, the weight and amount of material being shipped. If there are any additional shipping charges due over the original, prepaid $8.95 (usually only a few dollars), we will email back the amount or include an invoice with the returned order. Occasionally we return 2 packages - one with the originals and another with the new CD's & DVD's. For international orders (those outside the U.S.). Please see our International Orders Page for details.
Q. If I want to get the images printed for scrapbooking, cropping or displaying, what sizes can be printed? You can print 4x6, 5x7, 6x9 (even up to 8x10's) from the high-resolution JPEG's files scanned and saved onto either a CD ROM or data DVD. Any of our Packages would work well for this.
Q. What Resolution (DPI) & File Format (JPEG, TIFF) is recommended? The best answer depends on the intended use of the images being scanned. MOST PEOPLE want to watch a DVD Video Slideshow Movie of their slides on television with a DVD player. They also want an archive copy of their slides on a CD ROM or DVD-R for printing, viewing on a computer monitor, adding to a family web page or emailing images to friends & family members. Our slide transfer services easily accommodate & surpass all of those requirements (see our Multi-Purpose Package). We scan slides at a resolution of 2100 dpi in JPEG file format using utilizing the settings for minimal loss & high-quality (low) compression. We used the same procedure when archiving our family slides & have printed up 8" x 10" JPEG photographs at this resolution that looked great. Please be aware that no scanning or post-processing software program will automatically remove all the dirt particles or perfectly match color from slides, photographs, etc.
JPEG vs TIFF: JPEG files can be compressed at various levels. We use the least amount of compression to retain a very high image quality. Recommendations - if you plan to view on tv & print your images then get JPEGs. JPEGs are easy to work with and are very common so they can be used with many different software & graphics programs. You can also convert JPEG files later - for instance you can always re-save the JPEG files as TIFF files while editing at family images at home. Converting between JPEG and TIFF formats is not difficult. Most graphics software programs (Paintshop Pro, Photoshop,etc. ) will convert image files from one format to another.
JPEG form is fine to use and it is what we recommend to 97% of our clients especially if they don't plan on further editing the images and re-saving them several times. It is commonly known that JPEG files are compressed when saved (this makes them easier to work with, transfer and store) but it causes a loss of pixels every time you change and re-save the same image. Generally speaking, when more pixels are lost, the less fine detail the image will have. This does not occur when editing and re-saving TIFF files because they are mostly considered uncompressed and therefore don't cause the same loss of pixels or detail in the image that a compressed image may have. Many clients have the files converted into JPEGs, then they re-save the JPEG files as TIFF files while editing family photos.
It is worth mentioning that if you intend to heavily edit your images on a computer with a graphics program then you may consider having us save your files in the TIFF format. TIFF is an uncompressed file format that creates a very large file which is why it is not necessary for most people. Upon request, we can save the images as TIFF files but note the file sizes will be larger and that makes them slower to open/close, work with or display. They will also require more CD's or DVD's for storage. A CD can hold approx. 150 JPEG images but only around 40 TIFF images that were scanned at a 2100 resolution.
Need more on resolution & file format? Here are some more details that might be helpful. At higher resolutions all files can be converted to a lower resolution as needed. Most people convert files from TIFF's into JPEG for storage because the JPEG files are much smaller and many more files can fit onto a CD or DVD. A CD can hold about 150 JPEG images but only 40 TIFF images scanned at a 2100 resolution. According to information provided from communications with Nikon ® representatives, the highest resolution of 4000dpi optical resolution (4000 pixels per inch or ppi) in TIFF format from a 35mm slide scan will result in a file size of approximately 60MB. The Nikon® scanner produces the best quality for a scan at that resolution. These scans are capable of making professional quality prints up to 11x17 inches in size without creating pixels and they can be used for a variety of purposes, however, most people do not intend to make prints this large in the first place which is why 2100 dpi is often all that is required. Many of our clients have been pleased with the results of 8 x 10 inch prints that were easily printed with a typical home printer from slides that were scanned at 2100 dpi. It is good to find a balance between the files sizes and the resolution needed. Before deciding, another suggestion is to read your computers owners’ manual to verify your system is capable of processing such large image files like those 60MB files that would be created from 4000 dpi scans. It is very common to experience is a taxing of the system, when large files are in use, such as the images appearance is delayed or slowed. Also when editing large files in other software programs such as Photoshop ®, delays may also be experienced while waiting for the image files to open, be saved, etc. This slowing is typically a problem that can be avoided or resolved by adding a larger memory card or an additional memory card to the PC. These are certainly things to consider before having slides converted in to TIFFs or saved at 4000 dpi. There are many different opinions on this subject but for the most part we feel bigger is not always better. The information or concepts of file sizes, compression, and file formats are certainly not new ones and simple searches on the web will fetch thousands of results mostly saying the same thing. In fact the topics are very common and have been debated and discussed for many years by amateur/professional photographers, web/graphic designers. It seems anyone that works with computers on a regular basis has an opinion.
We can work with a variety of other file formats so if you need something special or unusual, just contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Q . My 35mm slide mount materials are different (cardboard, plastic) & they have various film sizes. Do I have to sort them? No. Not as long as they all have the same sized 2 inch mounts. Just number & place them in the order you would like them scanned. Please see our Preparing & Packing page for details.
Q. What equipment do you use for scanning slides and 35mm film? We are now using the newest Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED scanners. Kodachrome slides can now benefit from the scratch and dust removal technology of Digital ICE4!
Q. What do you do about dust, dirt and scratches? We can now use Digital ICE4 dust and scratch removal technology on Kodachrome slides! Digital ICE 4 Advanced - Digital ICE (Image Correction & Enhancement) removes most dust, scratches, etc. from scanned images; Digital ROC (Reconstruction Of Color) recreates and restores faded color values for more vivid images; Digital GEM (Grain Equalization & Management) equalizes image grain for sharp, clear images; Digital DEE (Dynamic Exposure Extender) helps reveal details lost in shadows and highlights. Please be aware that no scanning or post-processing software program will automatically remove all the dirt particles or perfectly match color from slides, photographs, etc. For additional information see the question below.
Q. Do you clean the slides? No. We don't clean or wipe the film. If we notice a particular slide is dusty, then compressed air is used to remove the surface dust. The new Digital Ice will repair most other surface defects that are not removed by the compressed air. Fairly dirty & faded transparencies will benefit from the Digital Ice process. It is common knowledge that scanning an image at a high resolution will reveal even small imperfections. We never charge additional fees for using the Digital Ice technology.
This process works beautifully for well stored & those slides with only minimal surface dust but please be aware that no scanning or post-processing software program will automatically remove all the dirt and particles from slides (or photographs) that are incredibly dirty or damaged from mold, water, etc. For those types of slides the final scanned image will be much improved from the original slide but may still show some of the dirt particles, etc. Before you print the images, it is possible to edit those 'blemishes' out in a graphics program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, however, it will take some knowledge of those programs and a great deal of time/patients.
Q. Can I still print good pictures if my slides are dirty? Here are our recommendations if you plan to print large pictures. Use a graphics program such as Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop. Most graphics software offer smooth or blur tools that will easily correct for any imperfections that appear. A common trouble spot is the appearance of dark spots in large areas like the sky. They can easily be removed with a slight blur or a clone tool. However, it is time consuming to edit several images especially if the files are large and your computer is slow. Most photographers will use compressed air or a soft brush to clean up slides before having them transferred & we also recommend this if you have extremely dirty slides. Do not wipe the slides, this can leave scratches in the film. Be careful when using film cleaning chemicals as there is always the possibility they can cause damage.
Q. What formats do you accept? We accept VHS and Mini-DV video tapes, positive film slides in 2" x 2" mounts and photographs up to 5" x 7". 35mm slides - Slides with mounts 1.0 - 3.2mm thick, 49 - 50.8 mm wide. Check with us for extra thick slide mounts over 1.5mm, they may be charged at a higher rate. All types of slides inside 2" x 2" mounts (127 Super slides, Instamatic 126, 110).
Q. Do you accept old movie film such as 8mm, S8 or 16mm film reels? No. Older 8 mm, S8 & 16 mm film or movie reel footage are very fragile and can be difficult to work with so we are not currently accepting those formats.
Q. Do you create slides from film? No. We do not have the capability to convert images, photographs, etc., into slides. Our specialty is converting slides into a more useful digital format, such as JPEG files on a CD.
Q. How do I get prints made from my slides? Although we do not create prints from slides or negatives, once the images are saved as JPEGs on a CD, the CD may be taken to any photo lab (Walgreens, Wal-Mart, etc.,) to have prints made. Prints may also be created with a home printer.
Q. Do you offer Contact Sheets or Thumbnail images? We do offer the option of creating Contact Sheets (Thumbnails) from your order. These are usually small pictures the images contained in the order and we place 25 thumbnails on each contact sheet. Please see the order form or packages and prices for details.
Q. May I have home movies (vhs tapes), and slides on the same tape? Yes, slides & videotapes can be mixed together in any one order but they must be grouped together. In other words we would run the entire video tape first then all of the slides, then the photos, etc. For other special mixing format requests, minimum order and setup charges may be applied for each change - contact us for details.
Q. Do I have to completely fill up an entire vhs tape or DVD? Not at all. You can put up to 2 hours or as little as you want on any one video tape; up to 90 minutes onto a Video DVD.
Q. How is the quality? Video quality depends on the quality of the film submitted. Your videotape will be produced with professional video capture & other electronic equipment. It is common for there to be some loss of sharpness or color in any copying process. We attempt to achieve the maximum quality for each transfer and take the time to proof every CD, DVD or VHS tape that we produce.
Q. What color profile is used? RGB. It is the recommended profile for digital images to be used for printing. Please be aware that no scanning or post-processing software program will automatically remove all the dirt particles or perfectly match color from slides, photographs, etc.
Q. Will you record my video on a VHS in the 4 or 6-hour mode? Sorry but to ensure the best quality, our professional equipment only records in the standard 2-hour mode.
Q. Do you archive or back-up my digital images? No. We suggest you keep a back-up copy of all your transferred images in a separate location such as a bank safety deposit box, fireproof safe or another family members residence. We do offer additional copies for gifts or back-ups so please see the options section of the Packages & Prices page for more prices & details. Additional copies of the Video DVD Slide Show Movie on DVD are available for $20.00 each. Images transferred onto a Data DVD (in addition to the CD-ROM) available for $10.00 each. Additional copies on CD available for $5.00 each. Example: If you would like an additional set made on CD as a back-up copy the cost is $5.00 per CD. Therefore, an order of 900 slides (225 images fit on a CD) would cost an additional $20.00 ($5.00 x 4 CDs). Please indicate number and type of copies needed on the order form.
Q. How do I prepare my slides for SCANNING & VIEWING on a TELEVISION DVD PLAYER? Be sure to number all slides & have them facing the right direction. Unless the slide happens to have a sign or visible license plate we have no way be sure that it is not reversed or mirrored. Slides should be banded together in groups of 30-40 slides so they are easy to work with. Videotapes need to be numbered and grouped into the proper transferring order. Please see "Prepare & Package your Order" for detailed instructions - it is not as hard as you may think. Any items received without being numbered will be randomly scanned or grouped - which is not necessarily a bad idea in some instances.
Q: How do I prepare my slides for SCANNING transfer purposes NOT viewing on a television or DVD player? If you are only having the slides scanned for viewing, editing & printing on a computer, then you may send them in any order or inside slide trays. If you want them grouped or in order please number & mark the slides accordingly. See our "Prepare & Package your Order" page for more information.
Q. How should I send you my slides? We recommend that you send us your slides numbered and rubber banded as demonstrated in our "Prepare & Package your Order" section but we will accept slides in boxes, slide trays, or carousels. Please make sure they are secure and won't move within the box you use for mailing. We don't charge extra to remove them from your carousels or trays.
Q: Do you have any packing & shipping advice? Yes, please see our "Prepare & Package your Order " page for further information. Your slides, photos & video's are priceless and need to be well packed for the journey. Be sure to included INSURANCE and/or TRACKING with any shipping carrier you choose. Boxes protect better than plain envelopes. If using an envelope (it should be the padded type), insert some cardboard for support & mark it FRAGILE - DO NOT BEND. It is a good idea to enclose your slides in plastic bags, like Ziploc brand, to protect from moisture.
Q. Do you rotate and crop the images? We check each and every slide, & photo we scan and will rotate images to the correct orientation for no additional charge. We also will crop your images to remove the jagged edges and the black border created when items are scanned.
Q. How long will it take for you to scan my slides? It typically takes 7-10 days for orders of a few hundred slides or less. Large orders of 1000 slides or more may take 2-3 weeks. Orders are processed on a first come first served basis. We do try to accommodate our clients occasionally with a rush service but you need to contact us to make arrangements & check our current work load. We generally ship our completed DVD production orders within 7-14 days; larger orders may take 2-3 weeks for completion. You will be notified by email when your order has been received & again when it has been completed. All orders are return shipped with insurance & a tracking number.
Q. I have odd sizes of slides (Super "Big" Slides, 110, 126 & 127) but they are in 2" x 2" mounts, does this make a difference when scanning? The size of the slides film can make a slight difference when seen on TV. Regardless of the film size, we can scan all slides that are in the standard sized (2” x 2”) mounts.
Superslides "Big" (127) - These slide mounts were 2" x 2" in size but the film was larger and more squared than the rectangular 35mm film slides. We see all different types of 2" x 2" slide film and scanning these is not a problem. It is important to note the scanning area is slightly smaller than the larger film and a small portion along the edges will not be picked up by the scanner. Most often we find that the larger slides can be scanned in a direction so that the important areas of the image are not affected very much.
110 and Instamatic (126) - These were smaller, square sized, film inside the 2” x 2” mounts. We see all different types of 2 x 2 slide film and scanning the square shaped film slides is not a problem. This was the type of film used with many Kodak Pocket cameras and many families used this kind. When the film is square and slightly smaller (than the standard 35mm rectangular film) after cropping the edges we add a small black border on the left & right so that it will appear rectangular for the television screen. If it were left squared, the picture would be distorted - stretched in order to fit the TV.
Q. I need the images scanned (no video slide show) for printing & using in other programs. Can you put them on a CD and not a video DVD? We transfer the scanned slides onto JPEG files and they are saved on a CD that you can use on your PC or Mac. You have the option of storage on a CD or Data DVD (only played on a computer). Please indicate your choice on the order form. Images transferred onto a Data DVD in addition to the CD-ROM available for $10.00 each. Additional copies on CD available for $5.00 each. Example: if you have 675 images and would like a back-up copy of the order on CD (225 images per CD) it would require 3 CDs x $5.00 each = $15.00 additional.
Q. If I have the slides transferred to DVD, can you make copies of the DVD on to VHS? Yes, we can make a videotape of your new dvd slideshow. If you would like a VHS copy in addition to your order, please include $15.00 & indicate this on the order form. (Copies on Videotape make great gifts for those without DVD players.)
Q: May I have titles added to the slide show? Yes, we will add up to 5 short one or two line titles at the beginning or ending of any group of slides or videotapes for no additional charge. All additional titles are $1.00 each.
You may have words appear on a particular slide for $1.00 per slide. Be sure to write the number of the slide you wish to have the words appear & your preference on where the words should be positioned. EXAMPLE: “Uncle Bob’s Convertible” across the top (bottom or middle) of slide #78. If you would prefer to leave the positioning to us just write “place anywhere” or something similar. Please see Prepare & Package for detailed instructions.
Q. Do you adjust the scanned images? Unless you indicate otherwise on the order form, yes, we do rotate/crop the images as needed. With some photographs, it's impossible to determine landscape or portrait orientation so no rotation is done. We proof each image to ensure quality, etc. Each file is cropped to remove 'jagged' and dark areas around the edges created when the image is scanned. Because of the high quality scanning equipment used, rarely are any additional adjustments required but please be aware that no scanning or post-processing software program will automatically remove all the dirt particles or perfectly match color from slides, photographs, etc.
You may note when adjusting images on your computer slide scans tend not to be as bright as those projected with the old slide projectors. Another fact is that all computer monitors or television screens are different. This is evident when visiting a large TV or computer store and looking at all the screens for sale that are displaying the same image but the images all appear slightly different in brightness & color. Calibrating or adjusting your monitor's brightness/contrast or color for viewing the images may be helpful before attempting to make changes in a graphics program. FYI - the newer Photoshop programs include the ability to calibrate monitors.
Q:How many slides will fit on a CD? CD's holds 650-700MB. A slide at 2100 dpi in JPEG at 100% quality format is about 4-5 MB in size. You can fit about 150 slides on 1 CD. A slide at 4000 dpi will be about 4 times larger and only 50 will fit on one CD. If you want your images in uncompressed TIFF format then each file size will be approximately 18MB at 2100 dpi or 64MB at 4000 dpi. This will require addition CD's.
Q. Can you name the files to my specifications? We don't assign names or numbers. The scanning software program we use automatically sequentially numbers the scanned items. Personally, I copy the image files onto my hard drive and then rename them. It only takes a few minutes & then I sort them into smaller categories as needed.
Q: How many slides will fit on a VHS (video) tape? Transfers are done at 7-10 second intervals providing approximately 500 slides and photos on a standard two-hour tape.
Q: Can any type of slide be put on video and what about vertical slides? We work with any size film inside 2" x 2" slide mounts. Some non-standard (square) and vertical slides, (those taken with the camera on its side) may not fill the complete TV screen because the horizontal orientation of the television. After cropping the edges we add a small black border on the left & right so that it will appear rectangular for the television screen. If it were left squared, the picture would be distorted - stretched in order to fit the TV. This may cause a slight distortion of the image or black borders to appear on each side of the picture.
Q: In what order are the slides or photos transferred? You may determine the order of all transferred items. Please sequentially number all your slides, tapes & photos. Each slide, tape or picture should be individually grouped & numbered. Please see "Prepare & Package" page for detailed instructions on how to achieve the best final transfer product.
Q. How many images can I get onto one DVD for a Slide Show production? A DVD holds approximately 600 (35mm) images with music and approx. 700 images without music - this is about 1.5 hours of viewing time. The actual number of images the disc can hold will vary based on film size (126 film slides produce smaller image files, while 35mm and the bigger 127 super-slides produce larger files).
Q. Is there an additional charge for thick mounts or glass mounted slides? As mentioned earlier, the standard sized plastic slide mounts do not warrant the additional transfer fees. An additional $0.25 per scan is occasionally charged for the extra thick plastic or thick glass mounts if they often require individual scanning (which must be done by hand and increases the processing time) but we would always contact a client before charging any additional fee. If you feel your order includes slides that are in the extra thick mounts contact us in advance of placing you order. For orders that primarily consist of standard mounts with only a few Extra Think mounts there should be no extra fees involved.
Q. How do I prepare my videotapes for transfer to a video DVD? Videotapes need to be numbered and grouped into the proper transferring order. Any items received without being numbered will be randomly scanned or grouped - which is not necessarily a bad idea in some instances.
Q. How much video footage will fit on a DVD? Approximately 90 minutes or 1.5 hours of video.
Q. How does the DVD play & is there any navigation? When inserted into your DVD player, the video DVD slide show disc should automatically open to the main menu page. On this page you will see standard navigation buttons with typed instructions. Use the arrow keys on your dvd player or remote control to navigate around the menu as you normally would. Highlight your selection & press the play button.
Q. Can low-resolution digital images be used for DVD slide shows? Yes, in fact, the will look fine since the video DVD slide shows are displayed at video resolutions of NTSC 720x480.
Q: DVD player compatibility - Will it play on my home dvd player? We use the standard and most common DVD-R media and MPEG-2 coding. The majority of DVD players on the market today will play our DVD's. With so many different types of DVD players it is impossible to guarantee compatibility so please check your DVD players owner's manual to verify it will play any of the following formats: DVD -R and MPEG-2. Older DVD players may have problems but in general DVD players manufactured in the past few years should have no difficulties. Again, refer to your DVD players instruction manual or check the manufacturers web site for further compatibility information. Lastly, new players can be purchased for as little as $35 that will accept the newer digital media's.
Q. If I have my images scanned onto a data DVD will it play on my DVD player? No. A data DVD is for use on a computer only. For playing on a DVD player & watching on television, a video DVD is required. The video DVD Movie Slide show is an actual movie with music, video effects and transitions between the images. (There have been rumors that new DVD players are being developed that will read both Video DVDs and Data DVDs).
Q. Can I combine multiple video tapes to create a single DVD? Yes, you may combine video tapes to a create a single DVD. Approx. 90 minutes (1.5 hours) of video will fit onto a video DVD. Contact us with your intentions prior to shipping your order. If you will be combining video from multiple tapes for a DVD movie you will need to provide us with more detailed instructions. Label each movie tape with a title & instructions we can easily follow. (Example: tape 1 has 20 min. , tape 2 has 30 min. & tape 3 has 25 min. Transfer all onto 1 DVD). We can transfer several short videotapes onto 1 dvd for $35.00. If you require a separate DVD for each individual VHS (video) tape there is a minimum charge of $35.00 per original DVD. We will make additional copies of the DVD for $20.00 per DVD.
Q. Do you convert PAL or SECAM? At this time we can create videos in NTSC & PAL. Any computer with a CD-ROM drive should be able to read the JPEG image files placed on CD. If you choose this package then we will need to know which format PAL or NTSC to use. Normally we proof all video DVDs on a DVD player before returning them to a client; however, at this time we are not able to view PAL videos on a DVD player. The CDs and DVDs will be proofed on a computer before they are return shipped.
Q. Will you make copies of copyrighted material? No. We cannot legally reproduce copyrighted materials. Permission must be secured from the holder of the copyright before duplicating. Visit our Terms & Conditions page for more information.
Q. How long does the transfer process take? We generally ship our completed DVD production orders within 7-14 days; larger orders may take 2-3 weeks for completion. You will be notified by email when your order has been received & again when it has been completed. All orders are return shipped with insurance & a tracking number.
Q. Why won't the video DVD play in my DVD player? We use the most common types of DVD media for our transfer projects. Unfortunately, not all dvd players will play every type of DVD. Non-compatibility is typically the reason the dvd will not play or the sound will not appear to work. Check with your DVD player manufacturer to confirm its ability to play the DVD-R formats. DVD-R media is not 100 percent compatible in all DVD players. Most new DVD players (approx. 98%) will have the ability to play any disc without a problem. Return to the top of this page for further information or see our Links page to visit other web sites that list player compatibility.
Q. How long will the DVD disc last? Numbers vary depending on what source is being checked but DVD's are expected to last more than 100 years with no loss of video quality.
Q. What is included with my order?
That depends on your order. In general every CD & DVD will come inside a standard case with an insert and a label. You can order as many additional copies of the DVD Slideshow as you need for $20.00 each. These copies make great holiday gifts & birthday presents for parents, grandparents & other family members. Additional copies of each CD is available for $5.00 per CD. For additional copies of each data DVD please add $10.00 per DVD. Please see our packages & prices for more specifics.
Q. How much is shipping and handling? We try to charge the same amount that we pay for return shipping. Your items & order will be return shipped through the USPS or UPS Ground with insurance and tracking. The tracking number will be emailed to you. There is a minimum $8.95 return shipping charge because we often return 2 packages - one with the originals and another with the new CD's & DVD's. Shipping charges vary depending on the destination, size of the order, the weight and amount of material being shipped. If there is any additional shipping due over the $8.95 (usually only a few dollars) we will email back the amount or include an invoice with the returned order. For international shipping* charges see below.
Please ship the items through the USPS with insurance and tracking to: Skye Breeze Solutions, P.O. Box 1651, St. Peters, MO 63376. If you prefer UPS or Fed Ex use our physical address, Skye Breeze Solutions, 1980 Saint Peters Howell Road, St. Peters, MO 63376, as those carriers will not deliver to P. O. Boxes.
Do you prefer a UPS or Fed Ex for a return shipment? Include the completed form with your order and make sure to bill shipping to your account or your credit card with the packing slip information. The shipping charges should be approximately the same (within a few dollars) as when originally shipped for our transfer services.
*International Shipping: For US orders there is a minimum charge of $8.95 as a return-shipping estimate; however, for international orders shipping will be higher. Our international clients are asked to estimate the additional shipping charges when making a payment. In general, the cost for return shipping should be a few dollars more than the original amount paid to ship the package to us. (The return package is heavier once the completed CDs/DVDs are included.) If there is a difference in the return shipping costs we will email back the return-shipping amount once the order has been completed and packaged.
Q. Can I have my images transferred to VCD? No. At the present time we will only transfer videotapes & slides for the Video Slideshow onto DVD because we feel this is the best method. Slides & photo's scanned can be transferred onto a CD ROM, data DVD, video DVD or VHS tape.
BACKGROUND MUSIC - See Preparing Packages for Song Suggestion List
Q. How do I get background MUSIC added to the Video DVD Slideshow? If you would like to have background music playing during the video DVD Slideshow we have some royalty free music that may be added to the presentation. Some clients choose not to have background music, they feel music can become outdated & prefer to play their own selections at home during the slideshow so this is optional. If requested, we will add the music at no additional charge.
Q: Can I furnish my own music? At the present time we are not accepting music due to copyright laws. But we do have several sets of pleasant royalty free music availible for use in presentations at our clients request. The music is optional and it can be added with no additional charge. We have had several clients, that were professional musicians. They had some of their own music copyrighted in their name. In this case, they held the copyright and gave us permission to use their music in their presentation. When this is the case, we are happy to accomodate our clients by adding their own music as long as they hold the copyright.
Q. I do not have a few songs I want included in the DVD slideshow. Can you help? Yes, this is not a problem. We use a service that charges a fee (a few dollars) to download individual songs. At the time of your order, email us with your music choices & we will check on availability. When we locate them we will email a price for those selections that can be added to the total for your order. Basically we are purchasing a licensed copy of those songs on your behalf to use in your Video DVD Slideshow movie. This method is usually cheaper than purchasing the entire Frank Sinatra album when you are only after 1 or 2 particular songs.
Q. What music formats do you accept? Music may be added from a CD and only by the holder of the copyright..
Q. Will you use cassette audio tapes? No. Please send your music on CD only. If you find older music that is not available on CD then contact us & we will do our best to make arrangements.
Package Prices - Slides & Videotapes Transferred to CD, DVD & VHS
Live in Missouri or Illinois? drop off your items instead of shipping them. Pick-up & Delivery is also available depending on your location - contact us for information.
Do you enjoy scrapbooking? Consider transferring you old slides onto cd so you can print your own photographs for more scrap booking fun! Group discounts available upon request (email for more information).
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We do accept credit card payments for these services through Paypal only. Visit the order page or log onto the Paypal web site. Payments can be made with U.S. checks or money orders (payable to Mark Wilson) by mail after printing the order form.