Multimedia Christmas cards

multimedia christmas card

Start Powerpoint

1.create one blank page

2. from the Insert ...Picture....WordArt menu

create the text "Happy Christmas"

3. from the Insert.... Picture...Clipart or From file

add the Christmas graphics and animations.

(you can use animated gifs in Powerpoint 2000, although in earlier versions they will simply show as static pictures).

4. Set the animation properties

from the SlideShow....custom animation

custom animation control

order and timing controlanimation control

you can change the order, timing of the animations and whether they start automatically or after a seperate input.

5. Add the music (a christmas midi file)

Insert... movies and sounds...sounds from file

insert sound

double click on a midi music file and you will be asked

sound option

choose (I usually set the sound to play automatically).

6. Test the show (it will probably need some alterations to the order and timing....mine always do)

alternatively you can use a wav file for the christmas music.

The complete file can be saved onto a floppy disc, but you will need to include the sound file on the disc (this might involve some editing to get the file sizes down to fit on a floppy).

To make the design and construction stages more accesible you can make a grid in powerpoint with the choices of music, decorations and animations
When a pupil chooses a picture or a sound it can be copied into their christmas card via the clipboard (click on their choice to highlight it, press CTRL C to copy it onto the clipboard, open their card and press CTRL V to paste it into the card).
choice grid of christmas animations
a choice grid made in Powerpoint.

The advantage in using Powerpoint over a grid in Word is that Powerpoint will play the animations

An example multimedia christmas card

downlaod from here. This is a much cut down card (with little animation). You will probably have to down load the midi file seperately. It was written in Powerpoint 2000, but it should work in 97 only without some of the animations.

example Christmas card
music file to go with the card