A full list of supported video containers:

avi, mpg, mpeg, mov, mp4, m4v, mkv, divx, xvid, 3gp, wmv, flv, rm, rmvb, mts, m2ts, m2v, m2t, ts, webm

Video can be added to a PicturesToExe Project in the same way as images can be added.

• Via the File List
• By dragging and dropping into the Slide List
• By adding as an Object in Objects and Animation

* Editor for video objects.

• As in previous versions, you can adjust the start time, duration, and simple video speed.

• Now it's possible to add keyframes on a special timeline to flexibly control video speed. This works similarly to how you use the envelope tool to change audio volume at keypoints in the main window timeline.

• You can smoothly slow down video playback, then speed it back up to normal. You can also insert a pause where a video frame stays still for a period of time.

• Simply click on the orange line to add points, then drag a point up or down.

• By default, speed is set to 100% - original speed.

• Setting it to 200% will double the video speed.

• Setting it to 0% will stop playback completely. Placing two points with zero speed next to each other creates a pause interval during playback. This is shown in the example below.

• Note that a hint for a selected keypoint on the timeline shows two time values:
  1. the original video time
  2. the modified time, which reflects the effect of slowdown or speedup.

• You can zoom the timeline in or out using the “+” and “−” buttons on the toolbar, or with Ctrl + mouse wheel.

• The “[” and “]” buttons on the toolbar set the Start time and End time respectively to the current position of the time cursor (the vertical red line).

• Undo is available via Ctrl + Z for all speed and trim edits.

• The “Interpolate frames” option is useful when slowing video down significantly (for example, to 10% of normal speed).
  • Two adjacent video frames are blended using a Dissolve method. This can be useful for creating a special artistic effect. Read more

• If you want to delay the start of a video object, the easiest way is to use the Offset parameter in the Properties tab of the Objects and Animations editor, and adjust the Duration (or End time) there.
  • Using keyframes for this is less convenient.

• Create content for social media and the web. PTE AV Studio 12 adds full support for vertical video (9:16 for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels) and square format (1:1 for Instagram posts). New resolutions including 2560×1440, 1080×1920, 720×1280, and 1080×1080 cover all modern platforms. The “Auto” resolution preset automatically matches your project settings for quick exports. The revolutionary AV1 encoder produces videos up to 50% smaller than H.264 while maintaining the same visual quality, making it perfect for web publishing. The improved Video Export interface with “Show/Hide Advanced Options” keeps things simple yet powerful. The “Fast decode (web)” option creates optimized videos for quick loading and playback on your website. You can even pause video encoding and resume later.

• Smoother playback and better audio/video synchronization for variable frame rate (VFR) videos, commonly used by most modern smartphones in H.264 and HEVC formats. HDR video support (HLG and Dolby Vision, Rec.2020 color space). AV1 video playback is now hardware accelerated, significantly reducing CPU load when previewing projects with AV1 footage. On Windows this requires graphics cards from 2020 or newer (NVIDIA RTX 3050+, AMD RX 6000+, Intel Arc or 11th Gen+ integrated graphics); on macOS, an Apple M3+ chip.

• The chroma key function for video clips has been completely rewritten. It now works reliably with all popular background colors: green, blue, red, and more. Background removal quality is significantly improved. Edge handling is especially enhanced: colour spill is eliminated and object outlines are clean and sharp. Learn more

• HEIC, the format used by iPhone for storing photos by default, is now supported on Windows. Windows users can now import iPhone photos directly into their slideshows, without converting them first. HEIC was already supported on macOS in previous versions. AVIF support is now available on both Windows and macOS, covering the modern web image format used by many websites and image services.

This can be done as follows.

• Select an unconverted video (or videos) from the File List and Right Click on it. Choose “Add Selected Files to Project”. You are asked if you want to Optimize the file. Choose “Optimize”. The file will be added to the Slide list while the Optimization is carried out in the background. When Optimization is complete the Converted File is shown in the Slide List. (The conversion might take several minutes).
• Select a Converted Video (or Videos) from the File List and Right Click on it. Choose “Add Selected Files to Project”. The converted file is added to the Slide List.
• Drag an unconverted video (or videos) from the File List into the Slide List. You are asked if you want to Optimize the file. Choose “Optimize”. The file will be added to the Slide list while the Optimization is carried out in the background. When Optimization is complete the Converted File is shown in the Slide List. (The conversion might take several minutes).
• Drag a Converted Video (or Videos) from the File List into the Slide List.

When Video Files are added to the Slide List the Slide Duration is calculated according to the Video Duration and can differ according to the setting of the “Default Options for New Slides” in:

• Settings/Preferences/Project/Default Options for New Slides/Keep Full Slide Duration.

• If the option is OFF the Video Clip ends at the beginning of the following transition
• If the option is ON the Video Clip ends at the end of the following transition

Video Clips can also be added in Objects and Animation via the Movie Icon or the Right Click Menu. In this case all adjustments to the Slide and Video Durations must be made manually.

Optimized video clips can have larger or smaller file size than the original video clip. It depends on the bitrate of source file. For example digital cameras use high values - about 40 mbit per second for 1080p video. Whereas video editors can suggest 15-25 mbit by default.

Digital cameras have to record video stream in realtime, they have limited battery and slow hardware to compress video. High bitrate compensates these restrictions. In a software encoder we have much more powerful CPU and more time to analyze video stream to more optimally compress video picture.

• Add Video in Objects and Animation

• Video - The location of the selected video clip is shown and the Video Clip could be changed here if required
• Main Object - Indicates Main Object of Slide and its index number (1) e.g. for using in a Style
• Edge Anti-aliasing - Reduces the effects of Aliasing - Further reading - External Link
• Do not include file to exe - Allows the file size to be kept low by linking to an external folder
• Mute Audio - this can also be used when adding the Audio of the Video to an Audio Track to apply an envelope
• De-Interlacing - three options - Further reading - External Link
• Offset - Off sets the Start of the Video Clip with respect to the Start of the Slide

Clicking on the Adjust Time Range Button displays the following:

Not available in the Essentials Edition

• Start Time - Adjustable via the Blue Trim Triangle
• End Time - Adjustable via the Blue Trim Triangle
• Duration - Video Clip Duration
• The “orange” triangle shows the current position (frame) in the video clip
• The Down/Up Buttons can also be used to adjust Start, End and Duration Times in 0.5/1 second increments
• Press the Play Button to preview video and sound

• Speed - The original Speed of the video clip can be changed. Variable between 50% and 100%. Note that it is interactive with Start Time, End Time and Duration (the Start and End Frames do not change)

• Chroma Key allows for the placing of an Object in a Video Clip over an Image or another Video Clip by removing pixels of a chosen colour (range)
• In O&A, select the Video Clip and click on “Chroma Key” Customise in Properties

• In the Chroma Key Options box drag the Colour Sampler down into the Video Clip to select the colour to be eliminated
• Drag the dropdown slider to produce the desired effect (on black)

• Add an Image or Video Clip below the original Video Clip and continue to adjust the slider in the Chroma Key Options box for optimum effect

• Same as Framing

• Right click on Video in the Timeline
• Choose Separate Audio from Video in the pop-up menu
• Note that the video must be designated “Main Object” with an Index (O&A / Properties Tab) to be able see this option
• The Audio of the Video is added to the first available Audio Track and the Audio contained within the Video is Muted in O&A Properties
• The Audio of the Video in its own track is linked to the Slide containing the Video

The Timeline View:

The Objects and Animations View: