This article is sponsored by AMS Software. We received a free license of SmartSHOW 3D so that we could try it out and share our honest review. Even though sponsored, the complete content and opinions are sole views of the author based on their experience with the product.
Want to create a photo slideshow for an important event? Need to prepare it quickly, perhaps in 5 minutes or less? If you’re looking for great photo slideshow software that can help you make good-looking slideshows in just a few minutes, you’ve come to the right place.
In today’s SmartSHOW 3D review, we’ll tell you all you need to know about this slideshow program – its features, benefits, and the considerations you need to take before using it.
Contents
Benefits Of SmartSHOW 3D
SmartSHOW 3D slideshow software has plenty of benefits for anyone who’s looking for professional slideshow software. Both beginners and advanced users alike will be glad to have this software at their fingertips.
With SmartSHOW 3D, you can easily make slideshows in under 5 minutes, meaning you won’t have to spend a lot of extra time preparing your slideshows.
You can just gather all the photos you need, import them into the software, select your template, and export it into one of the 30+ video formats available. It takes literally just 5 minutes to create a 5-minute slideshow with SmartSHOW 3D!
In addition to this, you don’t have to know how to create slideshows either, as the program has numerous preset templates that you can use for your convenience.
More specifically, it comes with 400+ effects and templates accessible to you anytime. It even has 200+ royalty-free soundtracks that you can incorporate into your slideshows to make them more appealing.
Best of all, everything can be done just by dragging and dropping things into the slideshow. Honestly, it doesn’t get any easier than this.
SmartSHOW 3D Review
Installation
Installation is very easy. Simply go to the SmartSHOW 3D website and download the installer. Afterward, just click on the .exe file and proceed with the installation process as you would with other Windows applications.
Take note, the program is only available for Windows and not for macOS or Linux. As long as you have a Windows operating system, it should install without a hitch.
Main Features
SmartSHOW 3D has plenty of perks that even professionals will appreciate, but here are its main features.
Preset Templates
SmartSHOW 3D’s preset templates are perhaps the biggest reason why it’s such a popular choice for beginners.
You can always create slideshows from scratch, but if you’re in a hurry or you have no idea how to make a good-looking slideshow, knowing that you have this option is really helpful.
One good thing about the presets is that you can still make changes to them after selecting them for your slideshow. Not all programs allow this, which makes it a big plus for SmartSHOW 3D.
Easy Animations
Selecting animations that you can use in your slideshows is as easy as selecting one of the available animations in the program. You don’t have to do anything fancy, as you literally just have to click, select, and put your chosen animations on your slideshow.
3D Slideshows
As its name implies, SmartSHOW 3D allows users to use 3D animation, as well. This goes for all effects available in the program’s library. You can have fun just playing around with them and seeing which animation best suits your slideshow.
Pre-Included Soundtracks
Buying a Deluxe license for SmartSHOW 3D means you also can enjoy over 200 different soundtracks, royalty-free. You can include these tracks in your slideshows to make them more appealing.
It’s important to note that users who only buy the Standard version don’t have this option. That said, you’re always free to add your own music to the slideshow, so it’s not really a big deal, as long you have your own collection of tracks.
Another bonus for those who enjoy having music in their slideshows: you can edit the music to better fit your slideshow. And if you’re using a preset, you don’t even have to worry about this anymore, as all presets already come with a matching soundtrack.
Editing Tools
Aside from the presets and the animations, the program also comes with editing tools that can help you make the best-looking slideshows. You can add text, narration, and even videos to your slideshows.
If you go to the Edit Slide button, you’ll find a lot of different tools that give you a chance to tune animation, change the background, add masks and effects, edit your photos, etc. It’s good enough for most uses.
If you want to edit the videos more thoroughly, however, you’ll have to look at other video editing programs because this one is rather basic in this aspect.
Different Output Formats
SmartSHOW 3D allows users to export their slideshow in various formats. You can choose to create videos in high-definition quality, for mobile devices, TV, computers, and you can also export videos in formats such as MKV, MP4, MOV, and more. If you have the Deluxe package, you can also burn the slideshow to a DVD.
System Requirements
As of this writing, SmartSHOW 3D is only compatible with Windows operating systems. But, it’s compatible with even older Windows versions, such as XP and Vista. Of course, it’s also compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Price Plans
In terms of pricing, SmartSHOW 3D is one of the most affordable slideshow programs out there.
For a one-time payment of $39.90, you can get the Standard version, which includes all the basic things that you could possibly need in a slideshow program, such as 150+ templates, 3D animations, and the ability to add your own music.
Add $20 and you’ll get the Deluxe version, which includes additional features like 200+ royalty-free tracks, more templates, and the ability to burn slideshows to DVD.
SmartSHOW 3D also offers a 10-day free trial for those who would like to try it out first before buying. With the free trial, interested users can access all features available to Standard users. You’ll have no choice but to shell out money if you want to try the Deluxe version features, however.
What We Liked
- Ease-of-use. There’s almost no learning curve here whatsoever. Even if it’s your first time creating a slideshow using slideshow software, you won’t have any issues understanding how SmartSHOW 3D works.
- Plenty of free extras. Technically, it’s all paid for in your plan, but it’s still great how many ‘free’ extras there are in this program. Standard users already get a sizable amount of templates and effects, but Deluxe users get a whole lot more.
- Affordable price. Especially compared to its competitors, SmartSHOW 3D is quite an affordable option. Even better, it’s not a subscription-based model, so once you buy a license for this program, it’s yours to keep forever.
- Output options. Whatever format you want your slideshow to be in, SmartSHOW 3D probably has it.
What We Did Not Like
- Template designs. Some of the templates look rather old and dated.
- No Mac version. So far, SmartSHOW 3D is only available for Windows operating systems. Obviously, this is a huge drawback, as there are plenty of users who have Macs instead of PCs.
SmartSHOW 3D FAQs
What size should photos be for SmartSHOW 3D?
There are technically no required image sizes for SmartSHOW 3D, but if you want your output to be in HD quality, you should only select photos that have a resolution of at least 1920×1080. If you want to add effects like pan and zoom, it’s best to make them even larger, to prevent the photo from looking grainy.
How to add steam in SmartSHOW 3D?
In order to add steam, as well as any other effects you might like, you simply have to select the Animation tab. If you’re not sure what effect or animation is the best for you, the program also has plenty of preset styles that you can use to your heart’s content.
How long does it take to make a DVD in SmartSHOW 3D?
There’s no exact answer to this question since the time it takes to convert a slideshow and burn it to a DVD depends on two factors: how fast your laptop is and how big the file you’re converting is. For instance, if you have a large file with plenty of photos and soundtracks, you may have to spend more time waiting for the process to finish.
SmartSHOW 3D: Final Thoughts
SmartSHOW 3D is an affordable and easy-to-use slideshow program that both beginners and advanced users will have no problems using. Best of all, it’s got plenty of features that can knock even its more expensive competitors out of the water.
If you’re interested in doing more photo slideshows or photo movies, then SmartSHOW 3D is certainly a worthy choice for you.
Do you have any questions about our SmartSHOW 3D review? Feel free to share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
SmartSHOW 3D
Pros
- Affordable compared to competitors
- Easy to use, even for beginners
- Includes automatic options for beginners
- Offers plenty of creative options to users
Cons
- Outdated template designs
- Limited only to Windows OS
WARNING: I began using Smartshow 3D in November 2022 and from the very first effort to create a small test slide show to get the feel of the program the software during the image selection phase hangs up and quits – just vanishes of my screen. No warning just shuts down. I worked with AMS support team through the end of December with no resolution to this occurrence. I had not download a “try before you buy” version because of the plethora of glowing praise for this product. Consequently support made no effort to refund my cost. I am now out my $50 and have a useless product on my PC. Try before you buy!
I just purchased this software a few days ago. Completed my project with ease. Love the templates and options for backgrounds. I’m transiting from using ProShow gold since it’s not supported any longer. Now when I just tried to create/burn a dvd it stuck on 83% at the last stage. After waiting over 1 hour nothing happened. Not happy! Looking for a fix if anyone can provide suggestions.
AMS Software is only based on 32 bits. It can’t handle big RAM, and it doesn’t support GPU. Besides all that, the refund policy is very bad. You may get an offer to choose another program, but the problem remains with the hardware support. This kind of software should be 64 bits and support the GPU (Cuda / Nvenc). Another negative issue is the late answer from their support. You have to be very patience.
Same DVD burn problem. Just took my computer to Best Buy to see if they can help with this issue
I’m having the same problem as MaryBeth. The program is great, easy to use but it will only save an MP4 file and will not convert to DVD. I need to give DVD to elderly relatives who don’t have computers. I specifically bought this program because it said it would burn to DVD’s. They have not responded to my request. Maybe save your money if you’re looking to burn DVD’s.
I have been unable to burn my Project to a DVD and have contacted the company but have not been satisfied with the numerous responses. Do you have any tips on how to bring the DVD. It is not user-friendly. Thank you for your help!