Alternatives to FrontPage Photo Galleries

NEW - Read this first: Don't Do This with FrontPage!

It is common knowledge that the Photo Gallery component that is built into FP 2002 just doesn't work very well! There are no changes for this problem for FP 2003 even though there are so many questions asked about it in the FrontPage forum. My first tutorial about this subject was this page. Now let's look at some other possibilities. 

>> I highly recommend JAlbum to be found at www.datadosen.se/jalbum. At the site you will find good screen shots, 14 sample styles, a tutorial (!) and Owner's Manual. Beyond that, there are even scripting examples (don't let that scare you off). an FAQ, forum and directions for customizing the look and behaviour with new "skins". I very successfully used this program's 'Old Album' for a CD of old family photos for Christmas gifts last year. Here's a more recent example.

>> Arles Image Web Page Creator: "Use Arles Image Web Page Creator to quickly and easily create image collections on the web. Arles creates high quality thumbnails, modifies images and automatically creates HTML pages. You can either use the default settings or fine-tune images and HTML options to your needs. Users have total control over the design of the generated web pages by using templates. You can fine tune images and HTML pages using one the many available options or use templates for full control over the pages. Arles supports 20+ image file formats and includes the Arles Image Explorer for easy image management. All image data is automatically stored in a database allowing you to sort, select and provide titles for all images on your computer." I have only tried this program once but realize that it does have good possibilities once you learn what can happen in each of the numerous dialog boxes. There is plenty of good help, screenshots, tutorials, an FAQ and forum as well as plenty of examples. It isn't as automatic as JAlbum but it does have more options.
Arles Image Web Page Creator 5.8.5

>> Adobe Photoshop Elements v.2 - 3 works well also. There are 15 styles from which to choose and Options for the Banner, Large Images, Thumbnails, Custom Colors and Security (an advanced feature). You will put the results in a folder which you will them IMPORT into FrontPage.

>> Adobe Photoshop v.7 - CS It's hard to find the slide show capability until you look at File> Automate> Web Photo Gallery. There are only 11 styles, the directions are fairly straight forward but it can become quite advanced if you get into the options for Security. The Options are the same as Photoshop elements.

>> Ulead's PhotoImpact v.8 - XL has a slideshow possibly but the directions don't seem very helpful. I did find this wonderful, very complete tutorial at East of the Sun (Absolutely Everything PhotoImpact).

>> Ulead's Photo Explorer builds a nice HTML slideshow. This is a marvelous program that you should not be without!!! Open a folder of photos and go to Internet> Output Web Slideshow and you will have General Options and instructions for a Thumbnail page, your Images, adding Text and finally a choice of Style/Color. This is one of the best alternatives to FP Photo Galleries. $29.95 is the price and it is well worth every penny. I use it every day. Click Here

>> ThumbsPlus by Cerious Software allows you to built a very simple page of thumbnails in a table. Click on the thumbnail and open the large image (not on a page ... just the .jpg file in the top left. Here's an example.

>> Be sure to take a look at Picasa a FREE program from Google with many, many possibiblities, including some rather nice, but simple layouts for slide shows. the program is capable of basic image editing as well as being a powerful organizing tool. See this page for more information. You'll be surprised at how good this is!

>> Neither Fireworks MX or Paint Shop Pro offer anything.

Scripts for Photo Galleries and Images gathered by Charles Peifer of Yellowecho.com
He says: "Over the past several years I have used various scripts to showcase my photography. Some of the scripts below are very easy to install while others require a database and are a bit more advanced. Below are links to my site and then below each link is a link to that script or program used on that page. I feel a picture says a 1000 words and so does an example of a script. There is some basic information written under the links but it best to read the script information on the developer's website if my installation and experience interests you."

Now the fun begins!

>> At Dynamic Drive go to their DHTML Image Slide Shows section and you'll find 14 possibilities! You will find good descriptions, examples of each and the code you will need to import into the HTML of your page. You will need to change the image names in the code to your actual image names. Even though the directions are good, remember to copy and paste the code into Notepad before copying and pasting it into your page's code. Read the directions and have patience with yourself. Here's an interesting site that I just found while preparing to write this tutorial: Dynamic Web Coding This isn't for beginners, but there's lots of good material there, even about tooltips etc.

Photo Gallery Considerations - things to consider if you're going to use photo galleries on your site - size of thumbnails, size of larger images, backgrounds etc.

Now do just as I did: a Google Search may find more good ones! Be sure to let me know!

Other Resources to be found on my site.

Contact me if you need to.