Slide show facts for kids
A slide show is a way to show a series of pictures or images, usually on a big screen or a computer. The pictures can change automatically, or someone can change them manually.
Originally, slide shows used real photographic slides. These were small pieces of film projected onto a screen using a slide projector. Today, most slide shows are digital, meaning they are made and shown on computers or other electronic devices. When it's digital, people often call it a slideshow (one word).
A slide show can be just for fun, showing cool pictures, or it can help explain things. For example, a teacher might use a slide show to explain a lesson, or someone might use one to share ideas. While some people still use old projectors, most slide shows today are made with a computer and special software.
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The History of Slide Shows
Slide shows have a long history, going all the way back to the 1600s!
Early Days: Magic Lanterns
In the 1600s, people started using something called a "magic lantern". These were early projectors that shined light through hand-painted pictures on glass. The images were then projected onto a wall. By the late 1700s, people used magic lanterns to create spooky shows called "phantasmagoria" which looked like ghosts appearing on walls.
At first, the only light sources were sunlight, candles, or oil lamps. But as new, brighter lights were invented, projecting images became much better. In the 1800s, people used glass "lantern slides" to tell stories or give lectures. These shows became popular for both fun and learning.
From Glass to Film: Photographic Slides
By 1900, real photographs on glass slides replaced the hand-painted ones. Sometimes, these black-and-white photos were colored by hand with clear dyes. Making lantern slides became a big business.
"Magic lantern shows" were also popular for entertainment at home, especially for children. Even after "moving pictures" (movies) came along, magic lantern shows were still used. Early movie theaters often showed "illustrated songs" where people sang along to lyrics and pictures projected from lantern slides. Theaters also used them for ads or messages like "Ladies, kindly remove your hats."
In 1936, 35 mm Kodachrome color film was invented. This led to a new, smaller slide size: 2x2 inches (5x5 cm). The old "magic lantern" name was updated. The framed pieces of film became simply "slides," and the projector was a "slide projector." The old magic lantern show became a modern "slide show."
Home Slide Shows: A Family Tradition
In the 1950s and 1960s, home slide shows were very common in many American families. If someone in the family loved taking pictures, any visit from relatives or a new batch of Kodachrome slides was a reason to set up the projector and screen. People would turn off the lights and watch a long show of old vacation photos, wedding pictures, birthdays, and other family events. The person who took the photos would usually talk about each one.
Even today, the 35 mm film image in a 2x2 inch frame is still the most common type of photographic slide.
How Slide Shows Are Used Today
A good slide show helps a speaker show pictures that match what they are saying. The old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" is true. One picture can save a speaker from having to describe many details. To give a great slide show, you need some skill, practice, and preparation.
Slide Shows in Business and Education
Presentation software is used a lot in the business world. Millions of presentations are made every day. It's also very important for teaching. Teachers use it to create lively shows with both sound and pictures. Key points of a lesson are put on slides, and the teacher talks about them.
Slide Shows as Art
Slide shows can also be used for art. For example, they can be used as a screensaver on a computer, or to show moving images in a museum. Some artists even create art using programs like Microsoft PowerPoint.
Since the late 1960s, artists have used slide shows in museums and galleries. They use them to share information about their work or as a form of art itself. The simple slide projector and 35 mm color slides allowed artists to change a space by making pictures, texts, and images much bigger. While some artists use different types of slides or even just text, 35 mm color film slides are the most common. Sometimes, the images have text with them, or a voice-over (someone speaking).
Artists who work with painting or sculpture also use slide shows to present their art to the public. Many younger artists are using slide shows more and more. There's even an organization called Slideluck Potshow that holds slide show events around the world. They show work by artists, photographers, and gallery owners. People who come to the event bring food to share, like a potluck, and eat together before the slide show starts.
Some other famous artists who have used slide shows in their art include Bas Jan Ader, Francis Alys, Nan Goldin, and Robert Smithson.
Digital Slide Shows
Today, digital photo slideshows can be made for people using their own photos, music, wedding invitations, birth announcements, or almost any other document that can be scanned. Some people call the DVDs made from these shows a new kind of photomontage.
You can create slideshows not only on DVDs but also in high-definition (HD) video formats or as computer files. Photo slideshow software makes it easy to create digital slideshows. This means you don't need expensive film anymore, just a digital camera and a computer.
Photo slideshow software often offers many more options than just showing pictures. You can add cool transitions between pictures, zoom in and out, include video clips, add background music, narration (someone speaking), and captions. Using computer software lets you make the show much more interesting and professional. The finished slideshow can then be saved to a DVD to give as a gift or to keep, and you can watch it later on a regular DVD player.
See also
In Spanish: Diaporama para niños
