smile1 wrote:Hi,
I've been using the trial version of Proshow Gold 5 over the last couple of days and enjoy it. ...
...I can't seem to find any effects where you can keep the background constant while floating photos around.
That's because you can't do such effects in ProShow Gold, only in ProShow Producer
The effects that you are showing require multiple keyframes in a single slide.
ProShow Gold has just two keyframes - a starting point and an ending point - but it has nothing for what happens in between.
It also doesn't have opacity (transparency) values, either.
Proshow Gold can make SOME of these effects, if you apply the following principle: a layer (picture) can move just once in each slide: From point A to point B.
If you want to move more than once, then you have to create additional slides. Each slide continues the motion from the previous slide.
Zooming in on a picture is also a kind of motion - from small to large.
You should create a chain of slides that has the following movements, for each layer.
slide 1 - from A to B
Slide 2 - from B to C
Slide 3 - from C to D
Notice the Copy button. Choose the option "Copy End to Next Slide". This will ensure that slide 2 starts at exactly the same point where Slide 1 has ended. All you have to do in slide 2 is to move the layer in the desired Ending position.
In between all these slides of the chain, you should place a CUT transition of 0 time. This will create the impression that everything moves in one continuous animation.
So, to answer your original question, you will have to include the same background in every single slide that you make in the chain.
A background doesn't necessarily have to be inserted in the slide through the Slide Options > Background.
It can also be inserted as a separate layer, that is placed at the bottom of your pile of layers.
Please let us know if you need more information.