Frequently Asked Questions

1. My pictures are in photo albums. Can I just lend you my photo album with a mark indicating the pictures I want in the video?
    
2. How many pictures do you need for a video?
    
3. What do I need to do with my pictures to get them ready for you?
    
4. How can I get my photos to you?
    
5. What about music selection?
    
6. Can you include VHS or digital video as well? What about 8 mm or Super 8 film?
    
7. How long does it take for a video production?
    
8. I don't have a DVD player. What other options do you have?
    
9. Your DVD does not play in my DVD player. Yet I have no problem with commercial movies.
    
10. What if we want changes to the video sequence or add more photos?

1. My pictures are in photo albums. Can I just lend you my photo album with a mark indicating the pictures I want in the video?

Many older photo albums have a sticky backing on the pages to hold the photos in place and a clear plastic cover to protect them and keep the pages from sticking to one another. After several years it may be very difficult to remove those photos without damaging them.

We may still be able to digitize such photos that cannot be removed from the album page. However, direct access to the photo is necessary to maximize quality. If the clear plastic cover is not removable, the digitized photo will likely suffer some degradation that would be very difficult, if not expensive, to correct.

We will use the utmost care in handling and processing your photos. However, we cannot assume responsibility for damage to photos if we are asked to remove them from your photo album.

2. How many pictures do you need for a video?

The length of a video production depends on several factors: The number of photos, the duration that each photo or film segment remains displayed, and the cumulative time transitioning from one photo to the next. Thus, any number of photos can be used in a video production.

A reasonable estimate that one can use is the following: Approximately 10 photos are shown in a one minute period. Therefore, 100 photos would result in approximately 10 minutes of video.

3. What do I need to do with my pictures to get them ready for you?

Select the best images available. Poor quality photos will not display well in a video, though, as a standard part of our service, we will try to improve the photo by applying whatever enhancements are needed.

If it is important to you, your photos need to be organized in the order in which you want them to be viewed. If sorting is to be done by PGR Video Tributes, we will charge $15.00 per 100 photos for this service and we cannot be held liable for improper sequencing. Please number your photos on the back in case they get mixed up.

If your photos are digitized, consider naming the files such as pic1.jpg, pic2.jpg, pic3.jpg or simply 1.jpg, 2.jpg, etc. for proper sequencing or supply us with a list of your files and the order in which you would like them. Speaking of digitized photos, if you scan your own photos, for best results use a quality setting of about 300 dpi and do not preprocess the file (for example, use compression or resizing or any other processing that may introduce artifacts). PGR Video Tributes can work with many file types including popular JPG, GIF, PNG and TIF.

If you have special instructions for a particular photo, please add a Post-It note to the back of the photo or write instructions on a separate sheet of paper and tell us what you want. If you use a separate sheet, be sure to indicate which photo it is you are referring to.

If you would like a caption to go with a photo, please add a Post-It note or write instructions on a separate sheet of paper.

If there is an individual in a group photo who is of particular interest, please note where that person is located with a Post-It or on a separate sheet. This is especially important with young children where distinguishing characteristics may not be so evident.

4. How can I get my photos to you?

If it is not convenient to drop off your photos in person, special arrangements for pick up can be made or you can mail them to us at:

PGR Video Tributes, LLC
4884 Krestridge Court E
Bargersville, IN 46106-8322

Many photos are irreplaceable so if you must mail your pictures, it may be prudent to send them by registered mail or via one of the commercial carriers who tracks their packages such as FedEx, UPS, or use the tracking service provided by USPS.

PGR Video Tributes LLC is not responsible for photos lost in transit.

5. What about music selection?

Music selection is just as important as the photos in a video production. Ideally, the music should be long enough to allow all the photos to be shown. The music should fit the occasion or intent of the video. If the video is commemorating an individual, their favorite music or style of music might be a good selection.

We go to great lengths to select just the right music for your project. We have a selection of music to which we have rights. Customer supplied CD music is welcomed and will be returned upon completion of the project. PGR Video Tributes can also purchase necessary music for you if we do not have your choice. The CD will be provided to you at our cost.

6. Can you include VHS or digital video segments as well? What about Super 8 film?

We can add VHS or digital movies to your DVD production. Because there are additional steps required to merge these media with your photos, there is a small additional fee for each clip.

If you have Super 8 film, we have the ability to digitize your film, color-correct it if necessary and transfer it to DVD. We can then take clips of the digitized film and insert them into your video tribute.

7. How long does it take for a video production?

Our standard minimum video production time is 7 days from the day we have all your materials. However, the more time you can give us, the more we can do for you such as taking additional time to improve poor quality photos or locate other choices for music or fine-tune the transitions.

If you need faster service and if we have available resources, we can complete your project in less time. There is an additional charge depending on how quickly you want your video. Please refer to the price list for our fee schedule. We will do our best to accommodate your need.

We reserve the right to limit extra options for this expedited service.

We offer a special schedule package and service for funerals.

8. I don't have a DVD player. What other options do you have?

Instead of DVD, PGR Video Tributes can create your video show on CD (as a VCD) or VHS tape. However, solutions other than DVD will yield a product that is somewhat lower in quality (pictures may look more grainy and fuzzy). We highly recommend a DVD version of your video show. But, if you prefer, a VCD or VHS product can be provided instead of DVD, or you can get both (DVD plus VCD or VHS) at a small additional cost. Due to the smaller capacity of CDs, your video might span over more than one CD.

9. Your DVD does not play in my DVD player. Yet I have no problem with commercial movies.

We are sorry if you are having problems with our product. Our video productions are created on DVD-R media that is compatible with the majority of DVD players on the market. Older DVD players might have special requirements, such being limited to DVD+R media only. If this is your case, please notify us and we will replace your DVD with a different format.

Another possibility is that the lens of your DVD player might be dirty. Please try a cleaning disk to correct this problem. A dirty lens can also cause skips or other reading problems even with commercial movies.

We always test our products to ensure that they work properly before releasing them. If your DVD disk has been damaged or smudged with grease or dirt, it will not play correctly. Clean the disk or contact us for a low cost replacement. If you have a computer with a DVD drive (CD-ROM drives will not work), you can test the disk with the computer to help in diagnosing the source of your problem.

10. What if we want changes to the video sequence or add more photos?

PGR Video Tributes LLC will work with you if you want to review a draft of our product before it goes into production. A working draft copy is a simple video used for sequencing purposes only.

Any number of changes to your video can be done during the draft stage. Once your video enters the production phase, changes can still be done but we must charge a fee. This is because during the production phase, changes can affect multiple elements of the video, each of which must be readjusted or redone.