Create Your Own Screen Saver

Product Reviews

FX Saver Toolbox | Screensaver Factory 2 | Screensaver Builder Pro
FotoAngelo | Dream Screensaver Maker | GraFX Saver Pro | Our Choice

FX Saver Toolbox

There isn't a photographer I know who doesn't love showing off his or her images. Why not create and distribute your own screen savers to family, friends & customers? This can be a terrific marketing tool.

FX Saver Toolbox by Tropical Wares helps you create a professional screen saver using your images. FX Saver supports more than 30 popular image formats (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF, PCD, FPX, JBG, and many more). It comes in two versions, FX Saver Toolbox ($49.00) and FX Saver Toolbox Professional ($149.95 - the version we own and review here).

Adding your images is easy. Once you've selected your images, you need to decide how your image will be positioned on the screen. I particularly like the "fit to screen proportionally" option. One feature that I have not found on any other screen saver program is the ability to set the last image viewed as your wallpaper. This is a great way to automatically change your wallpaper.

Next, select which image transition effect or effects you want to use. Now that you've taken care of your images, you can set your Sound Effects by choosing *background sounds (MID/WAV/MP3). Press the Preview button at any time to test your screen saver.

When you're pleased with the way your new screen saver looks, it's time to create the finished product. There are several very nice options in the Distribution Wizard setup.

Once you've entered your information in the Distribution Wizard, all you need to do is click on Build Now and FX Saver Toolbox creates the executable file.

Another nice feature which the other screensavers reviewed don't have is the ability for the end-user to alter many of the settings, like transition effects and background music options. All in all, this is a very nice, easy to use program that is great for the professional photographer looking for another way to market their images.

Blumentals Screensaver Factory 2

Screensaver Factory 2 by Blumentals lets you create your own royalty free screensavers. It includes many of the features that FX Saver Professional has, like a link to your web site and an "About" screen where you can place your business and copyright information. If there are weaknesses in this program, it is the lack of dissolve & fade transitions and ability to set the last image as wallpaper. Where Screensaver Factory 2 stands out is its ability to create a shareware - try before you buy - version. Nag screens and banners are shown until the customer pays for the screensaver.

Cost - a bargain at $24.85. Also of note is their personal screen saver program, SCR Builder, which retails for $14.85.

Screensaver Builder Pro

I really enjoy using Screensaver Builder Pro. There is a nice selection of transitions to choose from. You can add music to the screensaver. A caption can be added to your screensaver and positioned at the top or bottom of the screen. This is extremely useful for including such things as your copyright information and/or your website address. Keep in mind that the caption feature is universal and not per image.

The pro version helps you create screensavers from Images as well as Flash (swf), Videos (Real Media, Media Player & AVI files) and Web sites (URLs-HTML). This is a very versatile program. The regular version (image screen saver only) is only $20.00 while the pro version is $30.00. Download your free trial copy.

FotoAngelo

There is another, less expensive product available that I really like from ACD Systems, the creator of the image management software program ACDSee. FotoAngelo is a very nice program that will create either a slide show or a screen saver from your images. This is an great choice if you want to share your images with friends and family. Cost $29.95.

Dream ScreenSaver Maker

Dream ScreenSaver Maker by DreamSoft is an easy-to-use image screen saver which also can be used as a slide show. Creating your screen saver is a simple, four-step process. Cost $29.95.

GraFX Saver Pro

GraFX Saver Pro by CDH Productions is also royalty free and offers several unique features which the other screen saver programs do not. You can combine your images with animation, video, and audio to create exciting screen savers. You're only limited by your imagination! The only drawback is that when you install your recently created screensaver you are required to reboot your system. Cost $75.

Our Choice

It's a toss-up. Both FX Saver Toolbox Professional and Screensaver Factory 2 provide us with a professional product. FX Saver Toolbox has a few features which allow us to produce professional screen savers that contain our copyright, copyright notice and link to our website. We also like the ability to have the last image saved as your desktop wallpaper and the nice fade effect. On the other hand, I really like the capability of creating a shareware version with Screensaver Factory 2.

I own both and use both to distribute screensavers, both for fun and for profit. If you're looking for a great way to market your images and your business, I encourage you to download the trial versions of FX Saver Toolbox and and Screensaver Factory 2 and see how easy and rewarding it is to create your own professional screen savers using your favorite images.

* Please note: If you plan to distribute any of your screen savers with sound files or images that are not yours, you must have permission from the artist.

Article © 2002 Jan A. Allinder, All Rights Reserved