
If it’s options you want, you’ll get them in spades with TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery, a template that integrates Monokai’s MonoSlideshow into the Adobe Lightroom‘s Web module. Every aspect of every element in the gallery is completely configurable to the user’s preferences. In fact, TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery is only a part of the iceberg; those willing to spend some time with the MonoSlideshow manual and to get their hands a little dirty with XML will find a wealth of additional options that go beyond the scope of Lightroom – things like sound-effects, custom fonts and watermarks, and more.
But there’s a catch. TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery is free, but MonoSlideshow is not. MonoSlideshow must be purchased from www.monoslideshow.com for $19.95 in order to use the Web module plugin.
MonoSlideshow Configurable Online Demo
*Demo 2 involves some manual coding combining galleries.
In order to use TTG MonoSlideshow gallery, users are required to purchase MonoSlideshow from www.monoslideshow.com for $19.95 USD.
Once purchased, copy the monoslideshow.swf into the TTGMonoSlideshowGallery folder. Overwrite the existing swf file, which is a fake. You may now continue installation according to the Installation instructions.
There are several things to be aware of when using TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery. Please read this section thoroughly.
The MSSwrapper File
MonoSlideshow requires that its width and height dimensions be passed to it from the index.html file. Lightroom loads the monoslideshow.swf file directly, and does not load the index.html at all. This presents a problem. To wit, MonoSlideshow, as previewed from within the Lightroom Web module, cannot retrieve its width and height dimensions, and therefore assumes width and height dimensions of zero, meaning that it doesn’t show up at all in the preview window.
In order to remedy this problem, TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery loads a separate SWF file, which loads the monoslideshow.swf file into itself whilst passing it width and height dimensions. This allows the MonoSlideshow gallery to be previewed from within the Web module.
From version 1.3, it is no longer necessary to choose or edit the MSSwrapper.swf file. The Lightroom preview now honors and displays the Stage dimensions and background color, making the gallery much easier to configure than ever before. A great deal of thanks to to Joe Capra for his excellent work on the MSSwrapper file.
Finally, the MSSwrapper file is only used to preview the gallery within the LR Web module. Once a gallery is exported, the wrapper file may be safely deleted from the exported gallery.
Using a Mark File
If you intend to use a mark file in your slideshow, you should add the mark to the gallery archive in order to prevent MonoSlideshow from freaking out when it can’t find the file. To do that, copy the file into the gallery archive. Then, open the gallery.xml file, and add a filePath entry for your mark file.
Read the Manual
The purchased MonoSlideshow gallery archive includes a PDF users manual. This manual details the full range of options available in MonoSlideshow, many of which are not supported by the TTG MonoSlideshow Gallery template (because they are irrelevant to Lightroom’s functions). Options such as sound effects, flash watermarks, custom fonts and more must be added manually to the XML file.
Configurable Online Demo
A configurable online demo of MonoSlideshow gallery is available at the MonoSlideshow website. Users can configure the gallery and view their customizations on the Internet. The resulting XML file can then be downloaded. Optionally, users can copy and paste the settings from the downloaded XML file into the Lightroom generated XML file.
Push Buttons!
More than a simple slideshow, with the right configuration MonoSlideshow can also but used to present a thumbnail gallery. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
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Web photo gallery templates, tutorials and resources for Adobe Lightroom's Web module.