Did you know you can make an instant HyperStudio 5® stack from a folder of photos or other graphic images?
This trick works with pretty much any graphic format that could be loaded as a background in HyperStudio 5. I’ve tried it with two common examples, a folder of photos in .jpg format and a folder of screenshots that were .png.
Here’s the big secret: Just drag the folder of images onto the HyperStudio 5 app icon! If HyperStudio 5 is open, it will instantly create a new stack, making a card from each image. One of your images will be the background for each card, and and they will be in the same order as the image files in the folder.
If HyperStudio 5 is not already running, it will launch and make the new stack. And, if you have a stack open, dragging the folder onto the app icon will add new cards to the end of the stack, one for each image.
Add Your Own Custom Touches
You’ll probably want to add a caption with a title or explanatory text. You can make whatever changes you want, of course, and add other items to each card. But your images are all in place in one step! Each card has a default action such that clicking the card goes to the next card, with a fade transition. What a timesaver!
I’ve tried this successfully in both the Windows and Mac versions of HyperStudio 5. Full-page images will fill the card background. I wondered what would happen if your folder contained a set of images smaller than the card size, and in random shapes and sizes. No problem! The image will be centered on each new card.
How Could You Use This Tip?
Think of the possibilities here! When you take pictures during a walk, exploring a museum, watching students performing a play, etc., the images you download from your camera are already numbered in chronological order.
If you are scanning a book to turn it into an e-book, of course you’d number those images in order as well. To make a slideshow of your students’ artistic efforts, you could scan them and number those images, too. Put any ordered set of images into a folder, and you’re ready to turn it into an instant stack!
This tip is so short it’s easy to remember. But in case you want to use it as a handout, I’ve made it into a short PDF file you can download below. There is also a link to an online version to use in presenting this tip.
Application needed: HyperStudio 5, Acrobat Reader
Subject area: Teacher Tip.
Level: Author.
Downloads – Printable Tip
InstantStack.pdf (1.3 MB) Instant HyperStudio 5 Stack tip to print. Acrobat Reader.
Instant Stack In HS5 Online Instant HyperStudio 5 Stack tip online, ready to present to a group.
