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As Internet connections get faster and computers grow more powerful, digital photographers are now able to do more with their pictures on screen than they ever could on paper. The technology age has allowed developers to create software programs that transform digital images into a variety of interesting presentation formats.

That’s where Simple Star Inc. (various tiers of products via www.simplestar.com) found its way into the growing business. The San Francisco company’s PhotoShow line of imaging software makes it easier than ever for digital photographers to turn their pictures into home computer slideshows in a variety of formats.

The line includes various tiers of products -- PhotoShow Express for a free download; PhotoShow for $29.99 and PhotoShow Deluxe for $49.99. PhotoShow’s concept: Digital imaging offers new and exciting ways to enjoy pictures other than just putting them on paper and storing them in shoeboxes.

In that regard, the software allows users to upload photos and design slideshows, complete with added text and special effects for transitions.

Once completed, users have several options. The slideshows can be saved to a hard drive or posted as a web page. Or they can use a new Simple Star service. For about $15, the company will burn your show to a DVD and send it to you via the mail.

“We wanted to help customers get their photos into the living room easily,” said David McKie, vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re trying to insure that everybody gets full satisfaction from their digital camera and realizes there’s a lot of flexibility with digital.”

PhotoShow products are showing up in a variety of partnerships. For instance, subscribers to the broadband Internet service offered by Comcast Inc., the cable giant, can download a special version of the software. A special version has also been written for Ahead Software, which is marketing the Nero PhotoShow application.

The line, however, is not a one-trick pony. The slideshow feature is bundled into a program that also allows users to make a suite of changes to their pictures -- adjusting color, eliminating red-eye, cropping and more. It’s also going to be available in 12 different languages.

Similar to PhotoShow is a program from Telling Stories Inc. of San Francisco ($50, via www.tellingstories.com), which, as the name suggests, helps tell your stories through pictures and other forms of media.

Telling Stories has several unique features in its program, not the least of which is the automated “interview” you walk through in creating your show.

The program will prompt you to answer questions, such as: “What were the most significant historical events of a particular year?” “What songs do you associate with this era?” Once completed, the program then generates a visual life storyline illustrated with multimedia.

Other interesting features include the ability to integrate film or video clips, you own songs from CDs and other documents, such as marriage license, birth certificates and other items.

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