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# How to Create Photo Slideshows with Music in Shotcut (Free Video Editor)
- URL: https://cotovan.com/post/how-to-create-photo-slideshows-with-music-in-shotcut-free-video-editor/
- Published: 2021-03-03T16:34:50.000Z
- Updated: 2026-02-24T07:21:52.000Z
- Author: Cristi Cotovan
- Tags: Shotcut Video Editor

[Shotcut](https://shotcut.org/?ref=cotovan.com) includes a built-in Slideshow Generator that turns a folder of photos into a fully-transitioned slideshow in seconds. Combined with an audio track for background music, you can create polished slideshows without any manual timeline editing.

## Importing Photos into the Playlist

Open Shotcut and switch to the **Playlist** view. Drag all your photos into the Playlist panel — they'll appear as thumbnails. You can reorder them by dragging within the Playlist to set the sequence. Shotcut accepts JPG, PNG, and other common image formats.

![Shotcut Playlist panel showing imported landscape photos as thumbnails with preview in the viewer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/aa/5baa4306-14e9-442c-8242-49463a36912f/content/images/2026/02/shotcut-photos-imported-playlist-panel.jpg)

Import your photos into the Playlist panel — drag to reorder the sequence

## Using the Slideshow Generator

With your photos in the Playlist, go to **Playlist menu → Slideshow Generator** (or the grid icon menu). This opens a dialog with several settings:

- **Clip Duration** — how long each photo displays (default 5 seconds)
- **Aspect Ratio Conversion** — options like Crop Centre, Pad Black, or Stretch
- **Zoom Effect** — adds a subtle Ken Burns-style zoom (percentage controls the amount)
- **Transition Duration** — length of the dissolve between photos
- **Transition Type** — Dissolve is the most common choice
- **Transition Softness** — controls how smooth the dissolve appears

![Shotcut Slideshow Generator dialog showing clip duration, zoom effect, transition type, and softness settings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/aa/5baa4306-14e9-442c-8242-49463a36912f/content/images/2026/02/shotcut-slideshow-generator-settings-dialog.jpg)

The Slideshow Generator dialog — configure duration, transitions, and zoom effects before generating

Click **OK** and Shotcut instantly creates the entire slideshow on the timeline with all transitions placed automatically.

## Adding Background Music

To add music, open an audio file and add it to the **A1** audio track on the timeline. Trim the audio to match the slideshow length, or let it fade out at the end. You can add a fade-out by selecting the audio clip and applying an audio fade filter.

![Shotcut timeline with photo slideshow clips on V1 connected by dissolve transitions and music on the A1 audio track](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/aa/5baa4306-14e9-442c-8242-49463a36912f/content/images/2026/02/shotcut-slideshow-timeline-with-transitions-and-music.jpg)

The completed slideshow — photos with transitions on V1 and background music on A1

## Exporting the Slideshow

When everything looks right, go to **Export**, choose a preset (YouTube or H.264 work well), and click **Export File**. Shotcut renders the slideshow as a standard video file you can share or upload.

The entire process — from importing photos to having a finished video — takes under a minute for a basic slideshow. For more control, you can always adjust individual clips on the timeline after the generator has done the initial layout.