Re: Premiere Pro output question

You can use a higher resolution by using custom project settings. If you're going to play the video from your computer, you can use a resolution that matches your LCD screen's native resolution for best appearance (as long as your still images look good at that size). Be aware that at custom resolutions, you lose some of the optimized playback options in Premiere, and performance may suffer a little (probably won't for a slide show project, but just to let you know).

Regardless of the resolution, you can output to a WMV or MPEG-2 file and play it back from your hard drive. Use higher bitrates for best results, though if you use a high resolution remember that A) it will require an even higher bitrate to maintain the same quality, and B) higher bitrates require more processor power, so if you have a slow computer you could overpower it. I'd recommend that as you're assembling the slide show, make some test renders and see how they work.

I am tempted to recommend you go the DVD route. The workflow is better defined, and in the case of a problem such as your computer breaks, you'll have a backup method to play the slide show.

Good luck, and congratulations!