Sony DVD Architect photos burn up

The software works flawlessly for captured video, but a still image slideshow burns up lighter portions of images --- a lot! Faces become unidentifiable, etc. Prior to burning everything looks perfect. I decreased the track video level to 80% but that only seems to wash out the photos by, apparently, increasing the transparency level. Anyone else have the problem?

Photoshow Gold from Photodex does the job exactly as it should be done, but music sound track crossfades are not as easy, so I would like to do the shows using the Sony products (Platinum 6 version -- latest with last week's updates even).

These productions are for funeral memorials and I can't spend an immense amount of time editing 268 photos to make them darker.

Any help would be appreciated.