Hello

This is a request for help with prepping menu/slideshow stills for VCDBuilder. Info seems to be conflicting at times, which in turn is confusing me, so some affirmation is appreciated.

My goal is two-fold:
1) To create a still menu image using Photoshop in a way that I will know before dropping into VCDbuilder how it will be presented, for the most part, on a standard NTSC 4:3 T.V.;
2) To create framed/matted still images (i.e. without overscan loss) using the highest S/VCD quality possible for slideshow presentation on a standard NTSC 4:3 T.V.

What I think I know, and have deciphered, about mpeg "stills" for (S)VCD include the following:

Section I - Resolution
1. Single-frame still:
a) maximum VCD pixel resolution: 704x480 (NTSC) , 704x576 (PAL)
b) maximum SVCD pixel resolution: 704x480 (NTSC) , 704x576 (PAL)
image information will be lost along the four edges to the 'overscan' area of T.V. during presentation
c) maximum pixel density: 72 dpi

2. Motion mpeg "still" with sound, transitions, & etc (authored like a motion mpeg):
a) maximum VCD pixel resolution: 352x240 (NTSC), 352x288 (PAL)
b) maximum SVCD pixel resolution: 480x480 (NTSC), 480x576 (PAL)
c) maximum pixel density: 72 dpi

Conclusion #1: Single-frame stills offer the highest pixel resolution for presenting photographs on the television. The pixel resolutions are the same for VCD and SVCD.

Conclusion #2: Using maximum pixel resolution will result in information loss to the overscan area of televisions.

Conclusion #3: For motion mpeg "stills", SVCD offers higher resolution than VCD.

Section II - Aspect ratio & Overscan
1. An image created at 768x576 on a computer monitor will look the same as on a television screen, after it is resized for both NTSC and PAL
768x576 = 4:3 aspect ratio

2. Images at 768x576 dropped into VCDbuilder will automatically be adjusted to proper resolution
a) 704x480 (NTSC)
b) 704x576 (PAL)
VCDbuilder seems to even accept .psd files!

3. Overscan will eat up to 3.3% of the still from each side (~10% total information loss)

Conclusion #4:For source images, work within a canvas size of 768x576 for best results.

Question #1:To combat information loss to the overscan area, is it best to add a matte within the 768x576 canvas? Thus, any information lost is from the matte and not from portions of the desired image?

Conclusion #6:Images less than 704x480 (NTSC) or 704x576 (PAL) will automatically be centered and matted with black in VCDbuilder.

Section III - T.V. flicker
1. Single-frame stills of high resolution may flicker on a television
a) there will be no flicker when played on a progressive-scan DVD player
b) de-interlacing images before authoring on (S)VCD will remove potential flicker
Filter > Video > De-Interlace in Photoshop

2. Motion mpeg "stills" will not flicker on a T.V., because they are a lower resolution

Conclusion #7: By default, batch de-interlace images that will be used for single-frame stills to prevent potential flicker.

Question #2: Will a de-interlaced image look different than its unfiltered counterpart, when played on a progressive-scan DVD player?

Section IV - VCDBuilder
1. "Fill screen" stretches the still to fill all of the television screen
a) desired image is disproportionately modified
b) information lost to overscan area

2. "Fill screen, use tv-safe borders" takes the image from number 1, and adds a matte (of unknown size)
a) desired image is disproportionately modified
b) a matte buffers desired image from overscan loss

3. "Scale proportionally" presents the still at full proper resolution
a) correct ratio of image maintained, unlike with "Fill screen"
b) information lost to overscan area

4. "Scale proportionally, use tv-safe borders" presents the still at a compatible resolution
a) correct ratio of image maintained
b) a matte buffers desired image from overscan loss

Question #3: How large is the matte that VCDbuilder creates when "Use TV-safe borders" is checked?

Conclusion #8: An alternative to "use TV-safe borders" is to generate a source image that includes a hard matte, and then choose "scale proportionately" (without "use TV-safe borders checked).

Am I understanding the fundamentals correctly?
Thank you for taking the time to read through all of it.


cheers!