creating a mixed mode dvd (ie movie and pictures)

[vamp1re]

I would love to create a dvd for my girlfriend for her 25th. I took the video of her party and we got some great shots from friends.

What i want to know is how do i create a dvd that will go to a menu and allow options of watching the video or viewing the photos ie (for photos)>> button advances to next photos .

any ideas / suggestions?

cheers
vamps

[Cornucopia]

In the tools section ( <--) there are a number of Photo/Slideshow 2 DVD apps that'll do just what you're asking for. Also most of the better authoring apps will allow you to do that along with standard DVD-Video "movie" material. They're both part of the spec.

In this respect, my personal favorite is Maestro, but I know that's "pert near" impossible to get a copy of it. I would make a guess that DVD-Lab Pro, Sony/Vegas app, or Adobe's app would probably be able to do it (for PC's) or DVDStudioPro (for Macs). There are probably others, but some of the lower-end ones may not allow for the combination of user-advanceable slides ALONG WITH video, whereas the better apps do support this.

Do a search on "Photo to DVD" or "Photo to VCD" and you'll find lots of forum threads as well as guides.

Side Note: try NOT to call this sort of thing a "Mixed Mode" DVD, as there is really NO such thing in the DVD world. Unlike CD's, DVD's are ALL Mode1 Data discs, every last one of 'em.

HTH,
Scott

[vamp1re]

cheers shall have alook

[beartums]

Scott,

I have played with the slide show function in Maestro, but did not know it had user-advanceable capability. Is there anything special I need to do to make that happen? If so, could you give me some pointers>

THanks,
Eric

[vamp1re]

yeah looks a tas advanced to me too..any easy options?

[Cornucopia]

Easier than you think.

In [File | Preferences] you have a tabbed dialog box. Click the [General] tab, you see setting for "SlideShow Defaults". Normally this is something like 5 sec--Change it to "1 VOBU". Do this before adding any still pix assets to the project. Part 1 done.

Add pix to your timeline. Make SURE you don't add audio, as it's not allowed for this feature and will break the stillshow setup. It's best to put them in their own "Movie" so they don't mess with the other segments of your project. Part 2 done.

Compile your project and burn.

When playing, you just have to use the [PLAY] button over and over again to advance (not [NEXT], as many might think).

HTH,
Scott

BTW, even if you author it correctly, some players won't play it correctly.

>>>>>>>>>>>>
edit: If the setup is working correctly the timeline segments will be pinkish, they'll be 1GOP long, and the Marker will show "Pause after each VOBU" in it's settings

[DVD_Ripper]

You can also buy MemoriesOnTV .... photos dropped into timeline with resulting DVD compiant MPEG created... drop that MPEG into your authoriing progam and you've got photos (albeit MPEG Movie) incorporated with your other movies... very nice alternative

[Cornucopia]

Yes, it has improved and is nice for what it does...

BUT, it doesn't do what vamp1re is asking: DVD, using USER-ADVANCED slide show.

To be honest, vamp1re, if you just want user-advance slide-show, you could do that quite easily on VCD or SVCD. Try VCDEasy and use the MPEG Stills tool. There are other apps out there.
(While VCD and SVCD are lower in resolution than DVD when it comes to video, if you're just talking about hi-rez stills, then VCD=704x480 vs SVCD=704x480 vs DVD=720x480. Not much of a difference.)

Scott

[housepig]

how about just making a chain of menus, with one picture each, and a forward and back button for the previous or next menu?

how many pictures are you talking about? IIRC, you can put 99 menus on a disc - taking out one main menu (to select the photos or the video content), that leaves you with 98 menus you could put pictures on...