First time making menus/authoring DVD questions

[jbenj01]

I was going to post in the Newbie/Gen'l forum but decided to do it here..

I don't even know where to start.. I've read a couple of authoring guides, like DVDAuthorGUI and DVD Maestro (Maestro is way too confusing for me) and managed to author a DVD of a TV show from my ReplayTV hd--but NO menus. Now I'm trying to make a simple/beginner's menu for the show. I can't even get past the part on how to grab in image from the show as a background pic for the menu...?? Do I simply just hit the F11-Save(??) key or the PrtScn?? Eventually, I'm going to want to do motion menus (but baby steps first, I guess).

For simple testing purposes, I tried importing a random jpg image into Photoshop and converted the image size from original size to 720x480 (from the Image/Image Size dropdown menu) to be DVD-compliant, then imported into DVDAuthorGUI (Menu/Create m2v still dropdown).. But I get an error.. From the error log, I got this: **ERROR: [jpeg2yuv] Unsupported sampling factors! Is this b/c I don't have an actual project imported into the app?

If I can't even get past this initial step, this is going to be one trying learning curve for me.. Can someone please recommend/link me to a complete/detailed guide that includes how to convert various images to DVD-compliant images for menu purposes? Are there any freeware apps that create motion menus?

[liquid217]

https://www.videohelp.com/~liquid217/readme.html#troubleshooting

An exerpt:

-Jpegs exported from Photoshop do not convert to m2v stills correctly (or they are all green).

This is caused by a sampling issue. Reviewing the log, you will probably see
**ERROR: [jpeg2yuv] Unsupported sampling factors!
To resolve this, simply lower the quality of the jpeg exported from photoshop, then make the m2v still.

[reboot]

Are there any freeware apps that create motion menus?

Not really. I'm sure there probably is one or two, but they're extremely difficult to master.
Try DVDLab (30 day fully functional demo).

[guns1inger]

You could look at WAX2 from http://www.debug.com mode for making the graphics/clips, and DVDauthorgui to put it all together. Perhaps not as straight-forward as pay-to-play software, but it will do the job.

[mats.hogberg]

IMO, TMPGEnc DVD Author is the package with the best "what it can do" vs "learning curve" factor. You can create pretty impressive stuff (to those who don't see it's made with TDA!) without knowing much at all.

/Mats

[jbenj01]

Thanks for the replies..very helpful. I'll stick with DVDAuthorGUI for now and learn the basics, then move on to something a bit more flexible and involved.

Just to confirm, let's say I've got an hour's worth of video that I've converted to DVD-compliant mpeg-2 files.. and want to make a still pic menu w/subpics for chapters at every 10mins. I want 1 large still pic for the menu background (it'll fill up the entire screen, or most of it) and 6 separate smaller still pics (sub-pics for each chapter) overlayed onto background pic with simple text beneath each chapter subpic indicating which chapter #.

Is there a guide out there showing how to prepare the above material for importing into DVDAGUI (or any other authoring app)? This is basic stuff, I think, but I'm unsure how to do it.. For example, I need to select 7 images total (1 for the main menu still and 6 subpics). Do I just power up PowerDVD and play my mpeg-2 files and 'capture' the 7 images from various points in the video? If so, um.. how do I capture and save? I think you just hit a certain key (either PrntScrn or F??) but sorry, i just don't know. I know once I've got 'em, I'll have to resize to 720x480 NTSC for DVD-compliance. But how do i resize the subpics?

[reboot]

You're going about it the hard way.
You say you want to learn the basics...you should learn basics on a good authoring app, that also allows growth and flexibility.
I really suggest you try DVDLab, as it makes what YOU want to do (background pic, chapter pics, chapter points, menus etc.) quite simple.
Guides below in my sig.
If you need further help on creating motion menus, or you have trouble with the chaptering bits, don't be afraid to ask.
FYI Tmpgenc DVD Author will also do what you want quite easily, although with not as much flexibility (imho).

[mats.hogberg]

Tmpgenc DVD Author will also do what you want quite easily, although with not as much flexibility (imho).

Agree - Much less flexibility, but much less steep learning curve.

I'll stick with DVDAuthorGUI for now and learn the basics, then move on to something a bit more flexible and involved.

DVDAuthorGUI might seem simple, but beware - there's a real beast lurking i its innards! It's (one of) the most flexible tools there is, and it can do pretty much all there is within the DVD specs, but it won't help you with anything besides author as you tell it - to really use it to its full potential, you have to edit the XML by hand and create menus and such with other apps.

/Mats

[burnman99]

Thanks for the replies..very helpful. I'll stick with DVDAuthorGUI for now and learn the basics, then move on to something a bit more flexible and involved.

Just to confirm, let's say I've got an hour's worth of video that I've converted to DVD-compliant mpeg-2 files.. and want to make a still pic menu w/subpics for chapters at every 10mins. I want 1 large still pic for the menu background (it'll fill up the entire screen, or most of it) and 6 separate smaller still pics (sub-pics for each chapter) overlayed onto background pic with simple text beneath each chapter subpic indicating which chapter #.

Is there a guide out there showing how to prepare the above material for importing into DVDAGUI (or any other authoring app)? This is basic stuff, I think, but I'm unsure how to do it.. For example, I need to select 7 images total (1 for the main menu still and 6 subpics). Do I just power up PowerDVD and play my mpeg-2 files and 'capture' the 7 images from various points in the video? If so, um.. how do I capture and save? I think you just hit a certain key (either PrntScrn or F??) but sorry, i just don't know. I know once I've got 'em, I'll have to resize to 720x480 NTSC for DVD-compliance. But how do i resize the subpics?

jbenj01, the best way to create menus for DVDAuthorGUI is in an image editor like the gimp or paint.net. The subpics will just be on layers on top of the main image. When you get all your subpics where you want them on the main image, tthen save the image as a jpeg (this will flatten the image so you may want to save the original in a layered format so you can edit it in the ffuture.) Once you have a jpeg, DVDAuthorGUI can convert it to a mpeg still so it can be used as a menu. Then you just need to create selection boxes to fit around your subpics. DVDAuthorGUI can also do Motion Menus but requires having Avisynth on your machine. If you have no clue on how to edit an image at all, you can try authoring with DVDBuilder, a free simple authoring program that makes static menus.

Good Luck!

Rog

[jbenj01]

Thanks for the replies all. I'll try out the DVDLab demo (interface kind of resembles Maestro.. yikes! Burnman, I'll also try the Gimp or paint.net as you suggest and give it a go with DVDAG to see what happens.

I'm beginning to realize how important is to understand overall DVD structure conceptually (i.e., to visualize how it's all inter-related). i've seen reboot post pics of how menus are linked to various parts of the DVD.. it's confusing as heck.. well, back to the learning curve.. Thanks again to all.. and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me... soon..