DVD- Lab Advanced Question

[thedown90]

This might not seem to advanced for some, but im curious on how to make some really cool looking Menu's. And i want to see if i can do it in DVD-Lab or if there is a better one that will allow me to do what im wanting to do.

First:
In my menu i want to know how to put like a marker beside each option meaning lets say when you move to "play all" an arrow pops up beside it. Yet when there isnt you arent on it there isnt an arrow.

Second:
I want to know how to have an image like "disk 1" fly in from the left hand corner, or something like that, onto the background. Also having a dvd sample come in from somewhere and end up on the background.

Third:
Is there a way to have a sample running in the background BUT instead of running in a square shape have an S shape as the video playback so that my background looks as if it is overlapping the video.

Fourth:
I want to know how to make it so that there is a in between seen....between each menu. (Also any ideas on programs that would allow me to make clips like im explaining) Have like a flash of lightining type deal.

Fifth:
Interactive background, im sure that this will be advanced but i want to know how to make it so if there is a cube in the center of the screen as i change my selection the cube spins to that selection type deal.

Anyone that can help me with any of this Well its appriciated. Also any programs that you think will help me along this let me know.
Also take into consideration iam newer at this so lets keep the terminology at a fairly moderate level. Iam a quick learner i have successfully created many menus.
Thanks in advance

[reboot]

First: Use switched menus.
Second: Use Motion menus (dvdlab Pro), or create your own transitions in any editor, encode and import as normal.
Third: Yes, but it's quite a bit of work.
Fourth: Menu transition. See Second.
Fifth: Combination of First and Second.
Check out my guide to switched, motion, D-FX menus for starters.
If you get lost, post back.

[thedown90]

Ok i have read your tutorial and only understand most of it but im not sure what it does! if that makes sense. Im not sure what the switched menu's do. Does it put a clip between menu's? You said an still is better then a clip so im guess thats what it was.

I guess i really want to know 3 things that are more important

Are there special effects for when you are switching menu's like it looks like the page is turning? or it flips away into left hand corner or flies at you?

Have the effect inbetween each change either between menu 1 to menu 2 or menu 1 to movie 1 even if its lk a flash of light or something to grab the attention.

And then the arrow beside each option....The only thing thing i thought of that would work is make 2 images one without the arrow and one with the arrow import the image make it so that on click it goes to scene selection but when highlighted have it with the arrow although im not sure how to set that up

Thanks for your help and patients it is greatly appricated.

[reboot]

Yes, special effects like page turning is part of the transition effects. Check the wizards.
Yes, transitions can be any sort, any where, between menus, movies, or any combination, even between motion menus/movies/menus.
The arrow stuff you can do with switched menus.
I could explain, but the tutorial explains the basics of switched menus, you just need to figure out how to make non-selected stuff invisible, and selected stuff your arrow, and not a purple box.
Play with the options, compiling with dummy movies (see that option on the compile screen).
I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Edit: I updated the switched menu guide, with the info you need for the invisible arrow thing.

[thedown90]

thanx again

[Kained]

you can do very simple invis objects by saving graphics in .PNG fromat. Photoshop can do this easily. just make sure the background is transparant if you making shapes that need transparancy.

its then a simple matter of importing it into the object browser and dragging and dropping it where you want on your menu. once you have set it to a link, you can then set the button to 'invisible normal' in the link tab of the menu properties.

I use simple grayscale graphics and can set the colour of the link using the map tab of the menu properties.

[reboot]

I find using greyscale does work, although the mapping color's can either look great, or look really ugly. Adding bevel, and highlight can make them look much better, depending on the size of the button/graphic.
I do prefer to use switched menus though, with no color mapping for links.

[Kained]

I had a play with switched menus but there does seem to be a disadvantage...

How would audio that is playing in a menu be prevented from re-triggering every time the user navigated through switched menu instead of playing to its loop point?

Could each menu item share the same audio and continue from where the last one was?

I must admit, ive not found a solution so i could be wrong.

[reboot]

No. You cannot have continuous audio through switched menus (or any menu change).
The way around this, is to have the audio chopped up into segments, each one as long as the menu motion sequence. Set menu's linear, and have the audio continue playing. A lot of work, but only in one direction. If the user goes BACK to previous menu, the audio will play out of sequence.
Depending on the number of menu's, you could duplicate forward and backward menus, so audio would appear to play continuous.