Newbie - Photos onto CD-> DVD Playback->Which application ?

[iclark@pobox.com]

I have been researching quiet a few of the applications for publishing still images onto CD / VCD / SVCD format for playback on a typical DVD player in the lounge room.

I would like assistance / help in finding the a simple application which meet all of my needs.

I would like to the CD to have the following features

- Menus / Chapters to allow multiple "albums" of photos to be stored on one CD and using the remote you can choose; and
- The ability to interatively navigate back and forth once in an album with the basic remote functions buttons.

The following applications do not meet the above requirements in full. Each is close but is missing key requirement.

Roxio CD Creator Platium 5.?? and the products which make this up
Nero 5.??
ULEAD DVD Picture show
ULEAD DVD Movie Factory
Photo Recall

The problem (as i see it) is that with reasonable number of images on a CD, viewing can be a real pain if the images are only accessible in sequence. (ie you need to search for an image or move from image 1 to image 200) That is a lot of remote button presses. Hence the need for chapters / menus.

Then within the chapter you need to be able to control the movement between images.

No need to do transitions
Music would be nice but not essential

One of the applications (DVD Picture show - I think) went close and allowed chapters but did not allow you to control the movement between slides. This was set in the build of the cd (ie 5 seconds etc) and cold not go back to an image. Nero was easy and simple, allowed playback control but did not allow chapters / menus.

Perhaps the guys from Nero and Ulead could merge code. Alternatively if their is anyone listening out there from Sony - Buy them both and package a killer application with every Sony Digital Camera, PC and DVD player....... Image the ultimate Digital photo Album Solution - Shoot all the photos you want - Throw out the duds, press them to CD. Then you can have them sitting next to your Music CDs and when ever you want to have a look at the kids growing up, your vacation snaps etc it is as simple putting in a DVD grabbing the remote and away you go....

Perhaps the right application is out there I have not come across it....

Help greatfully appreciated.

Ian
Melbourne Australia

[vitualis]

You are right, no one program can do it all because no one program is that flexible. You will have to live within the confines of what each program thinks is the "way"...

The only way to get ultimate control is to author the VCD yourself with VCDImager ( http://www.vcdimager.org ). But even I who normally advocate for manual VCD authoring (due to its power and flexibility) would say that you should probably just consider using one of the commercial ones. This is simply because it is a damn nuisance and pretty repetitive to create a photo album yourself manually (although you could create structures you couldn't even dream of with the commercial ones).

If you've got a lot of spare time and want to create the "ultimate" photo album, I suggest having a look at what is achievable on a VCD through the articles here:
http://www.geocities.com/medinotes/vcd
http://www.vcdimager.org/guides (mirror)

Regards.

[iclark@pobox.com]

Thanks for the response Michael.

I do have the time and would like to achieve what I need if it is possible. I sense I am about to start on a journery of learning with a steep curve.....Toto where are you....

You mentioned

"You are right, no one program can do it all because no one program is that flexible. You will have to live within the confines of what each program thinks is the "way"... "

I assume that you are referring to commercial packages. Will VCDImager allow me to achieve my requirements.

If so will it be a long and and timely process for each CD or is it easy to use once you have overcome the learning curve....

Is VCDEasy just a GUI for VCDImager ?

Thanks in advance

Ian,
Melbourne - AUSTRALIA

[vitualis]

You mentioned

"You are right, no one program can do it all because no one program is that flexible. You will have to live within the confines of what each program thinks is the "way"... "

I assume that you are referring to commercial packages. Will VCDImager allow me to achieve my requirements.

That's right. I'm referring to the commercial packages. Ultimately, the commercial packages for "photo" VCD dictate making these disc in a stereotypical way so to make the process easy. With the focus on being easy to use, this is understandable and even "right".

However, if you want the ability of raw customisation and authoring power, they are definitely not the answer.

If so will it be a long and and timely process for each CD or is it easy to use once you have overcome the learning curve....

It will be a long and possibly timely process for each CD (unless you make your discs in a stereotypical way). However, each once you've created your first disc, keep the XML! This will help you to more quickly create subsequent discs (some cut and paste and "replace" will massively lower your work time).

Is VCDEasy just a GUI for VCDImager ?

Yes.

Regards.