Maestro newbie

[MCD]

I have been using SpruceUp with great results but thought I would give Maestro a shot. Seems like a great program but much more complicated. I followed a couple different guides but still can't get the hang of this program. I tried doing a "test" run with a 20 sec clip. I was able to get the m2v file and ac3 file loaded ok, and clicked on the time line to create 4 chapters. The four chapter thumbnails showed up underneath. But how in the world do I put these thumbnails onto the menu screen? I was able to create 4 buttons and linked them to the chapters and completed the project with success, but I want the thumbnails I just created instead of buttons for my chapter selections. I know this is a newbie question, but I did al the reading I could and still can't figure it out.

[damnim]

MCD

Putting those thumbnails into your menu is not that complicated. It is time consuming. You will also have to use a graphics program and be familiar with aspect ratios, subpictures and so on in order to create a menu with thumbnails. I would strongly recommend using Mediachance's DVD Menu Studio. You can download an evaluation copy from their website. http://www.mediachance.com/

When you click on the chapter section of Maestro a box will pop up with some options, at the bottom you will see "save as bitmap". Save your bitmap and import it into your graphics program and make your menu.

You cannot create a thumbnail menu directly in Maestro. If there is a way it's not in the manual.