Slideshows on DVDs - Submenus.

[davidmarek]

I use DVD Picture Show to create VCDs with slideshows - everything is fine and I have a disc for every year, then slideshows for different events.

I have a DVD writer now and want to use the larger capacity to have menus on the DVD, one for each year, then the slideshows under the main menus.

I can't seem to do this in DVD PictureShow - does anyone know packages that will allow this with still image slideshows?

Thanks

[obiron]

davidmarek

I've used Sonic MyDVD successfully to make and burn slideshows combined with video to DVD. I have motion menus and submenus with music on each slideshow.

What is it that DVD Picture Show is not doing for DVD? I'm not familiar with that program but it seems strange that a program titled DVD something or other won't do what you want on a DVD. Maybe just my ignorance of the pgm.

MyDVD has some quirks so you might want to look in the Tools section and read the reviews.

[philly33flyers]

The new beta of DVD-lab seems like it should let you do this. check it out it has a free 30 day full-featured trial.

[Viper10000]

davidmarek,

Since you're familiar with ULead product, I think ULead DVD Movie Factory2 will do what you describe.

Cheers,

[davidmarek]

Thanks for the replies.

When I use DVD Movie Factory, I can add slideshows, but there is not the option to create a hierarchical menu system e.g. I can add 12 slideshows, but they all have to selected by moving 'left and right' from the front page - I cannot have 4 slideshows hanging off one button, 2 off another and 6 off a third button.

Don't know if this is possible with a DVD......should be!

[Viper10000]

davidmarek,

Well, there always a way to do what you ask, but it won't be easy. Here's my approach.

1. Create the slideshows as MPEG files first. It means if you have 12 slideshows you should create 12 MPEG files. (I'm not sure ULead Pictureshow will allow output as MPEG file or just BIN/CUE, but there are DVD/VCD Slideshow maker like Photodex Proshow will allow you to create an MPEG file. If not, just extract the DAT file from Bin/Cue)

2. Use TMPGEnc DVDAuthor (30days trialware) to add the files as track. From your example, add the first 4 MPEG files as the first track, add the next 2 MPEG files as the 2nd track, and add your last 6 MPEG files as the 3rd track. Your main menu will show 3 submenus. You can play all 12 files sequentially, or you can select from your 3 submenus to play the files you want. Now since, all 12 files are MPEG files, you can create chapters within each files, and they will show it on the menu.

This is the only "user-friendly" software I know of, that allow you to mix MPEG1 and MPEG2 files, or different DVD compliant resolution files in the same DVD. Of course you have to add as different track. Let's say if you 4 VCD files (352x240), 2 Half-D1 (352x480), 1 DVD file (720x480), then you need 3 tracks, and just add the files with the same resolution to the same track. By the way, TMPGEnc don't accept SVCD resolution (480x480).

Anyway, hope this will help.

[racer-x]

DVD-Lab will do it.........No sweat.

[Viper10000]

Yes,

DVDLab will do 480x480 resolution very nice.