Adobe Encore Inqury

[sadio]

I'm thinking of purchasing Adobe Encore. I'm really just purchasing it for menu creation for my dvds. My question is, do I need to know photoshop to create my own menus in Adobe Encore? As well, how are the menu templates in Adobe Encore, since I do plan to look at those first if I decide to get the program? If I do not know how to use photoshop too well is it even worth getting Encore? If not, any other programs people can recommend?

[Krispy Kritter]

Most of the Adobe software has free 30 trials. Download it and check it out for yourself.

[Cobra]

sadio,

You'd be better off naming your thread something that is relevant to your question. This makes it easier for those with a similar question or problem to search for and find the answer. Also, many users will pass over a thread entitled "help" or "question", so you won't get as many answers.

You can change your title by editing your original post in this thread.

Thanks very much!

Cobra
Forum Moderator

[bdf24]

I agree with Krispy Kritter. Download the trial and see for your self.
I also agree with Cobra. You should change your thread title to something that has to do with the subject your creating the thread about.

As far as Adobe Photoshop goes. No I don't find it very difficult to use. Atleast not for basic projects. I've been using it for years for pretty basic stuff. I'm by far no expert at it at all.
Pretty much all you really need to know is how to create and manage layers. Which with a little practice (if any at all) is very easy to do.

I know there's tutorials on how to do this as well. Just search for them.

[NoodleMaps]

Making menus in Photoshop for Encore isn't that hard, just confusing.

See this post for sort of an explanation.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273631&highlight=

Do you need to know how to use Photoshop to create the menus? I would have to say Yes. Every button is made of Layer Groups and layers. Each of these groups and layers has to be named a specific way in order for Encore to recognize the specific function of the layer (i.e. Is it a highlight, a video overlay, etc..)

Though you can get very fancy in your menu creation if you know After Effects and Photoshop to use with Encore, for the most part, menu creation in Encore alone, is pretty weak.

I would look into DVD-lab PRO if you are willing to spend the money on Encore. DVD-lab allows much more control on menu creation, IMO.

This is from someone who uses Encore on an almost daily basis where I work. But at home, DVD-lab.

[Epicurus8a]

Also, you should try Ulead DVD Workshop2. Unless there have been some changes, Encore will not allow you to create DVDs in excess of 2 hours. WS2 does not have this limitation.

[NoodleMaps]

Encore will not allow you to create DVDs in excess of 2 hours. WS2 does not have this limitation.

I've never experienced this problem. I've made DVD's in Encore that have gone beyond 3hrs before, granted I use outside Encoders (Procoder, CCE) Refuse to use the built in one.

[sadio]

Sorry for the unclear topic guys. Well, since I do not know photoshop and after effects that well maybe I should steer away from Encore for now. Basically my main concern is menu creation more than anything.

I've found these 3 programs that look pretty nice:

DVD-lab PRO
Ulead® DVD Workshop™ 2
DVDit Pro 6

If anyone has used any of the above mentioned products, are there any personal stories from experience that you'd be willing to share in regards to using the product?

Cheers,

[NoodleMaps]

I'd say take a look at DVD-Lab website, they have some great tutorials, even here as a matter a fact, for making some very cool menus.

[suppafreak]

I have been using AE for quite sometime, and then I found out about the DVD-Lab Pro. I have never looked back.

Keep in mind the DVD-lab Pro does not encode avi files to DVD files. You will need to encode the files first and then import them to DVD-Lab Pro. This will require using additional encoders and DVD size calculators. AE does it automatically. On the other hand with DVD-Lab Pro you can create better looking menus.

[pchan]

You can consider DVDLab Pro bundle with TMPGEnc encoder. Pretty good combination.

[jak_omo]

You can consider DVDLab Pro bundle with TMPGEnc encoder. Pretty good combination.

+1

you can also use workshop2 or encore instead of DVD-lab
convert your files with tmpgenc.

[sadio]

Thank you everyone! Just in case you are wondering I ended up trying Ulead DVD Workshop first and really liked it, found that it wasn't too complicated but also allowed for customization thats tailored to my needs.

I really like the motion backgrounds that they have within the program. My question is since i'm not terribly good at graphic making, is there a site that would happen to offer free downloads of motion backgrounds that I can use in Ulead DVD Workshop or is this not possible?

Cheers