professional looking dvd's

[wolfiefish]

Hello all my first post.
I want to know if and what is the best software to create proper, professional looking dvd menus,
chapters, etc.
The menu creation program tagged onto software like Nero, Movie Magix is ok, but annoying in it's
simplicity.
I would like proper written titles for my chapters,
links to biographys and stuff.

Can anyone help?

Cheers

[Baldrick]

dvd-lab
encore dvd
ulead dvd workshop
dvd architect

demos available.

[wolfiefish]

Thanks.
I have a version of Unlead which came free with an analogue capture device.

I shall take alook at the others on your list.

Do you know if you can create a film in Magix, then use the movie file with another program to create the menus?

[A_51]

Don't confuse ulead workshop with ulead video studio. Video studio is workshop little brother. Any of the programs that bladrick posted will give you profetional results. So me are so pro that even let you shoose if you want to encrypt the output.

[edDV]

If you want pro looking DVD menus you get semi-pro software and gain some skills.

Ulead price points (others similar)

$399 ULead DVD Workshop
$199 ULead DVD Workshop Express
$99-149 (qualified upgrade)
$49 ULead Movie Factory

http://www.ulead.com/runme.htm

DVD Lab price points are $99/$129/$199
http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/comparison.html

[guns1inger]

You also need a good video editor for motion menus, and good photo/graphics editor, such as photoshop, and a motion graphics/compositor doesn't go astray either.

That said, professionalism is a state of mind, and not tied to the tools your use. There are those here who could use only free packages and produce professional results. There are also many here who could own the most expensive packages available, and still produce total crap. Don't get hung up on software until you have the other skills worked out.

[thecoalman]

Don't confuse ulead workshop with ulead video studio. Video studio is workshop little brother..

You're thinking of Ulead Movie Maker. Video Studio has a huge advantage over either Workshop or MM as far as editing goes.

My votes for Workshop for authoring, easy to use and can make anything you want. Movie Maker or Video studio only have templated menus. Workshop gives you a blank canvas, there's many other features.