DVD menu templates

[Mr. Budwar]

I need some good looking templates for DVD menus. I don't want the same everybody else is using... I found few sites selling collections, but any recomendations what is good?

[zoobie]

I'd just change the background image

[guns1inger]

What software are you using ?

Most authoring apps store their templates in proprietry format, although the better ones will also accept photoshop .psd files.

I create all my own for DLP using photoshop. I find that some of the royalty free stock sites have great base material to work from.

Here's a good one to start with -> http://morguefile.com/archive/

[Mr. Budwar]

Thanks for the link to the free stock site!

Yes, I know I can change background, but creating a nice new background takes me more than creating the whole DVD . it is not just dropping a photo as background, because it look exactly like that - dropped photo. And I just don't feel like to use a background that came with authoring software since that is probably used zillion times.
There are some sites I found selling DVD templates - that means a carefuly (or so they claim) prepared background(s). Sadly they often don't make much as a project collection - each template is totally differrent. I am looking for some let's say 3-4 similar, yet different backgrounds in a collection that can be each used for main menu, chapters, sound settings etc so the DVD look like one product, not a slideshow.
I use anything from PhotoShop to Real-Draw so the graphic app is not an issue. I mainly use DVD-lab PRO as authoring (so jpg, png, bmp, psd is fine)
I just wanted to know if anybody has some experience with such template site/CD and if such thing exist.

[guns1inger]

Most of the templates I have ssen for sale aren't that impressive, and certainly aren't worth what they often charge for them. Soe of the motion menus obviously have more work in them, but the still menus often still look cheap and tacky.

[mike909]

Adobe Encore DVD 2 comes with a bunch of pretty nice ntsc & pal menu backgrounds (both stills and motion). Also the Mainconcept website has downloads for ntsc & pal motion backgrounds...can't remmeber what they are called, but they are free (at leat they used to...not sure if they still do link. They probably won't tie together to make a theme, but you can do that with the buttons/stills in photoshop. I think mainconcept calls them video-loops (named after software they try to sell you to do just that...create loops)

[Mr. Budwar]

I found the DVD video loops from mainconcept ($50) on their site but these are really some more abstract backgrounds than a menus.
I was wondering who make the backgrounds for Adobe or Apple? These are pretty decent.
I was looking around and found templates on http://www.motionism.com which may be actually the licencor to Encore at least by the look of it. Some of them are quite nice. Their motion backgrounds looks quite interesting, these are short looped 3D "abstract" animations but some could be difinitively combined into something new.

[Mr. Budwar]

Speaking of 3D, I also found www.dvdstyle.com with hundreds of 3D-like DVD menus.

[mike909]

Wow, both of those sites have some really nice looking stuff. Nothing free, but most good things arn't. Yea, the mainconcept ones are more abstract and themeless....good for titlescreens though.
edit: the dvd-sytle looks like they have some royalty free stuff...going to bookmark that one and take a better look when my next project rolls around.

[lordsmurf]

You'd do better to buy and learn Photoshop. The "Photoshop Elements" version is about $99.

[Mr. Budwar]

It is not the tool, but the man using it. The truth is creating a good graphics takes time. (It always take me hours!) If someone has a lots of time, then even if he doesn't have idea, he can just peek for free at the professional templates or DVDs and make similar by himself in Adobe. It still takes a lot of time, but it is free.
Now, if he has neither idea, nor time (like me), then there is no reason why not to buy interesting graphics and spend the time rather where it is needed most (pub?).

I like the approach of DVDstyle of 3D non planar DVD menus, like this sample on their site.
It makes some new fresh look and they seems to have images in collections or themes so there are variations to be uses on one disc.