Help!How can I edit a subtitle?

[hawk123]

Anyone know how can I edit a .sup subtitle? Pls help.

What I'm trying to do is to add a few lines to a subtitle ripped from a DVD.
The following is the work flow I have tried:

a) Rip the DVD into H/D.
b) Demux DVD into its m2v, ac3 and sup files.
c) Rip the subtitles into bitmap format by using Subrip and save as son format.
d) Import the bitmap subtitles into DVD-lab pro subtitle editor.
e) Add a few new text subtitles into it and export as srt format.
f) Load the srt into srt2sup and save a new sup subtitle files
g) Mux all the m2v, ac3, sup ( old and new ) files back to ifo/vob DVD format.

There are 2 problems I'm facing.:
1) The subtitle color is wrong. It end ups with weird subtitle color. I have tried to edit the color palette in the DVD. But, it derives a new problem, that is the original bitmap subtitles seems like using different color palette sets and combinations/style (outline, background, bar, box and etc) with the text subtitles I added. I guess to solve the problem, it should define the proper color palette when ripping the bitmap subtitle in Subrip. Since I'm not familiar with Subrip and bitmap subtitle, I asking help from those who are have experince with this subject. TQ

2) The text subtitle I added in DVD-lab pro showed out at a different time with what I have entered in the program. But the weird thing is this error doesn't happened to all the text subtitles I added, but only a few of them.
Anyone know coule be the problem.

I'm welcome all comments.

TQ in advance.

[borax]

I have no idea for the timing problem. But to show/check/change the colors of the final sup files, you may use my supviewer.
Sup Files do not contain any color info. They only have indices to the color map which is part of the vtsXXX.ifo file. Therfore you should use these...

[Abond]

f) Load the srt into srt2sup and save a new sup subtitle files

Better use SubtitleCreator for this step.

[Nelson37]

On the timing issue, make sure there are no typos in the time values entered, and no overlaps in the display times, being certain to account for duration of display.

[hawk123]

First of all, tq for your replies.

@borax: Yape, when you try to rip the subtitles from a DVD into a bitmap format using Subrip or Vobsub, I think these programs will automatically read the ifo file and get the corresponding colors from the color map in ifo file in order to form the bitmap format subtitle. Each DVD authoring program has its own color setting for the bitmap subtitle. Different colors will derive the program produces a wrong subtitle color. That is why getting a right color is very essential for a bitmap format subtitle.

f) Load the srt into srt2sup and save a new sup subtitle files

Better use SubtitleCreator for this step.

@Abond: I don't think that SubtitleCreator can handle the bitmap subtitles.
It only handle srt files in text format. My srt is in bitmap format. That is why I am using srt2sup. In fact, this program just handle the task excellent except for the color problem.

@Nelson37: I have no idea what are you talking about. I feel very sorry for this. Can you elaborate more? What I can think of the reason of the timecodes problem is related to the non-drop timecode in a DVD and Drop timecode in a VCD or common subtitle programs.

P/S: The subtitle I am handling is in bitmap format. It is not in a TEXT format. The reason why I don't want to OCR the subtitle into a text format is because the subtitle is a chinese subtitle. If I OCR it, it will be like I am retyping the whole subtitle that has already existed in the DVD. My objective is just to add a few line into the subtitle. If I find the way, then it save me a lot time and energy.

TQ and Cheers

[manono]

Hi-

So the subs are OK, except for a few of them have the wrong timings (and wrong colors)?

The way I would fix them is to get them back out of the newly authored DVD in IDX/SUB format using VobSub Configure. It comes in the VobSub package. You can then open them in SubResynch (also included in VobSub) in order to see which line is which. If you know which lines have the wrong timings, you can open the IDX in Notepad and change the timings for the wrong ones. It only changes the start time. I'm assuming, but don't know for sure as I've never had to do it, that it keeps the sub duration the same. Then use SubToSup to convert them back to SUP format, reauthor, and use VobBlanker to fit the newly authored DVD back into the original DVD (if needed to keep the menu).

I don't know borax's program, but to fix the colors I use PGCEdit. It makes short work of the job. If you need instructions, I or someone else will be happy to oblige.

And you're now the third person I've read about DVDLab Pro changing the timings on subs. Must be something wrong with that program. But at least it saved you from having to OCR them.

[The4thDoctor]

Hi-

So the subs are OK, except for a few of them have the wrong timings (and wrong colors)?

The way I would fix them is to get them back out of the newly authored DVD in IDX/SUB format using VobSub Configure. It comes in the VobSub package. You can then open them in SubResynch (also included in VobSub) in order to see which line is which. If you know which lines have the wrong timings, you can open the IDX in Notepad and change the timings for the wrong ones. It only changes the start time. I'm assuming, but don't know for sure as I've never had to do it, that it keeps the sub duration the same. Then use SubToSup to convert them back to SUP format, reauthor, and use VobBlanker to fit the newly authored DVD back into the original DVD (if needed to keep the menu).

I don't know borax's program, but to fix the colors I use PGCEdit. It makes short work of the job. If you need instructions, I or someone else will be happy to oblige.

And you're now the third person I've read about DVDLab Pro changing the timings on subs. Must be something wrong with that program. But at least it saved you from having to OCR them.

Hi manono,

I would like if you can give a quick guide as to how to use PgcEdit to change the subtitle colors.

You can list it here or PM me with this info.

Thanks!

[Nelson37]

The only time I have seen subtitle behavior such as you describe is when the time values for the subtitles overlap.

Example - Subtitle line 1 - display for 10 seconds at 1 minute of movie
Subtitle line 2 - display for 5 seconds at 59 seconds of movie

These two subtitles will overlap, causing one of them not to display at all while the other displays OK. Since subtitles run fairly continously, if any of the timing values is changed at any point in the file, this will probably result in an overlap and a failure to display.

[manono]

Hi-

To change the sub colors using PGCEDit:

Open the DVD in PGCEdit. Double-click on the movie in the left screen. You'll know it by its length. In the new screen that opens up you'll see a 4x4 block of colors. This is the CLUT or Color LookUp Table. Normally in the top row you'll see the sub colors. From testing the DVD you'll already know the colors for the outline and the main color. Find them. They're ordinarily the first 2 on the top row, or the 3rd and 4th on the top row. Click on each and change it to whatever color you want. OK your way out of there, save the DVD, test in your player of choice, delete the PGCEdit Backup folder, and you're ready for burning.

The only time this may not work is if there's a color overlap with already existing subs, if, for example, the outline for one set is the same color as the main color of an already existing set of subs. If that's the case, you'll have to redo the subs, this time choosing a different set of primary colors for the subs.