Creating Menus and Burning for a regular DVD player & computer

[asedesigns]

Okay I am working on these tutorial CDs for various 3d modeling software and im doing a test batch first before i start the recording process. Right now im recording at a super high resolution but i have a few questions. (im trying to make something like this : http://www.marksphotoshoptips.com/topsecretblog/hdsample.mov ) - using camtasia studio to record the videos.

Right now im using 1280x720 recording and i can resize those i guess to the 720x480

1) is there a way to zoom in on the text or parts I click with some video editing software so the font/text is easier to see? if so what is it called?

2) How do you make those DVD titles (or chapters) where you click them and they go to different segments of the video. What software do I need for that? and is that called authoring or is that something else?

3) Ive noticed that some training videos for the computer use sometype of HTML file that you click and then it has a menu i guess the video is embedded within the html and links are like to the left.... what software do you use to make that and whats the difference between that and like chapters for DVDs are those only for CDR's ? or is it just a different way you can do it but ONLY for computer?

4) what output should you use if you burn for DVD players (quicktime or avi or mpeg etc) at that 720x480 res.

5) how do you output a HD-dvd quality kind of training video like the link above? Is that only for computer then since you are doing it at such high resolution? or do you need to burn on blue-ray disks and use a HD-TV to view them?

6) finally what software is pretty good to burn a viewable dvd in a standard dvd player? Nero or is there some others that are better?

Using a PC - any help would be greatly appreciated just trying to get a basic overview on certain specific things. Thanks a lot.

[guns1inger]

1) Vegas (Track Motion) or Premiere can do this, and probably others. Pretty straight forward effect.

2) Your authoring software will allow you to add chapter points and make a menu with chapter selection menus

3) some are custom made, some use off the shelf software. Have a look at CD menu software as a starting point.

4) DVD is mpeg at 720 x 480. You can use mpeg1 as VCD resolution, but that won't help you. Also, be aware that mpeg2 is similar in some respects to jpeg compression. It does not like text or fine lines if the compression levels are to high. Keep you running time to under 80 minutes per disc.

5) If you listen to the voive over on your sample clip, he actually says it won't be that high resolution on the DVD, but he is including the original HD files on the disc as data so you can play them on a PC.

6) If you are serious, then you need serious software. I would be looking at Vegas or Premiere for your editing, ProCoder for your encoding to mpeg2, and DVD Lab Pro or DVD Workshop 2 for authoring. Finally, burn with imgburn 2. If you value quality, your customers or your reputation, do not let Nero near the project.

[asedesigns]

Thank you sooooooooooo much this was VERY useful guns1. The only other issue/question i had if you ever made training videos or know about it (or anyone else reading this for that matter) is when i record the screen is it best that i set the SCREEN RESOLUTION at 1280x1040 and record the full screen that way and then reduce it later to the lower format (hopefully my text will still be readable.

or is it better to maybe set my SCREEN RESOLUTION to 1280x1040 but record the screen at 720x480 ?

My question here is basically whats optimal or what resolution should I 1) set my monitor and 2) record the video ? I guess if i record super high i can always reduce later?

One concern is if I record at 1280x1040 i can reduce to 720x480 but it will stretch wont it so if i outputed to DVD it would be stretched...? however anything more proportional to that like 800x600 will be fine right?

[guns1inger]

If you record 60 x 480 on the PC, you will get a 1:1 PAR video, which resizes to 720 x 480 for TV. However you lose a lot of resolution.

If you record at a higher resolution you have the choice of being able to zoom in to get details, or resize to get the whole view - many more options.

If you just want to do it with minimal fuss, 800 x 600 is a good compromise, but you won't get good close ups.