Is dvd authoring the same as DVD "shrinking"?

[IHeartGalactica]

Is dvd authoring the same as dvd "compressing/shrinking"?
*Not that I would ever do such a thing

[ZippyP.]

Your answer is in the glossary, here.

No, it's not the same. And I would do such a thing.

[jimmalenko]

Is dvd authoring the same as dvd "compressing/shrinking"?

No. Authoring converts your MPEG-2 file into IFOs, BUPs and VOBs. DVD compressing/shrinking is known as transcoding.

According to https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?A#Author :

Author
To format video into a form ready to burn onto a recordable disc or to stream onto the Internet. VCD, SVCD and DVD Author is to format video into its standard file structure and also add optional menus, chapters, audio tracks, subtitles, slideshows and much more.

*Not that I would ever do such a thing

Why not ?

There's nothing wrong with compressing/shrinking DVDs if you own them.

[freestyler]

Authoring is basically the process of putting together all your assets such as video, menus, subtitles, audio, etc and multiplexing it into a DVD compliant (usually) format consisting of the aforementioned information files, backup files, and video objects which Jimmalenko covered.

Different authoring softwares introduce varying levels of functionality and compatibility. Rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for, but the playing field is getting more level every day in this arena and cheap software is getting easier to use with many more features than before to make slick discs.

More complex features are available in more expensive, higher learning curve software and even 3rd party add-ons, enabling more advanced authoring features such as multiple angles, seamless branching, register programming, etc.

Shrinking is just transcoding the video on a disc which enables you to fit it on a smaller medium like a 4.7gb DVD-R.