Resolution/Size of pic for custom DVD menu?

[harpe025]

Hey all,

I want to create a custom menu for a DVD I'm putting together using various photos. However, what should the resolution be of the pic and what size should it be? Should I use 352 X 480 since that is the typical size of the capture file I'm using or should it be DVD resolution 760 X 480 (or whatever it is). Or should it be a typical TV resolution such as 640 X 480? Also, what resoution should I make the pic file, 72 dpi, 150, dpi, etc. I'm reaqlly new to this and usually I use the files that came with my DVD burning program but would like to do better if possible. Thanks all!

[ImaWeTodd]

Your menu images used for authoring should be 720x480.

If you want to know the details:

Computer display screens use square pixels while NTSC/PAL video displays (including
consumer televisions and professional video monitors alike) use variously proportioned
rectangles for pixels. This presents a problem, since graphic images that you design on a
computer display will have somewhat different dimensions when viewed on an
NTSC/PAL video display. For less critical Projects, these discrepancies may not matter;
for more serious titles, however, they may indeed warrant your attention.
Fortunately, there is a solution — a way to create graphics as they will appear on the
user’s video display: Assuming you’re using Photoshop, first you would create the
graphics at one size, then use Photoshop’s Image Size functions to rescale the picture
before it is imported into the authoring tool. The table below shows the
Photoshop picture size and final output size for various combinations of aspect ratio and
video standard.

Aspect Ratio 	“Working” Dimension 	“Export” Dimension
NTSC @ 4:3	 720 x 540 pixels 	    720 x 480 p
NTSC @ 16:9	720 X 446 pixels 	    720 x 480 p
PAL @ 4:3  	720 x 658 pixels 	    720 x 576 p
PAL @ 16:9	 720 x 519 pixels 	    720 x 576 p

[Baldrick]

Make the image around 1024x768 or higher but with 4:3/1.333 aspect ratio(height/width). Then resize that image to dvd resolution, 720x480 for NTSC.

You can also make 16:9 images, then make the pictures around 1024x576 or higher but with 16:9/1.777 aspect ratio. Then resize the image to 720x480.

The DVD images will look a bit stretched but your dvd will stretch it so it will look okey on your tv.

(edit...I wasn't fast enough......)

[harpe025]

Your menu images used for authoring should be 720x480.

If you want to know the details:

Computer display screens use square pixels while NTSC/PAL video displays (including
consumer televisions and professional video monitors alike) use variously proportioned
rectangles for pixels. This presents a problem, since graphic images that you design on a
computer display will have somewhat different dimensions when viewed on an
NTSC/PAL video display. For less critical Projects, these discrepancies may not matter;
for more serious titles, however, they may indeed warrant your attention.
Fortunately, there is a solution — a way to create graphics as they will appear on the
user’s video display: Assuming you’re using Photoshop, first you would create the
graphics at one size, then use Photoshop’s Image Size functions to rescale the picture
before it is imported into the authoring tool. The table below shows the
Photoshop picture size and final output size for various combinations of aspect ratio and
video standard.

Aspect Ratio 	“Working” Dimension 	“Export” Dimension
NTSC @ 4:3	 720 x 540 pixels 	    720 x 480 p
NTSC @ 16:9	720 X 446 pixels 	    720 x 480 p
PAL @ 4:3  	720 x 658 pixels 	    720 x 576 p
PAL @ 16:9	 720 x 519 pixels 	    720 x 576 p

Thanks for the reply (and the one below this one), but what resolution should I create the PS file in. Typically I do 300 dpi for goofy type stuff I print. Is this overkill on a TV, or doesn't it matter?

[lordsmurf]

Many authoring apps require 720x540 or 640x480 and the app resizes for you.

[ImaWeTodd]

but what resolution should I create the PS file in. Typically I do 300 dpi for goofy type stuff I print. Is this overkill on a TV, or doesn't it matter?

In the end dpi does not matter. You could start with as high a resolution as you want. As long as you start with a 1.333 to 1 ratio, build, then output 720x480 pixels. I'm inclined to start with 720x540 so I can see what detail I have as I'm working. I would think too big and the resize would change the look.

As lordsmurf pointed out, see the doc of your authoring app to make sure what it expects. Which one do you use?