How Do I Create Custom Thumbnails?

[Hitman4life]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to DVD recording and I'm looking to make a custom menu, complete with custom thumbnails for chapters...

I have 2 programs for authoring, MemoriesOnTV, and Tmpgenc DVD. With both, I was able to make some nice looking slideshows, and with Tmpgenc, I was able to make the menu I wanted to really have...almost. It was a small pain to get around the fact that Tmpgenc DVD doesn't allow a simple way to add background audio, but other than that, I love it.

Nonetheless, the only thing missing for me is to have a few thumbnails of custom shapes for the chapters, because it would really look nice (IMHO) to match a few up with background objects in the menu picture (like a mirror in the background).

If anyone has any information as to what programs to use, or could point me in the direction of a nice tutorial, I would be most grateful.

Thank you in advance,
Hitman4life

[DVO]

Tmpgenc Author DVD has the option to make both animated backgrounds and thumbnails. Scan trough the help of the program &/or options to find it. I don't have the program here so I can't check were the option is exactly.

[Hitman4life]

Thanks for the reply, DVO.

I'm aware that I can create motion thumbnails and backgrounds with Tmpgenc DVD, but what I'm looking for is an option to create custom thumbnails in terms of their shape.

With Tmpgenc you only have the option to adjust their size or border, not their shape. All thumbnails are based on squares in the app.

Any idea what DVD authoring app would give me the freedom to make custom thumbnails, like an oval shape for example? I need to create shapes that are a bit more odd than that, but that's just an example.

Thanks again,
Hitman4life

[housepig]

Any idea what DVD authoring app would give me the freedom to make custom thumbnails, like an oval shape for example? I need to create shapes that are a bit more odd than that, but that's just an example.

if your authoring app will support it, you can make a foreground layer with tranparent oval spots, and place your square thumbnails in the background, so it would show through the oval.

DVD Lab supports this, not sure about your app...

[andydd]

Spruce Up can auto-create a menu full of thumbnails from your chapter stops, its pretty cool and very easy and way less time consuming.

[Hitman4life]

DVD Lab supports layers? Then that sounds like the way I should go then.

DVD Lab has a trial period, so I'll download that later today and see how it works out for me. If I have any success or questions, I'll be sure to post.

Thank you, housepig (and andydd)

Regards,
Hitman4life

[housepig]

DVD Lab supports layers? Then that sounds like the way I should go then.

yes, DVD Lab actually has a decent set of menu-creation tools as part of the program - it's one of the things that drew me to it in the first place.

let us know how it goes.