custom motion menu

[SEALs1230]

This might be a better post for editting or something and I'm sure that the software required to do this is very expensive, but.... I was wondering if it would be possible to make your own motion menu using something that you create. Currently I always have the motion background set with a clip that I created using parts of the actual movie. I do this with DVDLab PRO and I make the clip with vdub. I was wondering what kind of software would be needed to make a motion background that doesnt come from the movie, something that you actually make, not just a compilation of parts of a movie. Such as, lets say for spiderman if I wanted to make a transition where a spiderweb shoots onto the screen and then pulls the current screen away, then leads into the movie. I dont have the skill to do something like that I dont think, but I think you get the idea of what I mean by custom motion menu. Something like that which you would find on the commercial DVD. I know the makers of the movie use all special programs to do this but what I'm asking is if there is anything open to the public that has these capabilities.

[daamon]

Hi SEALs1230,

There may be other tools and other methods, but a common way is to create the static menus in something like Adobe Photoshop, ensuring that the image is made of layers (you'll see why later) and the image is saved in a format that preserves these layers.

Then, in something like Adobe After Effects, you can then animate these layers with various effects which will become the transitions.

If you get the trial disk from Adobe, it has these apps (as well as Premiere Pro, Audition and DVD Encore) and tutorials for them. It specifically covers what I've described above.

Granted, these apps are at the pricier end of the scale, but I don't know of any other apps that are cheaper and will do the same as I've not needed to do it myself.

[reboot]

You can import a series of stills, and create an avi in Paintshop pro's animation shop. Encode it to mpeg-2 and you have a custom motion background.

[SEALs1230]

Thanks for the replys. I dont really have any need to do it. I'm a sophmore engineering student and I just like experimenting with stuff. I like to see what kind of things are possible to do and what not. I was just wondering if it was possible, being a college student I know I dont have enough money to use the Adobe stuff, but maybe when I get the time I will try reboots method, sounds time consuming. Well..thanks for the replys.

[guns1inger]

Give Wax2 a look-see. Not quite as slick as after effects, but it is free, has particles and text effects as well.

Something else to look at is a new tool from Mediachance, makers of DVD Lab Pro etc. It's called MotionMenuCreator and is currently in beta. I believe you can doenload and test it. Look here to see it in action http://www.mmbforums.com/phpbb/portal.php?article=1&sid=e6566b91d9145eb54aaedb2e49aea8d6