Button invisiblility in DVD-Lab Pro

[SEALs1230]

I have this picture: And I want to use it as my button. I have two buttons for which I want to use that picture. WHat I want to do is have the picture of the web disappear unless I have the mouse highlighting the button. Then when it activates it will turn whatever color. I cant figure out how to make it so that the button is there when selected but not there when I'm not highlighting it. If that makes any sense. Thanks.

[jimmalenko]

How do I upload screenshots ?

[SEALs1230]

Me not being able to upload the picture doesnt have anything to do with my question, lol. Your guide did help me however so thanks I had a space in the name of the file and thats why I think. But, The picture that I want to use isnt the question. Its how I can make whatever picture I have saved on my computer become the button. And how I can make it dissapear when not selected. I will know that it is selected if i can see the button, afterwhich I will make the button turn a color when I activate it(i can do this part, I think).

[SEALs1230]

I tried the invisible normal or invisible selected options and couldnt get them to work. Maybe i'm not using them right?

[guns1inger]

Only the overlay can be made invisible, so you need to load this into a subpicture. Link it to an asset, then set it to Normal Invisible.

If you want to use a full graphic instead then you will have to go down the switched menu path instead.

Subpictures are covered in the help file. Switched Menus are covered in a good tutorial at the mediachance web site.

[SEALs1230]

got it to work using reboots crazy D-FX switch motion menu guide.

[reboot]

I was just going to say, check my guide on switched menus

[SEALs1230]

is there any way of making this happen without the menu restart? For example, with the motion menu I want what is in the frame to play continuously while the arrow moves from "play movie" to "scene selection". Is that possible? I know probably not with switched menus but maybe with the layering or something? the subpicture help in DVD-labs help didnt help very much.

[guns1inger]

Try using photoshop to turn your spider web into a 2 colour (one colour + transparent) graphic and loading that as a subpicture. I'm not at home right now, so I can't test it out.

[abc-123]

I read this first post and initially agreed with everyone here, but something kept knawing at me that there's a simpler way and now it finally hit me.

You want to use that pic, grey web on black background. Make the button, completely visible, then go where you change the highlight and select colours. In normal mode choose the color black at 100% opacity, in selected mode choose any color at 100% transparency, and in activated choose anything you want (what might look good is black at 50% transparency maybe? That way you can't see the square around the web).
A final note: make sure in menu playback that the default first highlighted button (under where it usually says "inf") is not the spiderweb or else it will be seen when the user first gets to the menu. (Just point the default highlight to an invisible all button and make it so the user can't navigate back to that button.)

This would look awsome if the whole menu background is black. I think I'll do this same thing as you with the buttons on my next menu. Thanks for the idea.

[SEALs1230]

That sounds like it might work....I already did the switched menu thing for this DVD but I will definatly try your idea on my next one. Thanks

[abc-123]

is there any way of making this happen without the menu restart? For example, with the motion menu I want what is in the frame to play continuously while the arrow moves from "play movie" to "scene selection".

Ok, so you added some motion and I understand what you mean about the menu restart, but I'm having a hard time visualizing your project to answer your question. How many motion buttons will the viewer see? How many switched menus do you have on there now? Does each switch have a different motion button? Do you want them all to play continuously or only start motion when the user selects it? (Or are you using switched menus just for the text and spiderweb?).

You might be able to consolidate some of your switch menus by dropping in the motion clip as the main menu backgroud instead of the switch background and using my suggestion above for the spiderwebs. But like I said, I'm having a hard time visualizing what you're doing. Can you post a screengrab of your main menu (not switches) so I can see what you're talking about?

[SEALs1230]

I dont actually have the menu I was using on my computer anymore so I just made a little makeshift one in paint from images on my computer. The Below picture is not actually a menu, nor was the menu I made for Jeepers Creepers, it was actually for a rally racing DVD I was making from legally downloaded rally racing clips anyways, here it is:


This is the basic structure my menu had. The two spiderwebs were the buttons leading to the movie (play) or the scene selection menu (scene select). The text themselves had no hotspots or anything. Where the jeepers creepers picture is, was a motion clip from one of the car races. The switched menu that I had was first when you put the DVD in the player, was with the spiderweb showing only next to the text "play" The button next to scene selection was invisible normal and had an auto action leading to the second switched menu. On this menu I had the jeepers creepers as a different clip, and the spiderweb was visible next to the text scene select. The play button was invisiable normal, with an auto action back to the first switched menu. What I wanted to have originally was to have the jeepers creepers be one clip which would play continuously while you switch back and forth from "play" to "scene select" and as you switched the spider web would be your guide as to which one you were selecting based on if you could see the web or not. I think your idea will help me accomplish this so that the clip wont be inturrupted by a switched menu. I hope this helps and that I didnt confuse anyone. If i did let me know and I will try to clarify better.
Thanks.

[abc-123]

Ooohhh, I thought it was more complicated than that.

So you have the SAME video clip on both menus. Then yes, putting everything back on the same menu would stop the motion restart.

I thought you had different videos which you wanted to play, and wanted them to not restart between switches, just picking up at whatever point was left off. (Which you could also do if you were so inclined by masking out the unwanted video using the same process as the spiderwebs.)

Anyway, it looks like you got things in hand now. Happy burning.

[SEALs1230]

Thanks. Actually I used two different movies, but thats only b/c i figured if using switched menus is going to cause the clip to restart anyway, might as well change it up a bit between the menus. But I would have rather had just one continuous clip. Thats why your Idea should work. thanks again.