I need help making a specfic type of dvd menu with text

[stainedbeautie]

First, I am wondering if I can add my own text to the menu and be able to select it when loaded in to my dvd player. For example on this image I have added the text "supernatural" and would like to have it play a video or another menu when clicked on. I want to have a menu that looks similar to the ones you see on retail dvds where you see a certain fancy text and select it to go to a menu of other video or play the video itself. Is it possible to be able to do something like this and what program or programs are suggested?

[guns1inger]

Look to your left. See the Menu ? Look down the menu until you see Tools. The type of tool you are looking for would be under the DVD Authoring category.

Simple tools would include Tmpgenc DVD Author, DVD Composer etc.

More complex tools include DVD Lab Pro, DVD Workshop 2 and Encore.

Simple tools usually restrict your creativity by making you work within templates or limited freedoms. Complex ones take time to learn, but allow you to do anything you want (within the specs)

If you want to make menus like you see on retail disks then don't expect to do it overnight. It takes time to learn to create good menus.

I suggest you start by looking at the simpler packages until you get the hang of the many parts to authoring. And read. There are many guides listed on this site. When you look at a tool in the Tools section it will often list guides for that tool. Read them. It will soon start to make sense.

[thecoalman]

BTW , it's easier to add the the text in the authoring tool as opposed to the background image. As Gunslinger mentioned above the cheaper easier ones limit your creativity to templates. If you want to jump right in with a powerful program try DVD Workshop 2, it is easy to use, it is not cheap though.

It has other features too you won't find in many of the better authoring apps, it could be classified as a all-in-one, you can go from capture to burn within DVD Workshop. It's main purpose though remains authoring a task which it excels at. I'll list a few here:

Includes a version of the mainconcept encoder for mpeg2 encoding.
Includes a AC3 encoder.
Limited editing abilities.
Accepts practically any type of video.
Multiple VTS, which allows you to author videos with vary compliant specs without having to reencode all to one spec.[/list]

[borax]

It is also possible with GfD (freeware). But for really 'fancy text' (3D effects, shadows...) you will need a special program to 'design' it. Therefore the typical graphic programs (photoshop, coreldraw... and special 3D programs like Cool 3D or blufftitler) are the best.

[stainedbeautie]

I just want to say this will not be my first time using any dvd menu/authorizing program. I have been using various ones for over year now and am pretty familiar with the way things work within the programs. Including the below average premade templates, which I am not a fan of . I am also an avid user of Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. I also plan on reading up alot of the more complex subjects. I do not plan on this being an overnight thing. I'm just happy to know that is possible to do this, even if it requires alot of learning, etc. Thanks for the help and the suggestions on such programs to use. It makes it easier for me to know where to begin. thanks alot

I'm trying out DVD Workshop, I'll let you know how it goes.