Announcing DVDSubEdit (Version 1.3 released March 29, 2006):

[ericf]

Okay.
I wonder if there might be a program that can take a ssa file with its settings and reproduce those on a DVD.
Any ideas?
ericf

[SLK001]

Subtitles are just bitmapped drawings. MasetroSBT allows you to position the sub where ever on the page that you want it. You can also allow collisions, meaning that you can have subs that occupy the same "time" on display, and each one of these can be independently placed.

Don't know why you would want to do this, but then you have your reasons.

If push comes to shove, you can just load your bitmapped images into an image editor and drag all the individual subs to your heart's content. It would be a royal pain in the ass to do.

[kaypark]

Hi there,
I have a (selfish ) suggestion for a DVDSubEdit feature:

Currently, DVDSubEdit allows moving subs vertically just by even number of lines (2, 4, 6...).
However, I noticed that some subtitles created by older versions of SubtitleCreator are placed on odd lines (in Set Display Area sy=odd number) and I have no way to reposition them on an even line (at least I was unable to find it) as DVDSubEdit always moves the subs vertically just by even numbers, placing it again on an odd line.

The trouble is that such odd-line-placed subs cause unbearable flicker on my TV when DVD plays in my Panasonic DMR EH55. Previously, I used Samsung DVD player that was pretty ignorant of odd/even vertical start of subtitles and played without a hitch so I did not know the Panasonic player will have issues with the odd-placed subs.
As a result, I have quite a number of subtitled DVDs which all of a sudden I cannot watch on the new player due to flicking when an odd-line sub appears.

An ideal solution for me would be to have a possibility in DVDSubEdit to force "sy=" values of all subtitles to an even number (for example when using the flush functionality) - a feature request to JeanL (thanks in advance )

The second best solution would be your advice if you ever came across a similar thing and know an easy way to reposition the subs.

(and the tedious solution that I currently adhere to is to demux everything, OCR the subs, create the .sup file again - I learn the bug has been corrected in newer versions of SubtitleCreator - and remux again)

thanks for your ideas, and thanks for the great programs I found on this website
kaypark

PS: when referring to odd/even, I mean the number shown in the variable called "sy=" as seen in the Set Display Area values in the Current Subpic Info part of the DVDSubEdit window

[jeanl]

I know the problem you're talking about. It is easy to move them by an even number of lines, because of the way they're encoded (even and odd fields are encoded separately). At the time I made that decision, I didn't think it would matter whether or not they were moved by 64 or 65 lines... But I can see your point, and it would make sense to fix that. I'll put that on my todo list...
Jeanl

[kaypark]

JeanL - thanks for fixing the odd-line subs moving in 1.34
You saved my marriage, actually, as my wife always complained about the fact I spend more time at computer (demuxing, subtitling, muxing and stuff) than watching the created DVD (it's more fun creating the DVD than watching it, anyway) - and the prospects of me re-making all previous DVDs were too grim for her - would you ever expect such a nice by-product of your software?

For people having the odd-line subtitle blinking issue as experienced for example with Panasonic DMR-EH55 player, here's what I do (remember - starting lines of your subs are vertically scattered between odd and even lines)

1) I find a single-line subtitle and move it vertically to the BOTTOM first. I save. This is how I make sure that in step 2, all my subs will be moved a sufficient number of lines and will not stay 1 or two lines below the border due to inconsistent vertical positioning.

2) I move the 1-line sub from bottom to the top with the "Flush" box ticked (just to make sure), and apply the same to ALL subs, then Save - this makes sure all subs start on the same line which is crucial for step 3.

3) Now you have all subs starting on the same line, just move them down again to the new desired position (drag the sub-pic vertical position slider) and make sure that Set Display Area sy=EVEN NUMBER. Save, and burn your DVD.

Voila - your Panasonic stops blinking and your wife will love you again.

Kaypark

[jeanl]

Amazing!
There's one user over at doom9 who says that since the odd move feature has been added, some of his subtitles show up broken up on his television. What kind of TV is your panasonic?
Jeanl