Subtitles - Transparent back in DVDLab Pro

[AngusMacGyver]

I've just downloaded DVDLab Pro 1.60 trial. I'm trying to author a DVD with bitmap subtitles instead of text ones.
First, I ripped subtitles from a DVD to bitmap files using Subrip to create a .son file. DVDLab pro can import that file and show the bitmaps, but their backuground is never transparent. I tried everything, but I couldn't make them transparent. I tried to edit .son file, changing the contrast, and nothing.
Does anybody know how to solve it?

Thanks in advance.

[mikiem]

To try fixing your immediate prob., I'd try using ifoedit to copy the colors from the orig. pgc (under pgc iti I think) & pasting them in the pgc of your new layout. Otherwise there are several guides and such on setting colors.

By trying everything I assume you mean the options in the sub dialog in DVDLab. If you can't get it to work, a couple of alternate methods would be to use vsrip & scc tools to get a text file from the CC data, assuming it's there, & importing that into DVDLab Pro. Or use Pgcdemux to strip the subs, muxman to author vobs, vob blanker to replace.

[AngusMacGyver]

Hi, thanks for reply.
I prefer work with bitmaps subtitles because DVDLab Pro doesn't support format tags. Another reason is CC, when available, is in English and I would use Portuguese subtitles. Subrip OCR is good, but it's hard to make it recognize all characters and some errors always be there.
I think I will try using ifoedit, pgcedit or DVDSubEdit after authoring with DVDLab. I think it could be desnecessary if DVDLab had a way to select colors and transparency.
Thanks again.

[mikiem]

"I prefer work with bitmaps subtitles because DVDLab Pro doesn't support format tags."

Good point -- Don't think they are supported at all in many text sub file formats.

"Subrip OCR is good, but it's hard to make it recognize all characters and some errors always be there."

Stripping with Pgcdemux, authoring with muxman, merging with vobblanker uses originals -- maybe more work, maybe not...

"I think it could be desnecessary if DVDLab had a way to select colors and transparency."

You might want to keep looking around... There are ton's of folks who swear by subrip, and just because I don't have an answer, doesn't mean there isn't one.

[AngusMacGyver]

Thanks for your post.

Stripping with Pgcdemux, authoring with muxman, merging with vobblanker uses originals -- maybe more work, maybe not...

In fact, my target is make my own DVDs, using text subtitles, but converting first to bitmaps ones. So, I would be able to use italic, bold, etc...
I'm using DVD subtitles to make sure where I'm making mistakes. If DVDLab Pro doesn't have a way to select colors and transparency, I think I will have the same problem when I import subtitles made by myself. The answer is do what you said. Sadly...
Once again, thank you.

[jeanl]

I've just downloaded DVDLab Pro 1.60 trial. I'm trying to author a DVD with bitmap subtitles instead of text ones.
First, I ripped subtitles from a DVD to bitmap files using Subrip to create a .son file. DVDLab pro can import that file and show the bitmaps, but their backuground is never transparent. I tried everything, but I couldn't make them transparent. I tried to edit .son file, changing the contrast, and nothing.
Does anybody know how to solve it?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, use DVDSubEdit. Open the VOB file created by DVDLab Pro, then adjust the transparency of the background (select the background pixel, and move the transparency slider). When you're happy with the result, select "apply to all subpics" and then save... That should do the trick!
jeanl