Help with layered .psd menus in DVD Architect

[mumdigau]

Hello,

I'm on the way to move from DVDMaestro to DVDA. Biggest problem so far is to transform my menus so they will function in DVDA.

In DVDMaestro, everything is so easy: my menus I import are .psd files which consist of two layers: background (image/text, no buttons) and subpicture (buttons, i. e. red triangles on a white background). I drag the .psd file to the menu, then I do the color mapping. Since the buttons should be invisible when not selected or activated, and yellow when selected, Color mapping is quite simple: Everything is set to full transparent except red is mapped to yellow for button selection. Ready for this part.

How do I achieve that in DVDA? I've read the manual carefully, but I'm stuck now. I've modified the .psd files so now they have a background layer, and a button-xx-thumbnail layer for each button (which consists of just one red triangle on white background). When I import the .psd files as background media they are correctly recognized as layered files, and all layers are shown in the dropdown list, but in the workspace no buttons are to be seen. Do I also need button-xx-highlight layers? I don't think I need button-xx-thumbnailmasks, do I? And how to define the color sets for inactive, selected and activated state?

Would be fine if someone with more experience in DVDA than me could solve that puzzle to me. Many thanks in advance.

Best regards

mumdigau

[mikiem]

With DVDA, for menus I suggest reading the pdf manual carefully (& I mean really carefully as much of this stuff seems hidden I had to re-read many times!)

Anyway, To do a simple menu import the image, usually jpg or png. Then use image-type buttons, in the right pane click the red X to remove thumbnail, then drag and size over background as needed. There's more controls offered, a lot of options really, for masking the button &/or frame around the button, which can be treated separately -- can use for example an animated gif for a motion frame surrounding a button. The button highlight on the right of the screen gives a few common choices like underline that's suitable for many uses, & more options for using masks. Also on the right, you set the button's navigation (for using the remote's arrow keys for button selection).

As mentioned, there are several places you can use masks, a grayscale or B/W png with no (or transparent) background, including a background mask showing the highlight areas for all the buttons. In P/shop I add these for example using characters from a symbol font in black, hide the other layers, merge visible, and export or save as png. The blank image-type buttons are sized to include the highlights for that button, and when selected, pressed etc. (in a working DVD layout) the highlight shows up using the colorsets mapped for that menu page (or globally).

It's really not that bad -- there are many options with all the possible combinations of settings, but once you figure out the effect you're after, it moves pretty quickly.

Edit: missed the question on the colorsets... Over on the right hand side should see near the top the menu page's color sets used. Towards the bottom, the color sets themselves are spelled out. Click one to get a simple dropdown with eye dropper, twice to bring up larger pallet window.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=288295&highlight=dvda

[mumdigau]

@mikiem

Highly appreciate your reply. I also read through your 'Using DVDA'.

Before going more into detail, I'd like to answer you my basic question: How to create buttons in DVDA? In DVDMaestro I simply put an rectangle around the area I'd like to serve as a button, and then set colors and transparency for inactive, selected and activated state. How do I do this DVDA? Insert empty button?

Second, on my menus the buttons are not included on the background, but sit altogether on one subpicture which is set to full transparency for inactive and activated state. Thus a button is only visible when selected. How do I achieve this in DVDA (I'm on version 3.0c)?

Last, I'd like to have a menu in one layered .psd file as I'm used to so far with DVDMaestro. I made all menus with DVD Menu Studio, and then exported them for DVDMaestro which gave me those 2-layered .psd files. Unfortunately, there is no export function for DVDA, so I have to build the .psd files manually in Photoshop. If you think layered based menus are too cumbersome in DVDA, I'd change to single .png files as you proposed in your 'Using DVDA'.

Actually, it's a onetime task fo make my menus working in DVDA. Once done, everything else is quite easy to accomplish especially music compilations (the main reason why I change to DVDA).

Would be nice if you could help me jumping the menu hurdle.

Best regards

mumdigau

EDIT:

Edit: Sorry for double posting. Haven't seen yout answer under 'Using DVDA'.