Bitmap subs in DLP?

[Afterlife]

Does anyone know the proper format and way to import bitmap sub files into DVD Lab pro?

I have a srt file which I converted to ssa to open in MaestroSBT. I configured everything the way I liked it, rendered as a .sub (submix) file with BMP as a uncompressed 4 bit Bitmap.

so I try a .sub using Phillips IMG format. Still DLP says unsupported format. DLP says it supports: *.sub;*.srt;*.ssa;*.son;*.sst

but when generating a sub file from MaestroSBT it wont work. So all I can do is generate a .son (Maestro) or .sst (Scenarist) file.

So this is fine, I open up DLP and import my son or sst file (either dont seem to make a big difference).

Now what I have now is the subtitle screen, and instead of my subs being present it just has in the text field the path to the image file. At first I figured this would be ok and burned, only to find my subs were like this:

FMA-ConquerorofShambalaTEST_0001.bmp
FMA-ConquerorofShambalaTEST_0002.bmp
FMA-ConquerorofShambalaTEST_0003.bmp
FMA-ConquerorofShambalaTEST_0004.bmp
FMA-ConquerorofShambalaTEST_0005.bmp

well this isnt what I wanted so I went back, and this time I did the same thing and this time I pressed the folder button in the Prop column, it lets me search for a BMP file. I select the file I want and bingo my subs show up properly now, well uh sort of...

the right text is there now and the text field is now greyed out, except the subs no longer have the styling I used in MaestroSBT, they are using the styling in DLP, this is not what I want as it looks really ugly. Originally I had in MaestroSBT yellow font with a 2px black border, now I have a 2px yellow border and black font. If I change the DLP styles it changes this, but I cant restore my original style. WHY on earth DLP is styling my Bitmaps I have no clue.

Does anyone know how to turn this off?

Next issue is my movie has close to 800 subtitle bitmaps, and I dont think I'm going to want to click the search icon for each time frame, I dont see a way to import them all at once properly, im guessing .sub would do this but is just broken in DLP. Which sucks. Now sure I could write a VBScript to do this for me using sendkeys or something, but what a hassle.

So if anyone knows a way to help me get around my issues I would appreciate it.

Otherwise Im going to need to look for a new Authoring app which better supports subtitle files. Does anyone know if Sceanarist(I hear this is prob the best authoring tool and more complex than DLP) is any better?

Appreciate the help if anyone can lend it.

[manono]

Hi-

I can't really help you directly with DLP, although I'm sure others can. In any event, ordinarily the authoring app opens the SON file, and all the BMP info is contained within that, and the rest is automatic. I wouldn't worry about the colors, as that always happens, and you fix them the way you want after authoring. I use PGCEdit for that. As long as you got all the subs, and they have the same font you chose, size, positioning, etc, fixing the colors is trivial. Ask if you need specific instructions.

Personally, I use Muxman for authoring. It takes subs in either SUP or SST format. I always make SON files with Maestro, then VobSubs with Son2VobSub, and then SUP files using SubToSup. And I always make 8 bit BMPs with Maestro. I don't know if they're any better, but it sounds better.

[Afterlife]

Thanks Manono,

Well I guess DLP doesnt open son files properly then as its not setting the path to the bitmaps besides in the text column, and thats wrong. And im really not feeling like selecting each and every time frames bitmap file. I would post on the DVDLab Pro forums, but tbh they never ever answer a question.

I might just go back to using Maestro at this rate.

[Afterlife]

Ok so im back to using Maestro, I had hoped I would find a Authoring tool with the power of maestro but with more updates and support, it seems I was wrong.

Besides the point, Manono I have a question for you, unless someone else can answer it if you dont know the answer lol.

So I now have a ssa file, I convert this to a srt file in SubtitleWorkshop, then run the srt file in MaestroSBT to create a sub file.

Im not real familiar with the setting in MaestroSBT so I use this:

Rendering
-------------
Script: .son
Bitmaps: Windows BMP 4bits (8bits will make the pictures too large and really unneccesary for something with only 4 colors)

{skip rest of settings besides color rendering}

Color Rendering
I pick Only One set of text, antialias, and outline colors. - no idea why it just works better, I cant find any information regarding these settings (is there no manual?)

The color keys I change so that secondary color is same as primary(i find it just looks better this way)

the sticky colors button I have no clue.. i leave as default - On

so now I import this file directly into Maestro, my subs as far as length and text etc looks amazing, best ive been able to create in any authoring application. Now only problem is the colors are off. Instead of the yellow and black I had before its now white outline and black text, which tbh looks fine on darker backgrounds, but not so sure if its better.

Anyways so I can go into each individual sub and change the colors and get it just right, but for some odd reason I cant get it to apply to ALL sub files, I dont see this option. Which sucks.

So unless you know of a way of preserving the colors, or changing all sub files in Maestro I need to know how you said you did it post author?

Thanks!!

[Afterlife]

UPDATE: ok found out how to change the color of all sub files, you just need to load the palette file that is generated with MaestroSBT (this is where the color rendering options come into play)

Amazing what reading the Manual will do for you lol.

[manono]

Hi-

My Maestro doesn't even accept SRT format subtitles, as far as I know. I always use SSA subs.

so now I import this file directly into Maestro, my subs as far as length and text etc looks amazing, best ive been able to create in any authoring application.

Yes, that's why I use Maestro also. It creates the nicest looking subs. The rest of your settings seemed OK. Oh, in the Rendering section, I also check "Don't clip bitmaps". If you ever see a thin black line under some of your subs, that's the reason, and you should redo them with that box checked.

Forget all that individual sub color changing stuff, unless you really do want some subs to be differently colored.

So unless you know of a way of preserving the colors, or changing all sub files in Maestro I need to know how you said you did it post author?

I see from your last post you found another way. I just open the reauthored DVD in PGCEdit and double-click on the movie in the left window. In the new screen you'll see the CLUT (Color LookUp Table), a 4x4 block of different colors. In your first example you wound up with black subs and a yellow outline. In the top row of the CLUT you'll see those 2 colors. Click on the yellow and change to a black outline, and click on the black and change to the yellow main color. OK your way out to the main window, save and test.

[Afterlife]

Oh sorry worded it wrong, I had a srt, now have a ssa using Workshop, use the ssa in MaestroSBT.

Ill try the post changing see if that looks better.

thanks!

ill post my findings