something different

[xxxjojoxxx]

I've been using ulead dvd workshop for a while now & it's been great to me. But im getting sick of the same temps & want to do something different. I have a montage to do for a wedding this weekend and I want to spice it up. I would like to get some ideas on what others are using as far as programs.

And also wanted to know ...when viewing the montage.. how can i have a motion background instead of the plain black background. ( i think dvd studio pro can do this but im not running mac)

Any ideas would be great.. thanks vcd!!

[guns1inger]

DVD workshop can do motion backgrounds.

Personally, I use DVD Lab Pro, but DVD Workshop can also do everythig you are asking. I use photoshop to design still menus that can be imported into DLP. DVD Workshop can also import photoshop designed menus. I use Vegas (amongst other things) to create motion menus.

Reading your post, you main issue appears to be relying too much on a tool you don't really understand the capabilities of. Even tmpgenc DVD author can do pretty much what you are asking, if you know how.

Menu design is 95% inspiration, 5% perspiration. Unfortunately, that 5% usually requires a lot more time that the other 95%, but that is just the way it swings.

Read the manual that came with DVD Workshop. Make sure you are running the latest patches and upgrades. Look at what your editor can do, as this is where most of your motion menu will be created. Learn the capabilities of the tools you have on hand, and you will be surprised just what you can create with them. I have just created a motion menu where the main effect was done use a virtualdub filter, then finished off in Vegas, before being loaded into DLP. It could just have easily have been loaded into DVD workshop to create something very similar.

[xxxjojoxxx]

Hi there and thanks for replying, I appreciate it.

I know how to create motin menus and backgrounds within DVD Workshop, but what I'm trying to do is have a motion background (like clouds for example) when viewing the photos..so it looks like the pictures are floating... I've seen it done, but don;t know how..

[guns1inger]

It depends on the type of slide show you create. You can create a nice simple slideshow that automatically progresses along at it's own pace with music and movement by either using a slideshow program, or using motion tracks in Premiere (I think that's what it's called). You should be able to put any video you like behind the photos.

If you want the viewer to be able to control the movement of the slideshow (backwards and forwards), then you need to create a small video clip of each photo, which the clouds (or whatever) moving behind the photo. Each of these is then set up as a short motion menu with next and previous buttons.

All the video needs to be prepared in Premiere (or something else video related) beforehand. I suggest you look at the tutorials at wrigleyvideo.com to find out how to put photos etc as picture in picture.