MPEG still image encoding with TMPGEnc => Templates for PAL

[CornelisJ]

Suppose that you use VCDImager to author VCD's or SVCD's, and you want to include a Menu or Splash screen as SEGMENT item. Then you will have to encode a bitmap file as MPEG still image. In the beginning I had some difficulties to produce an SVCD compliant MPEG-2 still image with TMPGEnc, but now I have succeeded to generate MPEG still images that are accepted without warnings by VCDImager.

In fact it is rather simple. As an example the procedure for SVCD - PAL:

1) Start TMPGEnc, and load the SVCD-PAL template
2) Load the unlock template (from folder Extra), so that you can change some settings
3) Set the stream type to System (Video only)
4) Select Setting => Video, change the output size to 704 x 576, and set the bitrate to 2520 kbit/s CBR
5) Now select as video source a bitmap (.BMP) file with a resolution of 704x576, and as output file something like stillname.mpg, and hit the Start button.

The menu screen can be made with an image editor like Paintshop Pro. You can first choose as size 768x576 (4:3), and edit your image. If you are finished, resize to 704x576, and save as bitmap. Someone else here in theforum suggested to prepare the menu screen in MS Powerpoint, save it as bitmap, and resize it with an image editor to 704x576.

Too keep things simple I have prepared TMPGEnc templates for VCD and SVCD (PAL only). You can download a zip file with the templates here.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: CornelisJ on 2001-07-21 13:16:17 ]</font>

[vitualis]

CornelisJ,

There is a slight problem with this method. Firstly, if you vcddebug your finished CUE/BIN image, you'll realise that the mpeg "still" is actually recognised as a one frame video clip...

This means that it may not work on some players. Stand-alone players treat video clips and mpeg stills differently. That's why all VCD compatible players can play full frame size mpeg stills, but many won't play back a full frame size video clip (i.e., 704x480/576 XVCD).

Secondly, it is still unknown (I think) whether or not the mpeg still images on a VCD (not SVCD) must be a multiplexed entity of both a normal resolution (352x240/288) and high resolution still (704x480/576).

Thirdly, there is probably in White Book a specific bitrate that the VCD mpeg stills have to be encoded in.

Regards.

[CornelisJ]

Vitualis,

When I said that I succeeded to make MPEG still images with TMPGEnc, I actually meant the following:

1) The MPEG stills are accepted by VCDImager 0.7.7 (i.e. vcdxbuild.exe) without warnings.
2) The MPEG stills (both VCD and SVCD) are displayed correctly by the software player WinDVD v2.6.

My conclusion was that I had managed to make correct MPEG stills, but I realise now that this conclusion was a litle bit premature. I did not check my VCD/SVCD on a standalone DVD player, because I don't own such a device yet.

If anyone can confirm that the MPEG stills made with my TMPGEnc templates are displayed correctly on a standalone player, please let me know in this forum.

[Vulcan]

I can confirm that the still displays correctly on my standalone (Philips 711) and that no errors are reported when the still is "build"

[vitualis]

There is no "error" because VCDImager sees it as a video clip (which you can put as a segment item)...

I remember trying this quite a while ago... and it didn't work on my stand-alone VCD player. However, that might have been back when VCDImager0.7.x didn't do MPEG stills properly anyway.

Regards.

[Varek]

I've been contemplating "MPEG still" for a couple of days and looking around. Doing it the way origionally suggested here generated I, B, and P frames for a single picture, which didn't seem right. I finally found a definition - although I'm not sure what kind of authority it carries.
http://www.vidiom.com/resources_itv_glossary_h.htm

In a nutshell it says that an MPEG still is a single I frame. In TMPGEnc 12h, there is an 'I-Picture only' button on the GOP Structure tab. I've tried it and it encodes and displays (with STHSVCD) so I think that might be the ticket.

I'm just guessing here but I'm going to try it...

[leejan]

would it be too much if i ask for an SVCD-NTSC Template from you.

On 2001-07-21 13:14:31, CornelisJ wrote:
Suppose that you use VCDImager to author VCD's or SVCD's, and you want to include a Menu or Splash screen as SEGMENT item. Then you will have to encode a bitmap file as MPEG still image. In the beginning I had some difficulties to produce an SVCD compliant MPEG-2 still image with TMPGEnc, but now I have succeeded to generate MPEG still images that are accepted without warnings by VCDImager.

In fact it is rather simple. As an example the procedure for SVCD - PAL:

1) Start TMPGEnc, and load the SVCD-PAL template
2) Load the unlock template (from folder Extra), so that you can change some settings
3) Set the stream type to System (Video only)
4) Select Setting => Video, change the output size to 704 x 576, and set the bitrate to 2520 kbit/s CBR
5) Now select as video source a bitmap (.BMP) file with a resolution of 704x576, and as output file something like stillname.mpg, and hit the Start button.

The menu screen can be made with an image editor like Paintshop Pro. You can first choose as size 768x576 (4:3), and edit your image. If you are finished, resize to 704x576, and save as bitmap. Someone else here in theforum suggested to prepare the menu screen in MS Powerpoint, save it as bitmap, and resize it with an image editor to 704x576.

Too keep things simple I have prepared TMPGEnc templates for VCD and SVCD (PAL only). You can download a zip file with the templates here.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: CornelisJ on 2001-07-21 13:16:17 ]</font>

[WRCoach]

This is all very complicated for nothing. You can achieve what you want much more simply by using VIDEO CAPTURIX found at:

http://www.capturix.com

It has a feature called AVI BUILDER, which will let you string BMP files together to form an AVI file. Simply take the image you wish to use as a still, set the FRAMES PER SECOND to 1, instead of 29.97, and load the image in for as many seconds as you want it to appear as a still in your video. (i.e. 10 images = 10 seconds at 1 FPS) Then, simply re-encode this avi to whatever you wish using TMPGEnc. You can make it SVCD or VCD or XVCD...use whatever template you want. It will be converted to 29.97 fps, if that is what you need.

This process takes minutes and has fewer steps and works with EVERY template. I have been doing this for months now. Also, the program is shareware, but it is so good I registered it for the few dollars it cost.

[vitualis]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-25 03:42:24, WRCoach wrote:
This is all very complicated for nothing. You can achieve what you want much more simply by using VIDEO CAPTURIX found at:...</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Do you know what an MPEG still is?

Regards.

_________________
Michael Tam

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: vitualis on 2001-07-25 06:42:33 ]</font>

[leejan]

My idea is to composed my set of postcards as viewable images on the VCD. So that there will be transitions on such still images and some descriptions.

What I normally did is to compose the avi file in Adobe Premiere using jpg images and audio. I then exported it as .avi file. Then set the file as an mpeg compliant before burning into VCD. But what happens is that there is no video but audio only.

[joe-mamma]

For what your describing I use ulead video studio 5 it allows you to set the duration of the image and set it to music as well as offering cool transition effects. However you will sacrifice quality as mpg video is different than a still but I've heard if you save the progect using a high bitrate and then encode using I believe a 2 pass vbr setting ( I'm not sure about this last part ) in tmpgenc you will get satisfactory results. Actually if I remember right you should make an svcd because it handles higher bitrate and resolution. I hope this gives you a shove in the right direction.

[leejan]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-26 00:00:01, joe-mamma wrote:
For what your describing I use ulead video studio 5 it allows you to set the duration of the image and set it to music as well as offering cool transition effects. However you will sacrifice quality as mpg video is different than a still but I've heard if you save the progect using a high bitrate and then encode using I believe a 2 pass vbr setting ( I'm not sure about this last part ) in tmpgenc you will get satisfactory results. Actually if I remember right you should make an svcd because it handles higher bitrate and resolution. I hope this gives you a shove in the right direction.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
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joe-mamma:
thanks for the reply. i have no problem with adobe premiere when it comes to increasing the duration of the still images, i can even make special effects (transitions) and movements of the still images. i was able to produce the mpeg-format movie and reviewed/played it on my computer. the problem is after creating cue/bin files and have it burned on CD, nothing comes out of my standalone player except the audio. my tv monitor is totally blackout. what has gone wrong in my production?

[digvid]

You can create a real mpeg still that is svcd compatible by encoding a .bmp file as a single I-frame (video only) stream in tmpgenc, then muxing it as a lo-res .ps file with I-Author's muxing tool. Running the vcdxminfo utility (from VCDImager) as follows: "vcdxminfo --generic-info myfile.ps" will tell you what you have produced. You can rename your .ps file to be an .mpg file (it is the same thing). vcdxminfo will show you that the stream you have produced is an mpeg still (stream type E1) as opposed to an mpeg video (stream type E0).

- digvid

[cotzrock]

why is nobody using the philips toolkit to create mpeg stills?!
it`s much easier as it encodes the images and muxes them automatically, and vcdimager accepts them without any complaints.

ben.