How to create DVD menu buttons in Photoshop w/text only highlighting?

[rbatty11]

I'll try to explain and please note, I have little to no Pshop skills. My current DVD menus (ntsc) are simple and consist of the menu itselt and a sub-layer that contain bold underlines that highlight when linked to something. So when I want to 'Play' the main video, i navigate on my remote to Play and only the underline highlights. What I want is the the word, "Play" to highlight--ONLY the text (ie, each letter) -> P-l-a-y, while the background remains unchanged.. only the letters of Play stand out or get highlighted. (Please tell me I don't have to 'trace' each letter for every word/link in my menus .

Is there a guide/tutorial on how to do that? How difficult is it (given my Pshop skills are at best, below average)? Any help/guidance w/b appreciated.

[pstedman]

It's actually pretty easy to do what you want. You do not need to be a Photoshop expert by any means.
Here is a tutorial right from Adobe:
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/encore/articles/enc15menu.html

In brief - each button you want to create in photoshop is a group of layers (called either a group or layer set depending on which version of Photoshop you're using

Within your layer set you create your text (PLAY) in your case
On top of that layer you create an identical layer which is the highlight. In your example it is identical text just a different color

I won't go into specifics as the tutorial is really a great step-by-step guide. It helped me tremendously.

[rbatty11]

Thanks, pstedman.. I will read it and hopefully won't need to post again.

[guns1inger]

It would also help if you told us which authoring tool you use.

Most will do what you want in their own menu designer.

Also, different authoring tools require different treatment in photoshop. Some require that each button be on a separate layer. Some even require the layers to be named in a specific manner. Others are happy if you only have two layers - the background on one, and the buttons all on the second.

[rbatty11]

gunslinger, i use either DVDWS2 or DVDMaestro. In this case... maestro, even though I find the learning curve much higher. Is there something comparable to maestro on the market now?

[lordsmurf]

DVDWS2 does not need anything done in Photoshop. Type directly.

There is nothing close to Maestro right now (maybe DVD-Lab Pro, but not really).