Does anyone know how to combine a still image with a motion file?

[zanos]

I'm interested in doing this for a dvd menu. Anyone know what kind of program I can use? I want a still image in the forefront and motion in the background.

[guns1inger]

What software do you have ?

Most editors can do this. you can also do it in avisynth, WAX2 and ZS4 - all free. I suspect you can also do it in virtualdub.

[zanos]

I have virtualdub but I don't know how to do it using that program anyway. Thanks for the suggestions. Which program is easiest to use or learn or the best overall?

[manono]

Easiest to use, easiest to learn, and the best overall can have 3 different answers. Me, I use either the Layer or Overlay commands in AviSynth when doing stuff like that. Definitely not the easiest to learn, though.

http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Layer
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Overlay

[Alex_ander]

(easiest to use, not free)
TDA3 allows for motion backgrounds with image objects over (also added from file). Multiple image (and text) objects can be moved to front/back of each other.

[zanos]

Really? I was not aware of that!

[Alex_ander]

Really?

There's probably a limitation to only rectangular images.
With AviSynth's Overlay() (which manono suggests) you are free to use images of any shape due to mask image with controlled transparency.