DVD Menus

[matthewjohn23]

I use DVD Flick. I was wondering what are some good programs to use for making DVD menus. I usually have about 10-20 tracks on a DVD and I would like to make a menu, so it's easier to navigate the disc. I'm wondering if there are any programs that I can make the menu in to add to DVD Flick or if I need an entirely different program.

[guns1inger]

Tmpgenc DVD Author will let you import the VOBs from DVD Flick and to create menus. It isn't free, but it is pretty easy to use.

GUIForDVDAuthor is free, but you may have to demux your VOBs back to elementary streams to use it. Given the price, you lose nothing by trying it out.

Or you can look at the latest beta version of DVD Flick, which I believe includes simple menu creation along the lines of FAVC.

[louv68]

DVDStyler is a good one if you want to go the freeware route.

[matthewjohn23]

So if I encode my files with DVD Flick I can take the VOB files and then import them into DVDStyler and then I can burn from there?

[louv68]

I have not used DVD Flick, so I'm not sure. If you can set DVD Flick to generate elementary streams or MPEGs, then you could input them in DVDStyler. I do not think it will take VOBs as input. Make sure you also have some jpgs for your menu backgrounds handy. You can easily create them from your videos on Media Player Classic. DVDStyler can also create motion menus. Edit down some clips to Mpeg for these. It's a bit of work, but you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it. One tip I can offer when working with DVD Styler. Don't burn copies till you've tested it out on a software player. If anything is goofed up ie. (buttons don't navigate properly), you can modify that very easily with PgcEdit.

[AlanHK]

any programs that I can make the menu

Try Titlewriter.

[matthewjohn23]

I have not used DVD Flick, so I'm not sure. If you can set DVD Flick to generate elementary streams or MPEGs, then you could input them in DVDStyler. I do not think it will take VOBs as input.

DVD Flick just encodes video files to VOBs for your Audio TS and Video folders. I tried it and I was able to import the VOB files made by DVD Flick into DVD Styler. For DVD Styler I make a ISO and I mount it with Magic ISO to check out to see if the menu works before I burn it.

[louv68]

I tried it and I was able to import the VOB files made by DVD Flick into DVD Styler

Really? I haven't used it in a while (v1.5.1), but I could have sworn it would not accept VOBs as input. I always demuxed, then input the files. Good to know though. Thanks for clarifying this.

[lordsmurf]

Photoshop + Premiere make great menus.
Authoring software merely assembles them.

[matthewjohn23]

I am a Gimp man myself. The fonts on DVD Styler aren't that good. Someone suggested that it's better to create a menu with text and then add check marks in DVD styler. It's not that bad though when you consider that it's free.

[RockWood610]

I use Sony Vegas/DVD architech for making my videos/DVDs. Would anyone happen to know where I can get nice avi/mpeg motion backgrounds to spice up my productions?

I have heard of digital hotcakes, but thats the closest thing I found.