how to make dvd that does not fill up the screen!

[turbochargedRS]

this may sound funny but i'm trying to make a dvd out of very low resolution avi clips using dvd author 3 with divx. I've successfully make a dvd out of those clips but when play on standalone player the quality is very bad. If only I can resize the video to half the size of the screen. dvd author 3 doesn't seems to allow me to go lower than 4:3. I've try to keep to original files at 352X240 but still plays at full screen size. Please help!!!

[guns1inger]

Resolution is not the issue. Anything 4:3 will be expanded to fill the screen, regardless of resolution. The solution is to put black borders around the image to keep the image smaller on the screen. You can do this either with a picture in picture type effect in an editor, or by using something like virtualdub's resize filter to add the borders.

[Alex_ander]

You can load your source file to TDA3 (this also works for motion menu backgrounds) with AviSynth script (for NTSC DVD):

AviSource("path/video.avi")
LanczosResize(352x240)
AddBorders(184,120,184,120)
ConvertToYUY2()

Even if you never used AviSynth, install it and save the lines above in Notepad with .avs extension instead of .txt. Edit path to your file in the script and test it by opening in Vdub. Then use in TDA3 NTSC project as any other video (with chaptering, simulation etc.). The script above should produce a half-size image in the centre of a 720x480 frame with black borders (color is editable, e.g. you might prefer it grey).
For source files other than avi you can use different first line in the script, for example:

DirectShowSource("path\video.mpg")

It is also possible to join all sources in the same script before loading to TDA3.

[lordsmurf]

I do this in Premiere. In general, I also preface it with a warning that quality is lacking, but that this is the best material available. I make it look nice, sometimes even put more than black around the video. My last one had this great blue gradient border, and a title above and below the video.

I restored the clip as best as possible beforehand too, at full size, then it looked even better when smaller.

As usually, I had no need for in-TDA or AviSynth.

You may want to consider restoration of the clip. I will assume it's mostly blockiness and aliasing/deinterlacing issues causing the drop in quality. There are ways to minimize this, if you want to learn more. You'll have to PM me if you do, I don't reliably read posts anymore. I can give a few quick tips (details will cost you, or you can post here with what I tell you, and hope somebody else comes along).

[turbochargedRS]

thank you for the quick replies. Alex I don't have a clue about avisynth. Guns1inger, please tell me the name of the filter for resizing avi and possibly how to use it? thanks

[t0nee1]

The name of the filter is (drumroll please) "Resize", use LanczosResize(352x240) that Alex_ander provided in his sample script....

[guns1inger]

The name of the filter is (drumroll please) "Resize", use LanczosResize(352x240) that Alex_ander provided in his sample script....

And then add letterboxing borders to get the total resolution up to 720 x 480

[marioval]

Easier way to do it is to encode the video using DVDFlick which is free. Set the overscan to the maximum which I believe is 30%. 30% is more than you think trust me. Use the most current beta version of DVDFlick.

[Alex_ander]

Easier way to do it is to encode the video using DVDFlick which is free.

With already installed and working TDA3?
VDub has disadvantage of making intermediate files though, while pasting some text to .avs looks easier.

[jagabo]

VirtualDub Resize filter:

[marioval]

This looks easier to me

[jagabo]

Yeah, it was really hard to tick "Letterbox/crop to size:" and type in 720 and 480.

[marioval]

I didn't say it was hard, I said this was easier.........

Can't we all just get along

[guns1inger]

The advantage of using the virtualdub solution is you can avoid needlessly resizing the image, which can reduce image quality and enhance the appearance of artifacts.