vcd/svcd chapters, menu help

[grimdeliverance]

Hi,

can i create dvd style menus and chapters without getting the files from a dvd.
please help.

thanx

[vitualis]

Yes you can.

In terms of authoring the structure, you can do it with VCDEasy / VCDImager or write the XML yourself: http://www.michaeltam.com/chapters.html

In terms of the media files, well, you have to MAKE them yourself don't you? There are a number of good imaging/video programs including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, etc.

To encode video clips into VCD compliant MPEG, you can use an MPEG encoder like TMPGEnc.

To encode the high resolution still images, you can use VCDEasy / MJPEGTools.

Regards.

[grimdeliverance]

ok,

let me just explain myself better then.
I have used vcdeasy to create an mpeg file(svcd or vcd compliant).
I then load all the movie files and after create the mpeg stills and then burn it to cd to play on my dvd player.
When it appears on the dvd the mpeg stills are full screen and not small as in a dvd style layout.
Can I make the images smaller, have text, and be highlightable when I use the direction controls.
So in all I want to have a main menu with thumbnail images which are selectable and have numeric values.
Also when playing the movie be able to use the fast forward and rewind.
All this on a vcd or svcd that works in a standalone dvd player.

hope this is clearer.

thanx

[vitualis]

Can I make the images smaller, have text,

You will have to create the image that way then... I suggest something like Jasc's Paint Shop Pro.

and be highlightable when I use the direction controls.

Not possible. VCDs don't support overlay graphics like a DVD and also don't support the DVD cursor keys.

You can emulate selection control like this by creating multiple still images that differ only by a "highlighted choice". Then, use the PREV and NEXT keys to move between the still images. It will then "look" like the prev and next keys are moving a button/highlight/etc. You can further author the menus so that the "default" button (which is often mapped as the "play" button on DVD remotes) will select the default choice on the menu...

http://www.michaeltam.com

Also when playing the movie be able to use the fast forward and rewind.

This should be independent of any menus you create.

If you want to make entrypoint type chapters, you can use this: http://www.michaeltam.com/chapters.html (which is also how VCDEasy does it BTW).

If you want to author fairly complex menus, it may be easier to learn how to author the XML yourself rather than relying on a GUI like VCDEasy.

Regards.