Photoshop file as menus for DVD studio

G'day guys - great forum!
Can someone tell me - How compatible are photoshop files as menu pages for DVD Studio? In particular, will DVD studio make sense of the Adobe Encore naming conventions for buttons and so ensure that buttons, highlight layers, etc are treated correctly? Or do you need to fiddle?
Regards,
john

Photoshop files are fine, but Encore is a different app than Photoshop.
Quick Menus From Photoshop
One Version of Mapping Photoshop Files
another mapping example
In general best to avoid layers in Photoshop files to assign background or overlay (meaning background - one flattened pict or tif and overlay flattend pict or tif) and layered menus (as oppossed to standard menus)
Layered menus here Layered menus

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Ripping DVD Menus for DVD Studio Pro 4

I have a company DVD which I don't have the original assets for. They want me to use the same menu as a submenu for a compilation DVD that I'm putting together. I can't import any files from the Audio or Video TS files. Is there a program which will let me rip just the menu to use? I've already used Handbrake to rip the movie elements, but can't find a way to rip the menu elements for use in DVDSP. Any help would be great, I really don't want to recreate the entire menu.

Not really anyway to do this with full functionality intact (unless you can use something like DVDAfterEdit to basically reedit the original DVD to add the new stuff... but that is quite complex...)
However...
You can use MPEGStreamClip (free download) to rip the Menu VOBs to get the content back into a state that is usable by DVD-SP. If they are still menus then you can expeot a still version. If they are moving you can export the m2v and AC3 if they have sound. As all the menus are usually lumped into one place you may have to step through thm and use MPEGStreamClips editing facility to extract what you need... but it can be done. The only other problem then is the highlights - using a program like SubRip (PC only) you can rip the highlights from the menus but it can be a bit trial and error. Alternatively you could create new ones by using maybe a symbol or underline or some such and create them in Photoshop by using a frame grab of the ripped menus...
Thta's the way we've done it in the past when we've been faced with just such a problem (usually when we haven't created the original assets)
Hope that helps

Blu Ray:Eventual File Format Compatibility for DVD Studio Pro? Time Frame?

Hello There,
A couple of questions for those of you who might be in the loop regarding Blu Ray authoring development plans for DVDSP:
1. A time frame?
2. When Blu Ray authoring is possible with DVDSP, does anyone know what video file formats DVDSP will accept? Will it be MPEG HD? Will it be H.264? Or will it be both? Might it be neither?
I'm trying to make some hardware decisions for encoding, so if anyone has the inside skinny on answers to these questions, fantastic.
Thanks,
sb

Stuart Baker2 wrote:
Thanks for your response.
TOU?
Term of Use of the Boards
When I said I'm evaluating equipment, I wasn't referring to a workstation, but a real time encoding card that I'm purchasing for additional reasons. If I knew which Blu-ray codec(s) Apple would commit to for DVDSP, (H.264 and/or HD MPEG-2), is would help to ease my decision.
You should probably look more towards whether (a) the card will be Mac compatible in general (if you are looking for one for the Mac and (b) whether the card supports all the formats which are supported by blu-ray. The reason being, though one would assume that any software to make blu-ray discs would support all proper encodes, it may not be the case. Doubtful, but you never know.
Adobe Encore and Avid have been supporting Blu-ray since last fall. It makes me think that Apple really isn't "in it to win it" insofar as professional DVD Authoring is concerned, which is too bad because I've made an initial commitment to DVDSP for a rather labor intensive workflow.
No comment But the issue has been discussed before. Apple will do what Apple thinks is proper. If they do blu-ray (again not thoughts as to where they are now) I am sure it will be done right. blu-ray and HD are new still and you can see players are not even 100%. The Blue Planet, an HD DVD, had issues on players. And blu-ray has some of the same issues. In other words if people with alot of resource$ are having an issue because the area is still a bit of the wild west...

M2v & ac3 files to big for DVD Studio Pro

Hi everyone,
Need help with large files.
1. Have full length 90 minute soccer game of my son filmed with HDV Camera.
2. Imported into final cut pro 6.
3. Edited and exported high res mov file which is came out at 20.45GB.
4. Open in compressor and used DVD settings Best quality 90 minutes
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How can I make a DVD of this game?
Thanks
Message was edited by: Bryan Rawiri

Use the 120 minute preset

What's the best way to master an MPEG 2 file for DVD Studio Pro.

In version 4.5 of FCP I was able to use QuickTime conversion to encode to MPEG2. Now that option is not there. I hate using compressor 2 to create MPEG 2 because when I do the MPEG 2 files always seem to studder and I don't know why. I shot my project in HDV. It is about 64 minutes long. Any suggestions on the BEST way to master an MPEG 2 file for DVD Studio pro? Thanks in advance!
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PS - I'm using FCP 5

Some people have reported a field reversal problem with HDV to SD DVD encodes. There's an Apple technical document on this issue somewhere, but the problem was supposed to be addressed by a Pro Applications update a couple of years ago... This site might help you get to the bottom of the problem.
http://www3.telus.net/bonsai/Step-by-Step.html

Emergency questions exporting for dvd studio pro (ntsc and pal)

Hi,
I'm under a tight timeline and would appreciate any help possible. I'm experimenting with outputs/burning today so the real thing can happen tomorrow.
I have an hour long project that was shot on two different kinds of cams -- a sony hdv V1U and pan dvx100b. The first shot mostly in 16:9, the second squeeze 24p. We imported all footage as non-hd though, because the V1u has had problems syncing properly with hd settings with final cut. The issue/question now is this-
I don't know what file format (I'm assuming mpeg-4 for DVD studio pro, but using compressor or no?) or settings to use -- I'm used to mpeg-4, but for some reason it is coming out all grainy/pixelated and I'm not sure if I need to adjust the settings. Also, once exported into a usable/high quality format, I need to burn a ntsc dvd but also a pal dvd -- I've burned pal dvds on dvd studio pro before and know adjusting the settings is just in preferences, but I'm assuming the video will need to be converted into a different kind of file. Or no?
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I would appreciate any advice you could offer,
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Thank you, I'm trying that -- someone else just mentioned it needing to be an mpeg 2 file as well. The trouble I'm having now in compressor is it isn't converting when I press submit -- nothing is showing up in the batch monitor. I've tried this directly exporting from fcp using compressor, as well exporting quicktime from fcp and then using the quicktime file in compressor.
I'm not used to using compressor so I'm thinking I am not doing something properly in this process? Thank you for the suggestions, they are reassuring. Do you know if the same file produced by compressor can be used for the pal dvd?

Exporting FCP movie for DVD Studio Pro

I am finished with my movie. I am confused now on the exporting to DVD studio pro. How do I do this? My viewer also would like it to be in widescreen because they had just bought a HDTV widescreen.
So how do I go about this. I have made many with iDVD but this will be my first with Studio Pro.
How do I export for DVD studio Pro?
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2GB - 100GB Hard Drive

The most important thing you can do to help us answer your question is to give us the specs on your project. Open Final Cut Pro and click into your sequence. Then go to the menu "sequence" and go to "settings" or simply hit a command-0 (the number not the letter). Then tell us the frame size and the compressor used. From that information, we can get a better idea on how to help you: it is best to start any post with this information.
To export the best quality, go to file -> export -> QuickTime Movie...
From there, export using current settings, include audio and video, and make sure the bottom two boxes are checked (recompress all frames and make self-contained)
Once that file is created, import into DVD SP and you're done. Don't worry about compressor or other formats right now. This will give you the best picture with the minimum amount of headaches. Let us know how it turns out.

How do I prevent errors importing foreign characters into subtitles for DVD studio pro?

How do I prevent errors importing foreign characters into subtitles for DVD studio pro?
I have figured out just about everything necessary for creating subtitle tracks in several foreign languages, but the only problem is that some individual characters in some languages (like the "open quotation mark" symbol in Lithuanian!) do not import properly into the subtitle track. I can type or paste the symbols in manually, but this means doing it hundreds of times in several different languages, and defeats the purpose of using the system I've created.
Does anyone know how to import some of these odd characters.
I import characters using a text file saved in Unicode-16, and I set the language of the track to the proper language (for instance, Lithuanian).
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Thank you!!

i think i might have figured out a solution. it's a quirk in the program. i noticed that sometimes the quotation marks DO actually import, but only if they are in the middle of a sentence. they only FAIL to import at the beginning of a sentence. so, what i did was to paste a space before the beginning of every sentence with a weird low-down quotation mark, and it imported fine.
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What format to export fcdp project recorded on sony z1 for dvd studio pro

what format do I export a Final Cut Studio project recorded on sony z1 HDV for dvd studio pro. I am getting lines on the edges if I export current settings.

finalcut.ie wrote:
he says sd is this right when i want a hd dvd?
HD-DVD is a dead format. It may play on your mac - or an HD-DVD set top player, if you happen to have one - but nowhere else. If you just want playback on your mac, compress to h.264 with your current frame size. If you want a DVD it will have to be SD and Mpeg-2 as Shawn already explained.
mish

Custom menus for DVD's

I have been on the hunt for an app that would create custom menus for DVD's, I have toast but, the menus are rather tacky IMHO, I was hoping that maybe somebody here may have a good recommendation.
Thanks again

Most of what I make is under 90 minutes and,I work mostly with stills for now.
I like Toast a lot and really wished they had more professional looking menus.
They have released Toast 9 that has more menus but they still seem rather tacky, not to mention I bought 8 just a few months ago and, it rather miffs me to pay $50. for an up-grade, I just don't think that Roxio should charge that that much.
Now I have gave some thought on getting an external CD burner so I can do light scribing.

Using recompressed files with same name -- DVD Studio keeps crashing!

Hi,
I completed a project for a client, but they now want music added to certain parts of it. Because there are so many menus, buttons, etc., I decided to add the music in FCP, recompress the files using the same name as the original file used in DVD Studio, and hoped that everything would then relink.
It does relink (it gives me the message that assets may have changed timing, etc) but any time I try to do something (like Simulate it), it crashes.
What am I doing wrong? Is there a better or easier way to solve this problem? Would greatly appreciate anyone's help.
Thanks!

In theory it SHOULD work, FCP seems to do a good job updating say if you are using a Photoshop file and you change it. The timeline in FCP shows the change and I never seem to get any problems there. With DVDSP, however, it's a whole different story. As the previous poster said, change the name and that should work. It sounds like your project might be beyond fixing that way however.
Here's a little more on the subject of replacing assetts and what I learned: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9788507#9788507

Good reference source for DVD Studio P 4

I just purchased DVD Studio Pro 4. I'm looking for an author that will walk me through the process of DVD SP4 similar to Scott Kelby's style with Photoshop. Any suggestions?

I just wanted to chime in on GPRM partitioning. If you already understand GPRMs in general, then you pretty much understand partitioning already as well. There are a few gotcha's, but in the most general sense, it's dividing registers which are 16 bits in length, into smaller registers, which are then 8 bits in length, or 4 bits in length, and so on.
This is not good for everything you do, but it is good for basic things. Creating a counting script, and flagging menus, or tracks, all are good places to split register values to gain greater flexability and maintain free registers.
As Hal said though, sometimes it's a good idea to not "just" master DVD Studio Pro, but to instead think more like an author and learn to use the scripting as a spec author would. You'll find that this kind of authoring is transportable into other systems and will help you as you move from authoring platform to platform.
Bitshifting for example, is quite common in spec authoring. Sharing register values and looking at parts of the register for answers through bitwise functions for example, has been a standard authoring practise long before DVDSP. Understanding the bit structure of existing SPRMs and how to maximize the use of GPRMs through Bitwise is essential.
If you ever come to edit DVDs after the fact, it's essential to understand that level of scripting, as you will see it all over the abstraction layer.
The problems with Books is, it takes almost a year to go from idea, to book, and they don't often sell well enough, or appeal to the masses enough to cover such specialized topics such as GPRM partitioning. But user groups, forums, and free tutorials are often able to pick up that slack left by published books.
While I have not seen anyone pickup the topic of GPRM partitioning in a free tutorial, I am sure someone will in due time.
Check out Ken Stone's FCP site for a ton of free tutorials. I think he easily has the widest selection, and all will cost you nothing.
As for forums, I think this forum has become the premiere forum for DVDSP customers. The most willing to help minds are all here at some point or another, and you can often get a good answer to your question.
If you want to learn scripting, there are plenty of tutorials out there now. Start small, and you will grow. Once you get it, it's a great toolset to have on your side.
-Alex

How should I handle a file too large for DVD?

I've created a 2-1/2 video of a play in FCE HD, utilizing two video tracks and three audio tracks in various spots, as well as some text transitions. With the title screens and scene index in iDVD, the movie comes in at about 8.5GB unless I switch to "Best Quality," in which case it's still 4.9GB (and doesn't look nearly as good as it should). So:
1. Is there way to end up with a more managable file size from FCE without losing quality?
2. If not, what's the best way to export a single FCE file to two movies (Acts I and II) to burn onto two DVDs?
Thanks

1) One way you could export content longer than 2 hours to DVD would be to go the dual layer route .. but you need a dual layer burner, and dual layer media. iDVD6 will handle this
If you are limited to single layer, another option would be Compressor but that is not available with FCE, only DVD Studio Pro, part of the FCP Studio suite
You could go the route of Toast 7 with Popcorn, but you would not get the fancy iDVD menus, themes, etc.
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Open the Part One Sequence (the new one) From the Browser, drag your original Sequence (My Movie, whatever you called it) into Part One. Only the In to Out will go. You may want to put a Cross Dissolve at the end to fade to black. Maybe create a Part One Ends title there. Render everything. Set your chapter Markers. Export it and create an iDVD project from that movie
Do the similar for Part Two

Help: Export format from FCP for DVD Studio

What settings do I export my 3 minute film so I can use DVD Studio Pro? (What size do I want if I want my film to be wide screen just like a professional DVD movie you buy at your nearest store?)
Thank You!

In FCP, go to File->Export->QuickTime Movie. You can choose to make the file self-contained or not. Do NOT recompress all frames. The resulting file will be an exact copy of your Sequence in FCP.
Use that file in Compressor. Choose the appropriate preset for DVD. Compressor will create an MPEG-2 (.m2v) video file and an AC3 audio file. Use those two files in DVD-SP for authoring.
-DH

Compressing ProRes 2K for DVD Studio and getting rough edges?

I'm trying to get the best quality DVD burned possible working with a ProRes 2K project, original footage was 4K RED, and I'm getting rough, pixeled edges when I view the DVD. OK--Here's the workflow:
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When I do this with my XDCAM 1080p footage, it looks fantastic. When I do it with this project's footage, it looks like garbage. Pixels, edges are rough, just looks like low resolution. I've tried all different options of bit rate, no 2.35 padding, etc. Everything looks low res on the DVD.
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Please help!
thanks
Jason

Have you tried switching on Frame Controls? Experiment with some of the Frame Controls settings on a short section of the movie, particularly the Resize filter and Anti-alias / Details Level.

Photoshop file as menus for DVD studio

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