Unwanted windowboxing with widescreen iDVD projects

Short description of problem: Movies played back on my 15" PowerBook G4 are identically windowboxed, regardless of whether they are burned using standard or widescreen settings in iDVD.
Detailed description: I've been burning classic movies captured on TiVo to DVD by running the TiVo output through a camcorder (for analog-digital conversion), and then into iMovie 6.0.3 on a 12" PowerBook G4. There, I'll put in some chapters, make a Quicktime clip or two for the DVD menu, and make sure any commercials are edited out. I'll export this into iDVD 6.0.3, set up the main menu, and make sure everything looks O.K. Then I'll burn it onto DVD. Works great.
My problem is with letterboxed movies. I realized I had erred in not saving these in widescreen format when I saw that their playbacks were windowboxed on my 15" PowerBook... meaning I had 3/4" black bands on each side and 1.25" black bands on the top and bottom. So, I repeated the process for the affected movies, only this time I did a "get info" in iDVD and made sure the 16:9 widescreen radio button was selected instead of the 4:3 standard.
When I play back one of these new, widescreen-created DVDs, though, I get the exact same window boxing as before. Can anybody suggest what I'm doing wrong?
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Len -
Thank you for the settings advice. I should have thought of that.
As to the MiniDV tape question:
I'm not actually using a tape when I do this... the camcorder acts strictly as a passthrough analog-to-digital converter. In fact, this function won't quite work if I have a tape in the camcorder, which seems to be an oddity with the particular Sony camcorder I'm using.
But your question raises some interesting points. The pass-through movie does NOT fill the width of the LCD display, even though (1) the TiVo Video setting is at 16:9 and (2) the Sony DCR-HC42 "TV Type" setting is also set to 16:9. This could be the source of the problem, I suppose, although this opens up a whole kettle of non-Apple fish.
One thing that's odd, though: if I export a short, letterboxed QT clip from iMovie to use for the DVD's main menu, it shows up without any pillaring (and with no obvious distortion) on the resulting DVD main menu. It's only when I'm into the movie itself on the DVD that the pillaring occurs. That, to me, suggests that the problem is confined to content that goes directly from iMovie to iDVD, and maybe I should be considering a full-blown QT export per F Shippey's suggestion.

Similar Messages

Can iDVD 09 open and work with an iDVD project i made in 06?

I am bringing over my iMovie 06 and iDVD projects over to new mac with iDVD 09. I took out iMovie 09 and resinstalled 06HD. The iMovie 06 files now open ok, but not the iDVD 06 projects, when I try to open them with iDVD 09. Should I remove iDVD 09 and install iDVD 06.
I heard that iMovie 06 files will import ok into iDVD 09, but now assuming that the iDVD 06 projects themselves will not open in the newer program.

i uninstalled iDVD 09 and installed iDVD 06 to see if I could open the G4's old iDVD projects.
Error message says iDVD 06 will not work with this OS. What gives? Apparently iMovie HD06 will work, as far as I can tell, with just a few tests.
What CAN I DO HERE to bring over my iDVD 06 projects so I can work them on Snow Leopard?
Luckily the dvd projects are not many and not complex. But there are so many issues with all of this. I might as well have a computer that knows only Chinese characters. I got the new mac so my video work wouldnt clog up on the old G4. But this is beyond clog. This is cement, stuck at the starting gate.

Why can't I use the iLife music with my iDVD project?

I thought I had been able to use some of the standard music that comes with iLife in my iDVD project, but now I can't figure out how to do that. Did an update make this not possible, or am I just going about it wrong? (For example, I'd like to use the "Lazy Day" sound clip as a background sound for one of the menus.)

My error.:( The sample music folder was in iPhoto. If you look inside the iPhoto and iMovie applications in the Resource folder you'll find a Music folder (iPhoto) and a iMovie Sound Effects folder that contain the various sample audio tracks. You can COPY them to a folder on the desktop and import into iTunes, put them in an playlist and access them that way. I'm sure Garageband will have a number of loops or sample tracks that you can copy also.
If you're looking for some audio to use try http://www.freeplaymusic.com/. They have tons of free audio tracks, jazz, country, alternative, blues, business & finance, children's, hard rock, instrumental, etc. They come in 30 sec., 60 sec. and full length for each song.

Working with multiple idvd projects?

Can I have more than one idvd project open at the same time?
I have been making a mixture of movies/slideshows in imovie. Usually they save fine when I share etc... but sometimes they stall on playback but the audio keeps running.
Anyway I have discovered that I can send the imovie file to idvd quite easily, but when I try to repeat this step with a different imovie a new idvd project opens an I am prompted to save the old one (that I sent the previous imovie to). So how do I send the imovie files to the SAME idvd project instead of a new one each time?
Hope I am making sense here.
I would like to be able to open more than one idvd project and work on each of them simultaneously, and copy / paste movies/ slideshows into each (like you can do in imovie).
Is there a way I can do this?
Thanks
W

Hi w
I don't use the "Share/Export to iDVD" function within iMovie at all. (more down)
A. When edited. Close iMovie
B. Localize Your movie project icon (with a Star on it)
C. Start iDVD. Now import or just drop the movie project icon into iDVD.
More movie projects - cont to import those (or drop them here too)
Why I don't use the built in function. iMovie renders and does ba bad job if You included photos into
Your movie and not using Ken-Burns effect (I don't)
• The DVD will be severely pixelated - BUT WORSE -
• Your original movie project in iMovie WILL BE HARMED. You'll have to re-import Your photos
and re-edit them into Your movie.
Yours Bengt W

Widescreen iDVD problems

How can I get my 16x9 video to end up at teh right aspect ration in a widescreen iDVD project. It always comes out squished to 3x4 even with teh project set to 16x9.
I used to us Animorphitizer, but it no longer works with Quicktime X.
Any great solutions out there?

With the QT files I made straight from FCPx it says, 195.8mb 720 x 576. Then I used 'prism' and converted all the chapters and now they say 11.3mb 1024 x 576. I put them back into iDVD and it solved the widescreen problem. When I view the converted files in iDVD now they are widescreen and work. HOWEVER, I seem to have a new problem! Now there are 2 things that happen.
1. Everything is widescreen but when I click on the chapters to view the video's, it automatically stops being full screen and goes down to a smaller screen and then you need to click 'full screen' for it to go back, this only happens on a few of them.
2. Some parts of the DVD don't work, the footage goes all funny like ghosts and it jumps around and doesn't play nicely, then all of a sudden it works for a bit, then back to not working.
I tried using 2 different themes and the same thing happened. Any thoughts?

How do I move an iDVD project to external

I recently upgraded to iDVD '08 and see that now, one of the output selections is iDVD, meaning it goes straight to that. When this is selected, it automatically begins creating the file as opposed to asking where you'd like to store it. It ended up in my documents on my HD. I figured no worry, I'd just move it over to my ext HD since it was over 2GB. But when I did this and tried to open it, it said 2 files were missing. So, couple of questions. First, I remember with the last that you just output a file that you then, yourself, dragged into iDVD. This seemed very easy. But with this way, it seems to automate it. How can I output so that is does it the old way, where it generates a file that I can place in iDVD myself, and that I can store on an external. Second, if that's not possible, what files do I need to locate to move to the ext, where do they hide, and where should I store them?
Why do they make what was perfectly easy, hard?

If I understand you correctly, you are actually asking two different questions.
1. Do you mean that with iMovie 08, when you select to 'share' your movie to iDVD that iDVD opens a new project automatically?
You do not have to use the output options in iMovie. Just close your iMovie and open iDVD yourself, choose to create a new project, select a theme, then go to the Media tab, then 'Movies,' locate your iMovie and drag it onto iDVD's main screen. Be careful not to drop it into a menu Drop Zone.
2. You also would like to have your iDVD project saved to a different location than the default 'Documents' file. When you open iDVD and create a new project, you will see a dropdown box showing Documents as the save location. You can change that right from that drop box.
However, it is recommended that you save your project on your computer's drive, not an external drive. The iDVD application itself must run from your computer. Some users have successfully created and burned projects located on other drives, but many have run into problems.
You can certainly save your completed iDVD projects to an external drive by doing a 'save as disk image' from within the iDVD project. This will look like the burn process, and take just as long for the encoding, but the end result is a disk image file, not a burned DVD disk. The disk image file is a self-contained file that is an exact replica of your iDVD project. It can be moved without losing the ability to burn DVD disks from it in the future.
Remember that an iDVD project itself should be thought of as a container that has references to media files used in it, but it does not actually CONTAIN the media files. When a DVD is burned from an iDVD project, iDVD locates the needed media and copies it for the burn, doing this for each disk burned. Sometimes there are burn 'glitches' where the first DVD disk burns fine, but others may not. Also with an iDVD project, if you rename, move, change or delete any of the files used in the project, iDVD will be unable to locate them and will not be able to open properly. With a saved disk image file, you can safely delete the original iDVD project and the original iMovie, thus saving drive space.
Burning DVD disks form a disk image file using Disk Utility or Toast is a better way to burn DVD disks since the files are all encoded in the disk image file and do not have to be copied in each time.
Please post back if any of this is not clear, or does not answer what you need to know.

Transferring iDVD project from one computer to another?

I have a MacBook that has a combo drive (it can burn CDs but not DVDs). I have Quicktime Pro and I used it to download a video from the internet. I edited it using Quicktime Pro and I was going to burn it on a DVD but I just realized that my MacBook doesn't burn DVDs. I have a friend who has an iMac that has a super drive (it can burn CDs and DVDs). Instead of spending money to buy an external DVD burner, can I email my project to him and then burn it on his computer? If not, can I store my project on a flash drive, then put it on his computer, and then burn it? If I could do one of these options that would be great because I don't want to buy an external DVD burner if I don't have to. Thanks.

Just to add to the excellent advice already posted. If you are done with your iDvd project and no additional changes are to take place then use the first link provided above. However, if you plan on making even the slightest change/s then follow directions for the second link which was kindly provided for you above.

IDVD project

I used IDVD for my photos and videos, but when I burn them in them the video and audio does not synchronize

Yes. The iDVD project file only references the media files used in it. If you want to keep all of the files together with the iDVD project use the File ➙ Archive Project menu option. That will copy all of the media files used in the project into the project package.
Then you can delete the original versions of the media files from the hard drive.
If saving disk space is your intent you won't be saving space with that method.
OT

Widescreen to big for widescreen?? idvd project

When I make an idvd project with my 36 min movie--widescreen--the picture on the tv is completely cut off on both the right and left sides...I tried it on another computer and it works fine--There must be something wrong with my settings? what do I do to fix this problem?? help please!

yes, I played with tv settings, doesn't work--there's definitely something wrong. It plays fine on the computer, but it's not fixable on the tv-- but I know it's not the quicktime file because i did the project on another computer and it works on the tv--but I need to figure out whats up with my computer/idvd settings

I had completed my iDVD project and burned a disc. It worked great! Then someone messed with the project and put a red frame around the opening screen. Now when I burn the project, it no longer has the opening frame. How can I fix?

I had completed my iDVD project, a Wedding Slideshow with pictures and music, and burned it on a disc. It worked great! Then someone messed with the original project on my computer and clicked around and put a red frame around the opening screen that has the Wedding theme with music. Now when I burn the project to make more DVDs, it burns but no longer has the opening frame. It immediately opens to the iMovie slideshow. How can I fix so I can burn the entire project with opening frames?

As Bengt suggested make a disk image of the successfully burned DVD using Disk Utility. Then you can burn copies any time you need one.
In the future once you have the project as you want it save it as a disk image via the File ➙ Save as Disk Image menu option. This will separate the encoding process from the burn process.
To check the encoding mount the disk image and launch DVD Player and play it. If it plays OK with DVD Player the encoding was good.
You can then burn it to disk with Disk Utility at the slowest speed available to assure the best burn quality. Always use top quality media: Verbatium, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R are the most recommended in these forums.
OT

How to fill the whole screen of my iMac with the photos included in an iDVD project. (iDVD v. 7.1.2)

How to fill the whole screen of my iMac with the photos I included in an iDVD project. (iDVD v. 7.1.2). I mean, during playing the burned dvd.
When I do "Enter Full Screen", the slide show fills the screen but the photo itself remains in the middle with a wide black border filling the rest.
Any cure for this ?

Hi
In iDVD Preferences - Turn off - TV-Safe area - and the Photos will fill the full area with just letterboxing or pillars as max.
Then "Save as a DiskImage" and test this and see if this plays better - before burning DVDs that's not as You want them.
Bengt W

Large iDVD Project (help with iMovie formats, time totals, quality)

Hi,
I am in the process of finishing up a large DVD project. I went on a six month backpacking trip, and have lots of photos/small clips to make a DVD from. I will have a main menu in iDVD with submenus for each country (Mexico, Cook Islands, NZ, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, India)
On each submenu will be around 4-5 movies of around 2-5 minutes each.
I created movies using iMovie (imported sound-less iPhoto slideshows 640x480 expored as MOV file) and added captions, music etc in iMovie. Each 'movie' is about 1-5 minutes long.
First question:
What is the best format to export these movies in? I will be adding them to iDVD. But when I export them, they are around 100-700Mb each depending on time of the movie. I used the expert settings (to Quicktime Mov) using the following settings:
Video:
Compression: Mpeg-4 Video
Quality: Best
Frame Rate: 60
key frame rate: 24
Dimensions: 720x526 4:3
audio:
format: AAC
Sample rate: 48.000Khz
Bit Rate 128
Stereo
In my iDVD project - the menu loops are maximum 30 seconds each, with the audio cut to the same length (ie. not trimmed in the menu - the actual mp3 added is 30seconds etc)
Now, big question is:
Do I have a total of 2 hours for everything? All menus,and all movies ? Is there ANY way of calculating this in iDVD or do I have to do it manually (estimate) ???
I notice with iDVD 8.0 it has a indicator of the space available etc. I have iDVD 6.0 so that doesn't help me now I guess?
What I need to ask is that - maybe using expert settings to mov files is unnecessary? What would you recommend as the export settings?
I have been working on the iMovie projects for months and can re-export them all in different format if need be, and can simply re-add the movies to iDVD. I have set up the shell of the DVD in iDVD but not added the movies yet (I have the placeholders there for them).
Anyway - hopefully I haven't blabbed on too much that someone out there can offer some advice?
Cheers and THANK YOU!
Alessandro

Best Performance: For projects up to one hour
Best Quality: For projects up to two hours
If your project is longer than one hour, you have to use Best Quality. Generally, the quality will be fine but the closer your get to that two hour limit, the more possibility you have of seeing some quality hits.
I deal with lots of long projects and generally if a project is longer than 90 minutes (specially since my projects have lots of fast motion, low light, etc) I split them up over two DVDs, keeping each under the one hour limit. That does give you your best quality option

Formatted iDVD project complete with Themes, etc...burning through Toast?

I need to use Toast to burn my completed iDVD project. Worked a looong time making it perfect with formatting using Themes, custom Text pages, etc... I'd hate to lose all that, but need to use Toast to compress the video to fit a Single Layer DVD. Does Toast preserve the iDVD formatting or not? Can iDVD finalize a project with Toast burning in mind? Help?

If I'm not mistaken, you can create a disc image to the desktop from the file menu in iDvd. Then burn said image in Toast while selecting the fit to dvd option.
But you may be restricted to selecting one of Toast's basic themes.
click here
step 1
step 2
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

Idvd project with video and slideshow for dvd-rom file access

working on an idvd project with both a video section and photos in a few photo galleries. its' a slightly more complex project, but still only 2gb on a 4gb disc. After we burn (with all dvd-rom contents checked, and advance>edit dvd-rom contents shows photo files all there) the finished disc doesn't have files available in the dvd-romcontents! its' driving us mad as simpler projects are burning properly, with both photo and video files available. Could there be some kind of conflict occurring? does anyone have any ideas?!
17" Desktop G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Steve,
It sounds like Windows Movie Maker Live was used. The regular WMM will Export to DV-AVI Type I, which will Import into PrPro much better.
I would recommend converting the WMA/WMV to DV-AVI, and Importing that into a DV NTSC (if you are in NTSC-land) Project.
Then, you would use Encore to do the DVD authoring. There are several ways to get the material on your Sequence into Encore. ADL (Adobe Dynamic Link) is probably the easiest way to do this.
What is your exact workflow from PrPro, into Encore?
What brand of blank media are you burning the DVD to?
This ARTICLE will give you some tips.
Good luck, and let us know a bit more,
Hunt
PS - Multiplexing is the function of combining the Audio and the Video into one file. There are usually two choices, "None" and then often "DVD." For None, you will get two separate files - one for the Audio and one for the Video. With "DVD" you should get a muxed (combined) file. Actually, the separate Audio and Video is the preferred way, if one is doing an Export from PrPro, and then an Import to Encore. One would Import the Video into Encore as a Timeline, and the Audio as an Asset. In Encore, just drag the Audio file from the Project Panel to the appropriate Timeline, where it will snap into place.

Why does the file size change when put into an iDVD project? And problems with dual layer discs...

I exported a short video of mine from Final Cut Express and the size of the file came out to 7.3 GB. When I put it into an iDVD project, it says that the file is only 800 MB. I tried just burning it onto a dual layer disc anyway to see if it might still burn at the original file size, but the disc came out unusable for some reason, and obviously hadn't been burned anywhere near full-capacity. So, I tried it again, and the exact same thing happened.
I guess my first question is: why is iDVD changing the size of the file? I want the quality to be the best it can be, so keeping it at 7.3 GB as opposed to 800 MB is rather important.
Secondly, why did the dual layer discs come out unusable? I've burned single layer discs before and they haven't been an issue. Also, I know for a fact that the drive can burn dual layer discs, so that isn't the issue.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide me with help on this issue.

LivelyJamesS wrote:
I exported a short video of mine from Final Cut Express and the size of the file came out to 7.3 GB. When I put it into an iDVD project, it says that the file is only 800 MB.
Guessing here but it looks like you edited/exported an SD/DV sequence of about 30 min in FCE. DVD needs to be MPEG-2 so iDVD compresses the original file down to the size that you report.
LivelyJamesS wrote:
I guess my first question is: why is iDVD changing the size of the file? I want the quality to be the best it can be, so keeping it at 7.3 GB as opposed to 800 MB is rather important.
The quality will be what the MPEG-2 compression and the software allow for. MPEG-2 is DVD standard .... there's no way around that.
LivelyJamesS wrote:
Secondly, why did the dual layer discs come out unusable? I've burned single layer discs before and they haven't been an issue. Also, I know for a fact that the drive can burn dual layer discs, so that isn't the issue.
Guessing again but it would seem that you burned a Data DVD instead of a Video DVD which would be unusable by a set-top player. As I said above you can't get around DVD standards.
If by any chance your video was HD originally you can try to go the Blu-Ray route using Roxio Toast or FCS 3 (discontinued) or FCP X. You will also need a Blu-Ray burner.

Unwanted windowboxing with widescreen iDVD projects

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for