Using a vector graphic for a button

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Encore CS5, everything is patched, Windows 7 64-bit
I have been reading various posts, and either not seeing or not understanding something about using a vector graphic as a button on a menu.
I drew a one-color shape in Illustrator, saved it as EPS and PNG and used it in a menu designed in Photoshop. When I preview it in Encore or burn a DVD, the graphic looks awful. And I'd like to use highlighting with it so it changes color when selected but that is another problem....
To start the menu, I used the Photoshop preset NTSC DV Widescreen which has a pixel aspect ratio of 1.21. Then I added background graphics and so on. Each button is contained in a layer group named (+)PlayAll, etc. In each layer group is a text layer that doesn't have a prefix (e.g., Play All) and another layer with the vector or PNG named (=1)kv, which is the name of the EPS or PNG file.
The behavior is fine. The graphic moves to indicate which menu item is selected, the text is constant, never changes.
In Photoshop, the graphic looks fine but when I preview it in Encore it looks crappy and pixelated. What do I do?

Part of the problem is I have no idea what some of these terms mean ... "2-bit indexed", ... The first one might mean an object that has one color,
It is not the same as one color, and yes, it probably means more than any of us intend.  See  Encore help regarding button subpictures, in particular the part regarding using Photoshop to create button subpictures.
The latter includes "(Technically, the subpicture overlay is a two‑bit indexed image.)," but you don't need to understand the technical meaning (they don't explain it anyway).  You do need to understand the liimitations they explain there,  For example, under "solid colors only," they say "Elements on these layers must use solid colors and sharp edges. Use one solid color per layer. Do not use gradients, feathering, or anti-aliasing on the subpicture layers. Color gradations are not possible in subpictures."
"sub-picture highlight" ... the second one is probably made up.
Heh, heh.  Searching that in Encore help (which I often find lacking) finds the page on Button Subpictures.  I agree that some of the terms, whether they are from the DVD specs or Sonic's applications (on which Encore is based), can make it difficult to look things up.
"vector layer".... I searched Photoshop help for "vector layer" and got nothing. There is such a thing as a vector mask on a layer but I have no clue what a vector layer is.
You're correct - vector mask.  Within a button group, the vector mask will be part of a layer, so I think of it as the button group "vector mask" layer.  That's part of why I pointed to using a library menu and editing in photoshop so you could compare what you have to what a template looks like.
Please suggest which Encore library menu I can try. I opened a couple and couldn't figure out how they worked.
In the General set, pick the Sunset menu.  Edit in Photoshop.  Expand the "(+) play movie" layer.  The "button vector mask" (the dark area) is in the layer called "button."  Notice that it does not have a (=1) or other indicator that it is a highlight.  In other words, it will just sit there, in whatever color is defined, and will not be a highlight.  If you put it in a layer that has one of the highlight indicators (the =1, =2 etc), it will then be subject to the subpicture highlight limitations.
You might try your graphic in such a non-subpicture layer, and compare its appearance to putting it in a subpicture layer.
Jeff Bellune's book (he's a moderator here) is still very applicable.  While some things have change, the basics haven't.
But, hey, Jeff.  Why haven't you updated your book yet?  Inquiring minds want to know!

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