Using layered menus or not?

Using layered menus with PSD assets is a good and quick thing to have your buttons appear exactly as you want it.
Is there any pitfalls in using layered menus, compared to standard menus, with overlay files?
(one thing is that you will have to be careful naming your layers or get mad clicking around trying to assign the right layer to the right button. :-))

Niklas:
Something I forgot to mention is that DVDSP create hidden menus for each button state, then, when you change from one button to another, you are going infact to one menu to another, and the user will find a "delay" in the navigation.
From DVDSP User Manual (page 207):
Because layered menus use separate layers for each button state, DVD Studio Pro performs some behind-the-scenes processing, creating separate hidden menus for each possible state of the menu. In the above example with 12 buttons, 25 versions of the menu would need to be created (one with all buttons in their normal state, and one for each button in its selected and activated states). These menus are not visible as separate elements within your project, but are displayed when you use the arrow buttons on the DVD player’s remote control to navigate to a button and activate it.
Due to the number of menus that are created using the layered method, some DVD players may have a slight delay in displaying the menus as viewers navigate around the buttons, which may confuse impatient viewers.

Similar Messages

Layered Menus Compatibility?

I've been told in the past not to use layered menus because of compatibility problems with some DVD players/set-top boxes. A layered menu will basically crash the player.
I'm wondering what risk are we taking releasing an educational product to the general public with layered menus. Are we talking a small percentage of player problems, or is this more widespread?
Any insight would be appreciated.
Dual G4 867 - PB 1Ghz - 10GB iPod Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I'm not sure that they actually crash players - also it depends what you mean by using layered menus. People often use these types of mmenu so that when you activate a button something changes. Basically what this entails is anothert version of the menu being loaded hence their inherent slowness.
That's why most people (and Hollywood DVDs) use the simple overlay method as it doesn't swap out the menu every time you change buttons.
Hope this makes sense
Steve Kirkham

Simulating Layered Menus Using a Series of Linked Overlay Menus

This is an extension of a previous thread that I thought might best be restarted as the focus has changed slightly.
I want to be sure I am presenting the client with an accurate set of limitations. I know I can avoid SOME of the limitations of layered menus (specifically the need to double-click on some systems) by using a series of linked overlay menus connected via auto-action buttons.
But, am I correct to say that since I will be loading a new menu with every button, that video and audio are still not really options? In other words, I am using overlay menus now so, yes, I can technically use audio and video backgrounds, but they will both retrigger with each rolloever, right? This of course makes them useless for all intents and purposes, so assuming I am correct, I would still operate along the lines that video/audio are simply not viable.
I still think using a motion video background and basic overlay menu is the way to go and the more I have been looking at commercial DVDs the more I realize this is exactly how visual interest is typically achieved within the restrictive context of overlay menus. People do not generally look to the behavior of their buttons for the visual interest but rather to the motion background.
Thanks for the continued help.

Yes, I don't think jumping to loop point will quite get me where I want to be.
As far as upgrading, I don't currently own any part of the Studio suite. DVDSP3 doesn't qualify as a upgrade path, unfortunately. But, there are some resellers who offer FCP 5 at a reasonable price. Then I can upgrade from there to Studio for $99. With a little shopping, I think I can get there for maybe even a bit less than half the retail price of $1299.
Something to consider. Thanks.

After use and not even long use dropdown menus are blank, Firefox won't close.

For a couple of weeks after a short time of use dropdown menus are blank almost as if they have been lifted off the screen but I can see an imprint of where they should be.. Sometimes running the cursor over them seems to make them appear but not often.
When this happens I cannot close Firefox.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== a couple of weeks ago

From your description, it seems that an add-on may me causing your issue. Follow the steps at [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]] to test whether your extensions are causing this behavior. Reply back here with the results and with the name(s) of any extensions you have enabled.

I built an ad using layers saved it and then converted it to a jpeg. Now when I go into elements 11 to do anything else it will not allow to copy and paste to create a new layer. What am I missing?

I built an ad using layers saved it and then converted it to a jpeg. Now when I go into elements 11 to do anything else it will not allow to copy and paste to create a new layer. What am I missing?

You know that you lost the layers when you saved it as a jpeg, right? But you're saying you can't add layers to the jpeg now when it's open in the editor? Go to Image>mode and be sure it's RGB, for starters. Are all the commands in the Layer menu grayed out?

I am trying to project a film from an ipad mini with a vga cable to a projector. The film played, but the ipad did not mirror what was being projected. I am trying to be able to mirror the devices AND isolate the window so I can use different menus wit

Hello-
I am trying to project a film from an ipad mini with a vga cable to a projector. When tested, the film played, but the ipad did not mirror what was being projected, it was a black screen. I am trying to be able to mirror the devices AND figure out how isolate the window so I can use different menus with the film still playing.
Any one know an app or softward that i can use?
Thank you!
Christie

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
and select the Library that you moved. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
Your first option didn't work because you imported one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
Your second option didn't work because you simply referenced her library on the old machine.
Regards
TD

I have manipulated a photo using layers etc and then flattened it and saved it under a new name. When I use 'Preview' (mac) to view the finished photo it doesn't look right. It's as the layers have not flattened correctly. When viewed in Elements 12 it

I have manipulated a photo using layers etc and then flattened it and saved it under a new name. When I use 'Preview' (mac) to view the finished photo it doesn't look right. It's as the layers have not flattened correctly. When viewed in Elements 12 it looks OK. The photo looks incorrect in other software such as photo books.
Looking at the same photo before flattening, what is being shown is only the top layer.
How do I correct this?

STEVEN1A wrote:
I have manipulated a photo using layers etc and then flattened it and saved it under a new name. When I use 'Preview' (mac) to view the finished photo it doesn't look right. It's as the layers have not flattened correctly. When viewed in Elements 12 it looks OK. The photo looks incorrect in other software such as photo books.
Looking at the same photo before flattening, what is being shown is only the top layer.
How do I correct this?
The top layer is indeed the one that is visible, unless there is/are area(s) of translucency on that layer, so that you can visualize a portion of the subjacent layer.
the finished photo it doesn't look right. It's as the layers have not flattened correctly.
Are your settings targeted to have the printer manage colors, or, to have PSE manage colors?

Premiere Elements Disk Menus does not show in replay using Mac Pro OS X 10.9.3

I recently installed Premier Elements 12 on my Mac Pro OS X 10.9.3 (Maverick).
Naturally I want to get the highest possible quality to show off on the TV using a standard DVD player.
Outputting to DVD not using AVCHD retains the menu but not on AVCHD, what am I doing wrong?
The Output Quality using just DVD and not AVCHD is lousy, what have I missed?

SigiPC
Thanks for the reply.
Objective Miscellaneous
Let us start with your objectives. If you are restricted to a DVD disc, then your export choices from Premiere Elements will be
DVD-VIDEO widescreen on DVD disc (720 x 480 stretched to 856 x 480 for display after encoding)
or
AVCHD format on DVD disc (1920 x 1080 16:9)
Disc menus are possible as described for main menu page, scene menu page, main menu markers and scene markers. The players will recognize the stop markers placed in a Premiere Elements burn to DVD-VIDEO on DVD disc, but will not recognize the stop markers in a Premiere Elements burn to AVCHD on DVD disc. There should not be problem with main menu markers or scene markers in either choice.
Also, AVCHD on DVD is not playable in the standard DVD player. You need a Blu-ray player that supports AVCHD on DVD disc. Many do, but some may not. The specifications of the player is your guideline.
For AVCHD on DVD disc, you do not need a Blu-ray DVD burner to burn to AVCHD on DVD disc. That can be done with a DVD burner.
And, under all conditions, a stop marker should never be placed at the end of the last item on the Timeline.
Specific Replies
What disk menu? I am talking about “disk menus” as per page 243 of Premiere Elements Manual.
It was my impression that you said that "Disc Menus Do Not Show...", so I was asking which specific disc menu theme are you using? And, is this "do not show" applicable to all the disc menu themes that you have tried to work with?
I am using a Panasonic Blu-Ray player on the TV.
Are the disc menus of your Premiere Elements DVD-VIDEO or AVCHD on DVD not displaying solely with this Panasonic player? Or, is the same observed with computer playback of the DVD product? If the missing menus in the end product issue that brought you here involves solely the Panasonic player, then I would ask if you have checked the player for any option that would control the display of menus in the playback?
Not sure if I am using “interlaced video” but you would know from my input sources mentioned above.
You wrote "My source media is output from iPhoto and Fotomagico slide shows whose output is MP4 MOV or M4V and if played back in Quicktime are of very acceptable quality (H.264 1920X1080)". That does not tell me if 1080p or 1080i, but I suspect that it is 1080p. The MediaInfo properties readout will give a definite answer.
http://download.cnet.com/MediaInfo/3000-2169_4-10413046.html
Just be careful for unwanted carry alongs with the MediaInfo free program. But iPhoto and Fotomagico should be telling you before export whether you are exporting 1080i or 1080p. My main focus on the Premiere Elements 1080p DSLR aspects related to slideshow is the fact that that Premiere Elements DSLR project presets seem to give consistently a sharper photo image in the end product. So when applicable (photo and video wise) it is the preferred route for me and others.
“Quality area” and space requirements are not of concerns at this stage since present show length is not even 30 minutes – or should I be concerned for some other reason but space?
As routine, the Quality area Space Required and Bitrate should be known, even for your 30 minute Timeline content duration. You should be working with a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space" and watching the Bitrate in that area. Anything lower than the maximum 8.00 Mbps indicates that the program is making a fit by lowering the Bitrate. The extent that it does not impacts the quality of the end product. Also, of note, the that Bitrate is a variable one in the end product.
This may or may not affect what you are doing now, but it is important information to include in the discussion "just in case".
Also, related trivia...DVD disc marked 4.7 GB/120 minutes is in reality 4.38 GB; DVD disc marked 8.5 GB/240 minutes is in reality 7.95 GB.
Are we any closer to getting at why your disc menus are disappearing after end product creation in Premiere Elements and at playback with your Panasonic player?
Please review and consider.
Thank you.
ATR

Drop zone and layered menus

Hi,
I have a lovely layered menu made in Photoshop and all works well, but I would like to add a drop zone to it so I can have some of the movie show while the menu is up. I can't get this to work.
I cut out a hole in my psd file and put the movie behind it so it would show through, I then added a layered menu over the top and that works fine except this makes two menus and you can't be in two menus at the same time.
Does anyone have any idea of how to do this?
Best wishes
Michael

Sorry to break this one to you after all your work, but you can't combine video with layered menus - at least, not the way that DVDSP creates a menu from a layered photoshop file.
You can get very close to it though, using a series of menus and sub-menus which you create yourself as standard overlays... this is pretty much how DVDSP will deal with your layered photoshop file anyway. You'll need to create a different menu for each different button state and place the video into each as you want it to appear. However, when you move from menu to menu that video will not be continuous and will start from the first frame each time.
The other thing is why have you used a layered menu in the first place? What is on there that means you have to use layers? Can it be done using standard overlays? If it can, then you will be able to easily add your drop-zone with video to the menu... You might also consider using a layered menu and masking off different areas to simulate the way a layer based menu can reveal different text or images - you can also reveal pieces of video as well - check out the article here:
http://www.editorsbin.com/apple/dvdsp/tutorials/mask_overlay/index.html
There are some limitations with this method, explained throughout the article, but if you can live with these then this might be the better option for you.

How do I create a webpage in Dreamweaver WITHOUT using layers?

I'm reading a lot about how we should not use layers and
tables when creating a website in Dreamweaver because of something
called "absolute placement" (or something), which is the reason the
text in my website is constantly misaligned or overlapping when
opened up in Firefox. Although, I've never had this problem before
for the past three years I've been using Dreamweaver to create my
sites, which is what's most frustrating I think.
So, I guess I'm wondering how, then, do I create a webpage in
Dreamweaver WITHOUT using layers and tables? The only thing I've
been able to do w/o layers/tables is to literally hit "enter" and
"tab" continuously until the cursor is somewhere close to where I
want it to be on the page. But that seems a little old-school (for
lack of a better term) to really be the way to do it.
Also, if I've used a lot of layers/tables already in my
website, is the general recommendation for be to rebuild my site
completely w/o layers/tables, or is it feasible for me to have
someone who knows HTML just come in and fix the actual HTML code
for me to make it all work?
Ideally, I just want something to help me fix this problem
w/o having to hire someone else to come in, cause I've been working
this site for about a year now and am just now finally getting it
up online only to find that the way it looks online is not the way
it looks in Dreamweaver. I'd really really appreciate any
suggestions/advice.
Thank you so much!

Hello,
The first bit of advice, which you may already be doing, it
to learn HTML
and CSS.
CSS is used to style and position elements.
Instead of adding numerous to add spacing, for
example, you can use
CSS to add margins or padding to elements to move them away
from other
elements.
Also, IMHO there is nothing wrong with using tables,
specially as you learn.
You can also use <divs> and CSS to position them (a
table-less layout).
There are a number of threads in this forum comparing them
and giving many
designer's views.
It's Dreamweaver's "Layout Mode" you should stay away
from.Use "Standard
Mode"
It creates tables with rowspanss and colspans that are very
fragile.
Something as simple as a user having a different text size
setting in their
browser than what you had in yours when you designed can make
the page break
apart.
More info:
http://apptools.com/rants/spans.php
Also, "Layers" are an older DW term for AP Divs (Absolutely
Positioned).
They can cause you a lot of frustration.
More info:
http://apptools.com:80/examples/pagelayout101.php
I would strongly suggest you take a couple of hours to do
these tutorials.
They are a great introduction to using CSS, making a
stylesheet and using
DW's "wizards".
They are very well written, illustrated and easy to follow.
I promise you will walk away with a different outlook on how
you can design
a page.
They are not intended to replace learning HTML or CSS in any
way, I just
think it will benefit you greatly seeing what you can do.
http://projectseven.com/tutorials/css/css_td/index.htm
http://projectseven.com/tutorials/css/qdmacfly/index.htm
I hope that helps.
Take care,
Tim
"darkpwca" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm reading a lot about how we should not use layers and
tables when
> creating a
> website in Dreamweaver because of something called
"absolute placement"
> (or
> something), which is the reason the text in my website
is constantly
> misaligned
> or overlapping when opened up in Firefox. Although, I've
never had this
> problem
> before for the past three years I've been using
Dreamweaver to create my
> sites,
> which is what's most frustrating I think.
>
> So, I guess I'm wondering how, then, do I create a
webpage in Dreamweaver
> WITHOUT using layers and tables? The only thing I've
been able to do w/o
> layers/tables is to literally hit "enter" and "tab"
continuously until the
> cursor is somewhere close to where I want it to be on
the page. But that
> seems
> a little old-school (for lack of a better term) to
really be the way to do
> it.
>
> Also, if I've used a lot of layers/tables already in my
website, is the
> general recommendation for be to rebuild my site
completely w/o
> layers/tables,
> or is it feasible for me to have someone who knows HTML
just come in and
> fix
> the actual HTML code for me to make it all work?
>
> Ideally, I just want something to help me fix this
problem w/o having to
> hire
> someone else to come in, cause I've been working this
site for about a
> year now
> and am just now finally getting it up online only to
find that the way it
> looks
> online is not the way it looks in Dreamweaver. I'd
really really
> appreciate any
> suggestions/advice.
>
> Thank you so much!
>

How To Use Dynamic Menus To Place Manually Created Jspx Pages On Sub-Level

JHeadstarters,
Back on the JHS trail and could use some help.
I started using dynamic menus (see section 9.2 JHS Dev Guide) to setup a custom menu structure and found it could not be easier however I need to solve 2 issues;
1. How to get more than 2 levels deep on the menus (parent, child, grand-child, etc.)? In the menu structure setup I have created a menu that is 3-levels deep however when it runs you only get 2 levels. Perhaps a template needs to be changed.
2. How can I assign manually created jspx pages to sub-level menus?
Scenerio;
I have JHS generated pages *** AND *** manually created pages. Using dynamic menus to place the JHS genned pages works fine, the problem is how to do it with manually created pages.
Using Dynamic Menu's I created a top-level menu tab named "warp-core", below it on the next level I have two sub-menus, one named "search" and one named "form" for displaying the results of the search and modifying the rows (don't ask me why they are seperate).
The problem is how to assign the manually created jspx pages to those sub-menus? Or am I going abouth this the wrong way? Perhaps I could use JHS to generate seperate search and display pages.
Thanks!
BG...

Bill,
1. Yes, you need to decide yourself how and where you want to render this third level menu. You then create a region file similar to dynamicMenu2Tabs.jspx, just replace the references to level2MenuItems with level3MenuItems. Then create a custom template to call this menu 3 region file.
For example, you could create a bulleted vertical list for level 3 as illustrated in section 9.1.3 of the Developers Guide (that example is with static menu, but you can use similar technique for dynamic menu)
2. Instead of a group name, you can specify a JSF Navigation action in the menu administration application. So, you create a global navigation case to your custom page, and you enter this navigation case id in the menu admin app.
Note that if you want to generate separate search pages, you can do so by setting the advanced search property to "separatePage".
Steven Davelaar,
JHeadstart Team.

Layered Menu Buttons not working on DVD player

Hello,
I just made an SD DVD with several layered menus. The backgrounds for the menus come from photoshop files with different layers for normal, selected, and active states. Navigating the main menu works fine in the simulator and when I play the disc in my computer, however, I can not arrow to another button on dvd players. I have made several discs this way and this is the first time I have had this problem. My burn process is to make an image and then burn the image in toast. Any thought?
-Brian

Hi Brian - welcome.
Layered menus are particularly tricky... they almost always require two actions from the user to get them working in a player. One click to land on the button and another to select it. This is really frustrating at times, but is down to the way the layered menus work.
You can convert them to standard menus pretty easily though, and unless you absolutely need to have different layers I'd strongly advise that you do convert them. Standard overlay type menus work with a rollover type of effect, allow you to have an audio bed and work far faster on DVD players.
The only time I'd stick with layers is when the selected state reveals a further piece of information that takes up most of the menu area. In all other cases I'd avoid them if I were you

How to use layers from photoshop in final cut?

I am googling, but not coming up with much updated info. I would like to use layers from a Photoshop stills file within Final Cut. Any good tutorial videos out there?

may I use keyframes etcetera and eventually animate separate layers?
Ummmm .... yeah. That's the whole point of being able to open the PSD in its own Sequence. Each layer will be on a separate track so you can manipulate each layer individually. Wait ... I've said that already.
-DH

Motion menu buttons in Layered menus

I´ve got a PSD Layered menu and I need to have a preview of the film playing either as the button or just on the menu, either way I can´t get the track playing in the motion menu.
Is there a way to do this?
Thanks
StooB

I´ve just seen I can´t use video in layered menus, that´s after creating the whole menu system without being told in the manual...
Can I use Overlay mapping to display a layer or image over each of the 9 buttons to select?
I need some help!!
Thanks!

Using layers in cc

I realize layers are a thing of the past in cc, but I am now updating my site I created in MX (yes, my program was that old), and I used layers...so, now I cannot create new ones. Is it easy to just convert the whole page to a table, hopefully creating new fields I can just enter my rollovers, etc? If not, how can I create new fields the same size, places, etc, as the layered file? If anyone would be kind enough to respond by sending me an email ([personal information removed by moderator]), I would be grateful.

Converting ancient Dreawmeaver layers to a table is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Apart from tables being an equally bad choice for layout, the code likely to be generated will be a tangled rat's nest of rows and columns.
One approach you might want to consider is converting your existing layers into style rules. You can do so by clicking in the opening tag of a layer, and selecting Format > CSS Styles > Convert Inline CSS to Rule. The problem with doing so is that the layers on each page are likely to be different, so you don't get the real benefit of using CSS, which applies a common set of rules to each page in the website.
Quite honestly, the best approach would be to redesign from scratch. Good luck.

Using layered menus or not?

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