Menus - Smartscene Menus - Editing & Creating Menus

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Sun May 07, 2006 5:40 am

Is there more information about creating or editing Smartscene menus?

Is there a library I can download (free) or buy?

VS10 does not come with very many choices and I done see where you can modify them.

Any and all information regarding menus is appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

Georg · Post by **Georg** » Sun May 07, 2006 5:51 am

I think, you can edit this menues like the other ones with PhotoImpact. The menues are UFO-files.

I find the menue-templates in the folder ..... VideoStudio 10 / Content / Menue Template. There are three more folders for 4:3, 16:9 and HD Basic

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Sun May 07, 2006 4:24 pm

I saw those. .UFO is a new format for me. Never hrad of it. Anyother options besides buying another $90 program? Are there any other programs for creating .UFO files.

Mike

michaeltee · Post by **michaeltee** » Sun May 07, 2006 4:52 pm

Mike-Mat wrote:I saw those. .UFO is a new format for me. Never hrad of it. Anyother options besides buying another $90 program? Are there any other programs for creating .UFO files.

Mike

Mike,

The UFO file extension and it's attributes are proprietary to Ulead products. With PhotoExplorer 8.5 you can view (but not edit) thumbnail sized images of UFO files so PhotoImpact would probably be your best bet. Last time I checked, Ulead was offering a PhotoImpact/VS10+ package at a discount. I also seem to recall they have occasionally offered PI11 on sale with a $20 or $30 discount. It might be worthwhile to sign up for a Ulead News subscription for notification of special offers, etc.

Ulead News Subscription Link:
http://www.ulead.com/aboutulead/subscribe.htm

hhamzeh · Post by **hhamzeh** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:45 pm

Hi All,

I do have PhotoImpact 8 but I do not know how to edit a SmartScene menu. Is there any guide showing step-by-step procedure for editing "Smart Scene" menues?

Mike,

If you know how to edit them in PI 11, then just download the trial version of the program edit your menus.

michaeltee · Post by **michaeltee** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:05 pm

hhamzeh wrote:Hi All,

I do have PhotoImpact 8 but I do not know how to edit a SmartScene menu. Is there any guide showing step-by-step procedure for editing "Smart Scene" menues?

The thread you would want to read can be found here:
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=11378

An excellent PhotoImpact DVD Menu tutorial PDF written by sjj1805 (Steve J) can be downloaded here:
http://www.steve-jones.pwp.blueyonder.c ... torial.pdf

Although it was written with PI 11 in mind, apparently it is also applicable to earlier versions such as PI 8. I don't know if the procedures will work specifically with Smart Scene menus.

And here is the link to download the PhotoImpact Menu Plungin for PI 8, 11 and XL:
http://www.ulead.com/pi/plugin.htm

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:50 pm

Someone asked me how many menus were included with the standard VS10 Plus Package.

12 (approx.) total
1 of which is a Smart Scene Menu (not sure exactly that makes it Smart).

I got more menus with Nero.

The problem here is you cant create new menus without buying another program. They should include more menus, or provide registered buyers access to a download site to get more. Actually I'm superised someone hasn't created a library of menus to sell as a package. Seems like there might be a market for that.

When I bought VS10 that offered me PI 11 with it as a package (for more $). if they had said "You'll need this to create More Menus" I might have bought it.

Mike

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:04 pm

Mike-Mat, for more free menu templates to use in VS you can download the trial versions of all the video editing and authoring programs (Moviefactory, Workshop, VS9, etc.). Each of these free trial programs contain menu templates. Some might be duplicated with each other or what you already have, but some might not.
Do not install the programs. Just open the template folders and look for the menu templates. They all will have the .UFO extension. Look at the names of the templates that you already have on your PC, rename the new templates from the trial programs (example: if you alreday have a menu, named corp, name the new one corp1 or whatever bests describes it) so your existing templates won't just be replaced. Next, just copy the new templates to the appropriate folder in your full version of VS.

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:05 pm

Mike-Mat wrote: When I bought VS10 that offered me PI 11 with it as a package (for more $). if they had said "You'll need this to create More Menus" I might have bought it.

Mike

Yes it sounds like there could be a better marketing/advertising strategy. One thing that strkes me odd is that with software programs that have their proprietary formats, most of them, Paintshop Pro, PhotoShop to name a couple appear to be a shared format, and not so proprietary. I was surprised that I could open PSP documents (*.psp) in PhotoImpact. However Corel Draw (*.cdr) is also as proprietary as Ulead's *.ufo files. I haven't found another similar program that will open them....

Ron P.

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:12 pm

If I could make a UFO file In Paintshop Pro, I would update it in a minute.I'm still using PSP V7 and it has always worked perfectly. I dont think it has EVER crashed. But if I could use it to make UFO's, that would be great.

I was just in the PI forum. Glad I didn't but PI. Sounds like a mess.

Mike

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:44 pm

Mike,

Yes, and I'm not going to try to sell PI to you. However if you read alot of the posts here, whether it is MSP, VS, PI, etc.. you would come to that conclusion..

I've been using PSP v9 and I have had it crash on me. About the only program that I have not had crash at sometime I think is Notepad or MSWorks...

I do have PI v11 and so far I'm impressed with it. It is very similar to PSP (9 anyway, don't know about earlier) in layout. The main difference is the Objects vs Layers (PI vs PSP). I still do alot with PSP, but there are things, mainly the menus that I use PI for. But it is an overall nice program. Plus it's not just 1 program, PI is a suite, like Corel Draw Graphics Suite...

Like I stated, I'm not selling you just pointing out a few things...

Ron P.

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:59 pm

Everyone says PI V10 was more stable. I'm thinking of getting V10 since I only need it for creating DVD menus. I can get a brand new, full blown, boxed package for $40. What do you think? Good for what I need?

Mike

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:02 pm

Yes, it will do what you want, and that's what's important.

Ron P.

BrianCee · Post by **BrianCee** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:13 pm

having just installed my copy of V10+ I have to say I have been very pleasantly surprised after moving a few menu templates from V9 into the V10 folders to find that I can customise even the menus from V9 - by that I mean actually move thumbnails around the screen and move and ROTATE all the text (all - including 'My Title') and further you can resize all the thumbnails - all within the 'Create Disc' function of V10+. - this of course in addition to the changing of background image/video and background music. - and then add the new template back into the template 'Gallery' for future use - I think there's more than enough there for me.

Mike-Mat · Post by **Mike-Mat** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:04 pm

I guess I need to take another look at it.

Thanks for your input,

Mike