Simple Main Menu Template?

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:52 pm

I have no trouble finding suitable chapter menu layouts, but I like to start my projects with a simple main menu page consisting of title, subtitle (usually for the date), and a button that I name "Scene Selection". So far, to get this, I have had to modify one of the provided text menus by hiding objects and changing the background to a color scheme that I like (which isn't difficult because I can make them in photoshop and save as JPEGs to use as background). I also have to hide whatever object takes you to the chapter menus but use the link as my "Scene Selection". I wish my date text could be smaller than my title, too. Does anyone know where I can get a simple template like I described? Does it hurt anything to hide so many objects? Can they still be accessed somehow?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:08 am

You can make your own!

Tutorial: PI 11 creating DVD Menu from scratch

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:25 am

Steve, I forgot to mention that I don't own Photo Impact. I posted a message yesterday asking if it came with VideoStudio and was told no, I have to buy it. But is that the only way to get such a simple template? Are there any free ones out there?

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:02 am

Basically, which template and layout would you use if you wanted to have a main menu with just a title and link to subsequent chapter menus? I would think this would be a common preference. The problem is, even the most basic layout, LA0201, has links to 2 chapters. And the templates are the same - even the text ones have links to at least a couple of chapters. Isn't there a layout for just a title and a link to chapter menus? Isn't this what a "main menu" is?

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:41 pm

Hagadorn,

In VS10+, I like to use "Text Menu" 05vs_Text04. It provides a Title block to describe the main menu and it provides a title block for the chapter menu, which I always change to read "Scene Selection". Maybe you have already looked at this one and didn't like it. anyway, it's my only suggestion. Hope it helps.

Cheers,

Bryan P.
Florida

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:58 pm

hagadorn wrote: The problem is, even the most basic layout, LA0201, has links to 2 chapters. And the templates are the same - even the text ones have links to at least a couple of chapters. Isn't there a layout for just a title and a link to chapter menus? Isn't this what a "main menu" is?

Hi

Share Create Disc
For each video file you add you will get one thumbnail in the main menu.
Even though the default menu page shows more than one thumbnail, it will change to use one per video added.

Add one video file.
Click add/edit Chapters
Add your chapter points.
OK
For each point you add you will get a thumbnail in the chapter menu page.

Next

You are now in the menu gallery. Main Menu is selected under the preview screen
Select a template from the drop down box.
For the purpose of this test select ‘Thumbnail menu’
Select a style, use any, Only one thumbnail will show.
Select the edit tab
Edit this window to your own design.

When complete select the chapter menu page (drop down box under preview page.)
Repeat the above to customise this page.

You now have two menu pages.
A main page containing one thumbnail
A chapter page containing the chapters you created.
If you have used a lot of chapters these may require more chapter pages.
VS 10 seems to be limited to 8 thumbnails per chapter page.

Click the remote control to see the menus.
Do you need the first menu page containing the single thumbnail
Go to the menu edit page, select Advanced
De-select Add Title Menu

Preview again

Trevor

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:52 pm

Brian, I will look at that menu when I get home - thanks!

Trevor, I follow your exact procedure every time I make a DVD and I always have just one video file, to which I add chapter points. However, when I pick a template for my main menu, I don't want any thumbnail (just title and link to scene selection) so I hide it. What worries me is when that thumbnail "ghost" overlaps my title, the program tells me that I have overlapping elements and asks if that's okay. I say yes, but won't there be a link there that might accidently be chosen?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:28 am

hagadorn wrote:Brian, I will look at that menu when I get home - thanks!

Trevor, I follow your exact procedure every time I make a DVD and I always have just one video file, to which I add chapter points. However, when I pick a template for my main menu, I don't want any thumbnail (just title and link to scene selection) so I hide it. What worries me is when that thumbnail "ghost" overlaps my title, the program tells me that I have overlapping elements and asks if that's okay. I say yes, but won't there be a link there that might accidently be chosen?

After creating the Menu burn to a hard drive folder and then use MenuEdit to remove the hidden item(s)

Workshop 2 and Menuedit. (theory/procedure can be worked out from this tutorial.)

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:22 am

Thanks Steve. If I continue doing it my way, does it hurt anything to hide several objects? I mean, as long as they don't show and can't be accessed on the final product, correct?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:21 am

Quick explantion of a DVD Menu.
In fact it is a short video that takes on the appearance of the DVD Menu.
Overlaid on top of that video are 'hotspots' where you are able to navigate from one hotspot to another with the DVD control pad.

When a hotspot is selected the hotspot can change colour or take on different transparency levels. Activating a hotspot causes an action such as "Play this".

When you author a DVD you are in fact creating this video.
What MenuEdit then allows you to do is alter the hotspots by moving them, deleting them, even creating new ones.

It cannot alter the underlying video.
Therefore if a representation of a button exists, the visual representation of the button will remain but cannot be selected.

MenuEdit also enables you to alter the 'button flow' so that when you press the up / down / left / right buttons on your DVD control - you choose which hotspot (button) that the control moves to.

Just in case this isn't clear, the answer to your question is Yes, you can hide as many objects as you wish and then using MenuEdit delete them all.

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:42 pm

Thanks for the explanation, it was informative. The thing is, I don't want to have to buy MenuEdit or PhotoImpact. I just want to know if I can hide buttons, artistic designs, text boxes, etc. without there being any problems.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:10 pm

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:24 pm

Steve - you wote: "if a representation of a button exists, the visual representation of the button will remain but cannot be selected". Do you mean that if I hide a hotspot in VS, it cannot be selected using the DVD remote control in the final product ?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:28 pm

hagadorn wrote:Steve - you wote: "if a representation of a button exists, the visual representation of the button will remain but cannot be selected". Do you mean that if I hide a hotspot in VS, it cannot be selected using the DVD remote control in the final product ?

When you hide something with VideoStudio (or any other DVD authoring program) the button is still there but not visible. It is however selectable with the DVD remote control and can be used deliberatley to create what are called "Easter eggs". an Easter Egg is a secret menu or secret video.

What you need to do in your situation is a two step process.
Step 1 in VideoStudio - hide the unwanted meterial so that it does not appear on the DVD Menu.
Step 2 - Use MenuEdit to remove the hotspot.

hagadorn · Post by **hagadorn** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:15 am

Will the free version of Menuedit allow me to delete the hotspots? How do I burn the menu to a hard drive folder so I can edit in MenuEdit?