My DVD Menu crashes VS10+/blank thumbnail display

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:43 am

I must be doing something wrong with a new DVD menu I created. It shows up in the template selections,
but has a blank thumbnail. And if selected, it immediately causes VS10+ to close.
Here's the scenario if anyone could help:

1) Created in PI12 with menu plug-in based on Steve's tutorial
( http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=11378 )

2) The VS10+ program folder doesn't have a "template.ini" file anywhere
as described on page 28 of the tutorial. (Searched the HDD for it).
So, I saved the file as Test1.ufo and dropped it into the
C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio 10\Content\Menu Template\4x3\Bonus folder.

Also tried dropping into the (same path) C:...Content\4x3\Scene Button folder.

In both cases, it then shows up in the template selections,
but with a blank thumbnail (which it DOES have one).
If selected, VS10 closes immediately. Basically it crashes the program.

3) Some other details:
- using elements imported from VS10+ for navigation buttons and frames
- has three scenes
- named thumbnail layer as IMG_TEMPLATE /Name:Test1 /FrameHL:CP1 /NavHL:CP1 and unchecked "show"
- all layers are named using the conventions TEXT_1, SCENE_1, FRAME_1, NUMBER_1, HLI_1
(and _2 or _3 respectively for the other scene layers)

I've opened several of the standard VS templates in PI12 and compared their layers to what I have.
Can't spot anything.

Any idea what I'm missing here? Must be something.
All the standard program templates work just fine and VS runs without a hitch.

Thanks...Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:58 am

I am on a night shift so will not be able to access it until I get home.
Please zip the menu and upload it to:
http://www.filewind.com/

Send me the link, I will take a look at it for you.

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:12 am

Thank you, Steve. It's here:

http://media10.filewind.com/g.php?filepath=1269

Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:39 am

Nice Menu. I have named it 'Candles'

There was one slight error - the candles themselves had to be made
a part of the background image rather than a 'decoration' object.

Please find the updated zip file here:
http://media5.filewind.com/g.php?filepath=1698

A very good effort for your first menu, Well done

I have placed a copy in our links to free stuff.
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 6163#96163

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:08 pm

Works like a charm now! You're a gem, Steve!

I'll pull it back into PI and look at the change you made. It really needs some background
color and a replacement for those ugly green arrows

I was trying to get it working before spending more time on the design itself.

Will zip it back up and post a new link when I finish "tearing it up".

Something else I have that might be worth sharing is a video of a red tail hawk.
My husband spotted it in our yard hunting squirrels.
I managed to get it on film actually snatching a squirrel and then eating.
For those into nature film, it's quite rare footage.
There are 2 segments where I used VS10 to slow the motion down to see the hawk in flight.

Thanks again for your help. I have to get some work done now (10am here),
but will be back later with the modified template.

Have a great day....Kim

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:36 am

Well, I managed to change the background color and it still works.

Here's a new download link and image of the revision:

http://media1.filewind.com/g.php?filepath=1837

Some questions, Steve. (Sorry to 'torture' you

):

1) How did you convert the background to "a part of the background image
rather than a 'decoration' object" exactly?
I can see that the candles are no longer selected in the background layer through PI12.
But is that all - just 'deselect' them through right click on the object layer?
Or was there something more?

2) Also noticed under the layer properties for the background it's name is now:
IMG_BG /S1:88ff00,35 /S2:00ffff,35 /S3:ffff00,35 /A1:ff8000,30 /A2:ff00ff,40
/A3:ff007f,45 /CP1:S1,A1 /CP2:S2,A2 /CP3:S3,A3

instead of the original - IMG_BG/S1:00FFFF,10/A1:0092C3,10/CP1:S1,A1

This naming convention has to do with the 3 scenes? Is it required?
For example, if there were 4 scenes, would we need another added, like " /CP4:S4,A4" ?

3) Also noticed the thumbnail layer property is now named:
IMG_TEMPLATE /Name:Candles /NavHL:CP1 /FrameHL:CP1 /Product:UVS10 /Ver:3.0,menu,SCENESEL

Original was: IMG_TEMPLATE/Name:Test1/FrameHL:CP1/NavHL:CP1

The change from 'Test1' to 'Candles' is obvious.
But what's the significance of - " /Product:UVS10 /Ver:3.0,menu,SCENESEL" - being added to the string?

4) How do I change the green on the menu buttons and highlight arrows to another color?

Any answers you have time for would be helpful.
Or point me toward a PI tutorial or user guide - I'll plow through whatever.

Thanks again,
Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:56 am

The 'candles' were originaly an object and placed onto the menu as decoration, however you did not have a 'background image' which has to be the same size as the DVD Menu.

I cut the candles and pasted as a new image using the DVD Menu size, merged them together as one and then pasted that back into your DVD Menu as the missing background image.

For the rest of the items you have mentioned, the easiest way to proceed is to use the DVD Menu Wizard.

I created a comprehensive tutorial here:
PhotoImpact: Creating DVD Menu from scratch
You can obtain a copy of the Vesion 12 DVD Menu Plug in from the Ulead Website (Again I am on a night shift and my Company firewall prevents me accessing the Ulead Website - but it is easy to locate.)

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:46 pm

Thanks, Steve for the last reply. Hmmm...this was interesting. Found the 'DVD Menu Maker for PI12.pdf' and trudged through that regarding assigning IDs, colors, etc.

Tried this next little experiment using a combination of PSP (paint shop pro) and PI12. The layered graphic for the SmartScene menu below was started in PSP. Notice the Screen layer is masked or transparent allowing the background image (balloons) to show through. Brought that into PI12, added navigation and text. When I got to the export step, PI12 warned that "the background transparency mask is not supported" and said it would remove it. However, it didn't! The transparency was maintained in the final template and views as such!

Here's a link to the file (zipped) and a screen shot:
http://media1.filewind.com/g.php?filepath=2065

Hope everyone's having a great weekend...Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:54 pm

Works perfectly - well done.

Small suggestion - would it be better if the part showing the balloons and string within the thumbnail was erased?

I will copy the template to the links to FREE stuff.

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:53 pm

I'm sure it would be - at least for some peoples' taste.

What I found so interesting was the transparent screen layer actually works. In the right design, that could have a lot of potential.

Have a question....

The 'DVD Menu Maker for PI12.pdf' says you can use a video as a background if it matches the size of the template canvas. So then, 768x576 for a 4:3 template. But typical non-HD video for 4:3 would be 720x480 or 352x240 .

How does one get a video file in the right dimensions for a template background?

Thanks....Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:55 am

It says the canvas for the menu has to be one of three sizes
either
a. DVD-Video (4:3) - 768x576
b. DVD-Video (16:9) - 1024x576
c. HD DVD (16:9) - 1920x1080

This is the overall size of your DVD Menu and NOT any background video that either you embed into the menu, or a user later adds using the standard replace background options within VideoStudio and MovieFactory.

If you embed a video - that's OK for your own purposes and I have done this with a few of mine already. For sharing purposes it is better to use a still image to keep the file size small.

An example of one of my menus where for my own use I have a video in the background, but for sharing on the forum I have placed a still image can be found here:
Whodunnit DVD Menu

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:27 am

Yes, but Steve, *grin*...

I can't resist the urge to play around with the program's possibilities.

What if one puts flash files into the templates? Does it really make the template file sizes so large? The standard templates seem very reasonably sized with animated flash intros.

Maybe next week I'll get some time to try it.
Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 7:39 pm

The best way to learn is to play about with it and try things to see if the work or not. The more you put in - the larger your file size will grow, but that's to be expected.

Ulead DVD CD & DVD Picture Show contains a number of menus that contain flash animations.

KimES · Post by **KimES** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:18 am

OK, I might be getting the hang of this. Made a little flash intro for a menu as an .avi file - 1486 KB. You're right, Steve, that adds a lot of size to a DVD template.

This time, I actually spent a little more time on the design, tried to make something worthy of downloading

Screen Shot:

Download the zipped template only (no video file) here:
http://media1.filewind.com/g.php?filepath=2193

Download the zipped Flash Intro (.avi only) here. Can also be used as the menu background. :
http://www.mediamax.com/kimes/Hosted/Floral2-avi.zip

Steve - Saw your post about sharing for 2007 ( http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=19414 ) Do you want shared items posted under that thread or somewhere else?

Happy New Year...Kim

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:51 pm

Kim,
With the number of DVD Menus now created between us I have separated them from the 'links to free stuff' and they now have a thread in their own right
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=19453

Regarding users sharing with us their videos, I did send a PM a few weeks ago to the Forum Administrator requesting a dedicated forum be created for these items. The ones we currently have are hidden away inside a post they are not as effective as I would wish.

I use another piece of non Ulead software and in their user group they have such a dedicated forum which is very popular and at the time of this reply currently contains 310 user submitted sample videos.

Such a forum would add immense interest to this user to user web board.
There is a danger of spammers or unsavoury members attempting to post pornographic items. I for my part am more than willing to moderate the forum but I would need the support of our other moderators as even I cannot be here 24 hours a day - in fact I will be on a 2 week cruise in May.