DVD playback in full screen.

[Angorsky]

I have been using Ulead Video Studio 6 for years creating slide shows and burning them to DVD. While playing DVD, made in Ulead Video, the slide show would display in full screen on any TV (for example a horizontal picture would be displayed in full screen and vertical picture would be displayed from top to bottom exposing some black background on the sides which is OK). Now I am using Video Studio Pro X3 and after I create a DVD there is a black background around each photo during playback. In other words, each photo seems to be slightly reduced in size or there is a black border around it during playback of DVD. Thank you.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

1. Are you using DVD Factory 2010 or DVD MovieFactory 7SE to produce your DVD?
2. When you're creating your slideshow in VS X3, what track are you placing your photos on, Main video or Overlay track?
3. Are you using Pan/Zoom?
4. What workflow are you using, Share>Create Video File? Share>Create Disc? The latter would open DVD Factory 2010, which allows you to use your project (VSP) file. To use DVD MovieFactory 7SE you must first create a video file from your project.
5. Are you producing Standard-Def or High-Def video slideshows?

[Angorsky]

1. I am using DVD Factory 2010
2. The photos are placed on the Main track
3. I am not using Pan/Zoom
4. I am using Share>Create Disc and then DVD Factory 2010
5. I am producing Standard Definition video slide show

Thank you.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Are you using the same aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9 for X3 and Factory 2010

[Angorsky]

Hi,
I have tried 16:9 and 4:3 but this background appears to be the same in either case.

[Ron P.]

If your photos are from a digital camera, they most likely are 4:3 aspect ratio. There are some newer cameras that have the function to shoot 16:9. 4:3 aspect ratio is roughly 1.33-1.35, while 16:9 is 1.77. Divide the width of your photo by the photo height to get the aspect ratio. It really is more complex, since there is a difference in Pixel Aspect Ratio (PAR) and Display Aspect Ratio (DAR), or Stored Aspect Ratio (SAR).

Most TVs use a non-square pixel, ie; rectangular. When you produce your video file or DVD do you have checked, Use non-square pixel? You might also entertain using the Ken Burns effect, which is the Pan/Zoom or some call it Pan/Scan. This ensures that your photos take up the entire viewing screen. TVs will cut off an area, which is generally around 10-20%, called over-scan.

It appears that you're not having any other issues with using DVD Factory 2010, so you shouldn't need to first create a video file of your project in VS X3 (Share>Create VIdeo File). You would then close VS and open DVD Factory 2010 or any DVD authoring program, and insert your DVD Compliant MPEG-2 video file that you created in VS X3.

I don't use DVD Factory, so would have to put together a short project to try and find where the resizing is taking place. I have an appointment this morning, but will try later on today to have a look.

EDITED
Forgot to ask what type of TV are you viewing, widescreen or older analog tube-type? I don't have a newer wide-screen to check this on. So my results may be different.

[Ron P.]

I've ran a short test, creating a slideshow project in VS X3, no pan/zoom, and photos on the Main video track. My project was setup to be 4:3 aspect ratio. I used photos that I shot over this past holiday. they were not altered or resized, the resolution was 3264 x 2448. I then used your workflow of Share>Create Disc>DVD Factory 2010.

Now on my first attempt I screwed-up, I forgot to check in DVD Factory for the aspect ratio settings, which were set at 16:9. This only posed a problem with the menu. After discovering this I went back and changed the ratio to 4:3. This is found in the Settings fly-out menu along the right edge. With the settings at 4:3, I burned my DVD, and tested it on one of my stand-alone players, and my RCA True-Flatscreen TV, which is a 13" I use while working with video and DVDs. My menu and photos played full screen, no Letterboxing (black bars).

Check your settings again in DVD Factory 2010, make sure the aspect ratio is the same as your VS X3's project.

[Angorsky]

Thank you, Ron. I really appreciate your help.