Working with DVD Menus

[mitchell65]

I've just downloaded a 30 day free trial of Photo Impact. If you have worked with Vector graphics before it is fairly straighforward but like all graphic programs it is quite a big learning curve (for me anyway and I consider myself a little above "average user" computer knowledge level. But by no means an expert!)
The program can be downloaded here:
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/ ... bview=tab3
Sorry that's the wrong link. Use the one in my following thread

[Ron P.]

Max,

I'll just add my .02 worth..

1. Yes I do use it regularly
2. Yes, easy to use
3. Not really. Is it one that currently appears on Corel's web site, easily seen and found? Nope, you really have to look. So sadly I think this is another former Ulead product that Corel has decided to dispose of. We're also wondering how this method of creating and editing the menus will be achieved, since PaintShop Pro Photo does not support the UFO format needed..

[mitchell65]

Ron, did you notice that the link I put in above was for Photo Shop? Sorry about that, the link I meant was this:
http://download.cnet.com/Corel-PhotoImp ... 16652.html
This is at the top of Google search for "Corel Photo Impact" but that is UK Google. Might be different on your US Google!

[maxfrost01]

So what you're saying is..............if I want to stick with VideoStudio and if I want to get more creative with menus I should buy a copy of PhotoImpact while I can.

That about right?

[mitchell65]

You can do a certain amount of editing the menus wihin VS but if you want to go further then think the dreaded purchase is the only option. Just depends how much you are likely to se it. I would suggest that you go for the 30 day trial then make a decision at the end of that time. I often find that one's enthusiasm for a program tends to diminish a bit over time and I usually find something better to spend my 50 quid on. It comes from scotland and is amber in colour!!!!!!!
Bye for now, am off to the quacks headquarters. Hope the knife is sharp

[sjj1805]

So what you're saying is..............if I want to stick with VideoStudio and if I want to get more creative with menus I should buy a copy of PhotoImpact while I can.

That about right?

It is a matter of imagination really.
Although I have created a lengthy tutorial on creating menus using PhotoImpact, much can be done with VideoStudio alone. Let us think for a moment what elements make up a DVD Menu.

1. Back ground image/video.
These can be changed on the [EDIT] Tab


2. Music


3. Number of Thumbnails and their shape etc.


For more information please view:
Creating The Thumbnail Menus

[maxfrost01]

Steve,

Thanks (as ever).
I'm going to stick with VS for menu options rather than go to PhotoImpact.
It can do 95% of what I want and I can't really see me using PhotoImpact enough for it to become easy to use - and if it ain't easy to use I ain't gonna use it - (insert downward spiral here).

Once again, really value the time you and others put into this forum.
That's why I stay with VS.

[Trevor Andrew]

Steve,

being able to create my own text buttons would be perfect. To be able to change the font and colour would be neat. But it's not likely to be something I'd want to do very often. With that in mind.....

Hi Max

You can change the text colour, change the font style and size.
Have you explored all the editing options within VS.
Select the text on screen and then Font Settings
For the navigation type buttons press 'Customise' there are a few to choose from.
Different templates allow more options

Before closing the customise window hit the 'Add to Menu template' will save the template available from the gallery under favourites.

[maxfrost01]

Trevor,

What I meant to say was.............being able to create my own text buttons AND THEN being able to change the font and size and colour of the buttons I have created would be neat.

Steve has kindly linked me to some text buttons he's created but I'd want to change the font/colour/size and, to do that, I think I'd need PhotoImpact.

Am I right? Or do you reckon once I download and install Steve's buttons I could change font and colour from within VS?

[Black Lab]

No, VS does not allow you to change the colors of the buttons. You would need PI to do that.

[jcsaba]

The music I would like to add as background music from my hard drive to my menu is too silent. Under editing, there is the option to increase/decrase volume level of music track, similar option does not exist for menu music. How could I make my menu music louder? Is there any way outside UVS to increase the volume of any music file on the hard drive of my PC (except for the volume level of player when playing). I use Windows XP, UVS 11.5, and these files are in MP3 format.

Under Burning Options there is a Normalize audio function with a brief description in the user's manual. I dont know exactly how it works? During editing, the audio level of both music track and video track should continuously be changed because of too silent speech (not understandable), or setting music track not to depress the sound of video track etc. How does this Normalize audio function affect these changes? Does it automatically increase the volume of too silent audio in video and/or music track?

Thanks for any advice.

[Ron P.]

The burn module of VS 11.5 does not provide for adjusting the volume of the menu background audio, as you discovered. You can use a third party program like the free one mentioned in the forums, Audacity, to increase the volume. You can download it HERE.

The Normalize Audio function is used to provide a consistent level across all video clips. Say you have 5 video clips (titles), and the volume in clips 1, 3, and 5 are more than in clips 2 and 4. The normalize audio would make the volume the same across all. It does not change the music versus narration or speech volume in a video clip. That must be done manually in the editor.

[Black Lab]

See Understanding & Using Audio Filters.