Anybody creating DVD menus in PP2?

Capt Quirk

Capt Quirk

Veteran
I'm doing an instructional DVD which will be driven by a menu to select the segments. Just tinkering with the templates, it doesn't look too promising. Can you change or create your own, or will I need something else?
 
Capt Quirk said:
I'm doing an instructional DVD which will be driven by a menu to select the segments. Just tinkering with the templates, it doesn't look too promising. Can you change or create your own, or will I need something else?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing your using Encore DVD?

If so it is very promising. Start with one of the menu templates in your project, click on "edit in photoshop" it imports it into photoshop with all of the appropriate layers for buttons, titles, background etc.

Use that as a guide and edit the menu until you have what you want and then "save as" back in your project menu folder and then replace the menu in your Encore project with your new menu.

I'm sure I made it sound much harder than it is, but with the integration with photoshop you can make some really nice menus without having to know the syntax that Encore needs to define all of the elements.:)

I can't type or spell...
 
He's actually using the built in DVD function in Premiere. I haven't mess around with it much although I know that you can easily replace the background with a still or a video as well as link background music. To put in your own button I would try the Encore process (editing in photoshop, create a special button layer) and then import in Premiere.
 
Jade is correct, I'm using PP2 only. I also have DVDit Le which isn't much better, and DVDRW Maker which I have yet to try. Assuming that Encore isn't going to be appearing on my PC anytime soon, is there a cheap/free menu program available?
 
I would say stick it out with Premiere and try to figure out the options, most of the cheap menu program you'll find out there are likely to be consumerish anyway.
 
I would be happy to stick it out with premiere, if I could find a clue. I googled the topic, and came up with a bunch or sites promoting encore, a site that shows you how to select a premade template menu, and other less helpful stuff. All I really want to accomplish, is a short movie intro, the menu background I spent a couple hours making, background music, and text links to individual chapters.

Since it is a weight training instructional, I have a bodybuilder posed on the menu, and would like to be able to highlight the target area as the corresponding chapter is highlighted/selected. You still think this is doable in PP2?
 
I think it's doable. What I do is edit one of the stock menu. Select a menu template in Premiere (doesn't matter which one). Now go back out into the timeline and you should see that the effects window has been replaced by a bunch of menu options. One of the options will allow you to replace the stock background by whatever still you wish (or even a video that will loop) by simply linking to that file in the bin. Similarly, you can link to a music that will play in the background. The text link should be the same deal.

Sorry, I don't have Premiere in front of me so the instruction is a bit vague, but it can be done.
 
Thanks Jade, I think you just helped. I also just found a program that supposedly turns HTML into DVD menus. I can do web design, so I should have fun with this :)
 
Mmmmmmkay, It's update time. I gave up on creating anything with Premiere, DVDit LE wasn't much better, the HTML one crashed and burned.

Then I found [SIZE=-1]www.dvdstyler.de/index.html [/SIZE]...free. Even better, it works, is fairly simple, and it allows you to have control over the menu and it's items. You can place your buttons anywhere, even make them nice text links. I give it a 4 out of 5. There were a few quirks with burning it to DVD when it was done compiling n cyphering n whutnot. But it was still easy enough to open Nero and burn it that way.
 
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