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Making an Interactive Menu (similar to a DVD Menu Screen) in After Effects v 7.0
I need to know how to make an interactive animation. I would like to take a main image and create a “menu screen”, much like one that appears on a DVD menu screen. On top of that image I need to place additional images and text. The images need to lead to footage, which will play through and eventually loop back to the title screen. Seeing as I have a limited number of software here (I am at work), I need to do all of this in After Effects. I know that it can be done because I have seen people do it. Could someone please help me out? It would really mean a lot to me!
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1 Reply
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After Effects can not create interactive programs. There’s no way to program buttons or menus into AE, that’s not what it’s for.
You could certainly make the movie LOOK interactive, like someone were pressing the buttons and you see the result. AE can make graphics and movies that dance around in every way imaginable. But there’s no way to make said graphics respond to input. Not with AE alone, anway. You definitely need another application. (For example, many people use AE and Photoshiop to make DVD menu graphics, but they assemble the pieces and put the button functionality on with Encore.)
The big question here is: How are you going to be presenting this project, or whatever it is you’re doing? That will really determine what application you use to build your interactivity.
If you’re making a DVD, use a DVD authoring program like Adobe Encore or Apple DVD Studio or iDVD. There are some free or cheap alternatives out there, like DVDLab.
If you’re making a web-based project, use Flash. Or if you’re experienced with the web you could do it in HTML/JavaScript.
If you’re making something that will be played on a computer, such as at a kiosk, you could use Flash or Director or a DVD.
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