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Shimmering hard to read letters in DVD Menu created by DVD Architect
I used the DVD menu Corporate in DVD Arch and changed the background to fit the theme of my Parrot film. The problem I am having is coming up with the right color for the text that makes it
1. attractive
2. easy to readNo matter what color I use except for black (which I think is pretty unapealing) the words shimmer and are hard on the eyes. I am using a typical tv monitor to check my work for the precise reasons that most folks who buy the DVD will be using a basic television.
I have included a screen shot here which will not show the shimmering effect of the letters but will give cow members an idea of the colors I have tried.
Any suggestions? I simply want to have easy to read text in the Menu
Thanks!
Don Kimball
Polytelis Media -
3 Replies
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I think the problem is your background and it’s color. First, I never use a background that is in focus. You want the background of a DVD menu to be soft focus. Blur it a little… maybe a lot even… People will still know it a parrot but the parrot is not the main purpose of the menu… the text is. Use a color that gives you contrast or use a drop shadow to add definition.
Here is a version that is blurred with a drop shadow using colors from the parrot:
This next version uses the fact that you have open space to the left to place the menu there with a contrasting color. (note: you might want to make two menus with 8 items on each instead of one with 16)
You might also consider adding a vignette to the open space to darken it and give you more contrast like the menu below:
Finally you might just wan to get creative and add other elements to give the contrast you want and draw the eye to the menu like this:
The idea is that you need to be creative and make the contrast that you need to make your text stand out on a DVD menu.
Hope this helps,
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
John:
A belated thanks for your suggestions. My favorite that you created was the vignetted look. However I wasnt sure it would quite fit what I wanted so I did a bit of experimenting based on some ideas I gleaned from watching a DVD created by another company.
What I chose to do was embed an animated preview complete with sound in the menu. I also changed the background color. Taking your advise I made 2 Menu’s and that allowed me to increase the font size making it easier to read. I am experimenting with two background colors. A more lead gray and more of a purple. Any comments or feedback which is best would be appreciated by any folks. Or any comments at all for that matter.
I hope to market this DVD soon.
Cheers!
Don Kimball
Polytelis Media
http://www.polytelismedia.wordpress.com
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Now you’re thinkin’! 😉 I like the purple only because birds are colorful and the purple keeps with that colorful theme.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com
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