[George Wing]

On the PC side — Corel just announced DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus – that gives you the ability to Author “Basic” HD-DVD (mpeg2, and simple menus). It also allows you to burn to HD-DVD Folders, or create an ISO Image. And you can then burn that to regular DVD-5/9 discs.

The package also has the ability to burn direct-to-Blu-ray from a video source — but I’m not sure what type of menu-options that gives you (similar to what WTS mentioned).

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

I like to add a “blurred” background as described here:
https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/faking_it.html

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

You could add the following two VM Commands in the PRE-COMMANDS of your menus (it assumes you are not using GPRMx anywhere else in your DVD, and GPRM0 through GPRM9 are available for you to use freely — GRPM10 is also available if you do not use a HUB Object).

If (GPRM1 > 0) LinkCN 2
GPRM1 = 1

NOTE 1: the idea is that the first time through, GPRM1 = 0 (initial value when entering the DVD for the first time). So the “IF” statement is NOT executed. The very next line sets GPRM1 to 1, so that subsequent visits to the menu, the “IF” statement will be true, and immediately link to cell-2.

NOTE 2: you can change GPRM1 in both lines of code to GPRM2 (for a 2nd menu), and GPRM3 for a 3rd menu, etc… If you start running out of GPRMs, then you can code it differently (but this example is just something to get you started).

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

Do you want them to “Transform” gradually from small to normal size? or do you want them to gradually fade in from invisible to visible? or do you want some other effect?

The first effect can be done using the TRANSFORMATION tool in DVDA4.

The 2nd option can be done by creating a motion menu that includes the buttons fading in, and then changing the LOOP-POINT for the menu. Add some buttons over the “existing buttons” in the video you prepared, and change the highlight style — maybe make them an UNDERLINE to start with until you figure out how to get external subpics using shapes…

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

I don’t know of a Batch Render for motion menus in DLP. When I use them, I usually use my NLE to create the motion menus…

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

Before using the Group Hotspot tool, left-click the arrow (to select it), and then use the LINK tab on the right, and make the BUTTON VISIBILITY = Invisible Normal. Do that for both arrows. Then use the Group Hotspot tool to draw the hotspot around the text and arrow (the arrows will be invisible, but you should still see a dotted outline around the arrows).

Now, if you only want the ARROW to highlight as you navigate your buttons (and not the text), do the same thing as above, but DO NOT use the Group Hotspot tool. Instead, just draw a rectangle around the “invisible” arrow and text (to select them both). Then on the top use Menu/Create/Combo Button (click yes in the popup window to create the button). Then add your link…

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

Did you CLONE the menus? Try going Menu/Cloning — and uncheck “Menu Background Cloning”

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

Can you lits the total sizes of both DVD’s (Original and Copied version).

Also check that both versions have all the same folders and files.

I don’t know why they would be “half the size” — unless your DVD happens to be less than about 1gb, and one burning package burns a minimum of 1gb, while the other one only burns the actual files (i.e. no padding up to 1gb for DVD Compatibility).

I would caution against burning in “DVD-DATA mode” — because DVD-VIDEO’s need to be burned properly for better compatibility (i.e. files in proper order IFO/VOB/BUP, and proper DVD-VIDEO placement of certain files).

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

[madamblahblah] “Am concerned as the space the data took up on the disk was less than the master. Would you recommend this as a good way of copying discs?”

How much was the “difference” in size? What software are you using to burn the DVD, and what “mode” are you using when burning (modes such as “Data DVD”, “DVD-VIDEO”, other…)? You should use DVD-VIDEO mode (or equivalent setting in your burning software).

What Authoring software are you using? Some will allow you to create an ISO image file, that you can just burn whenever you want when additional copies are needed.

On the PC, I use IMGBURN 2.x to burn from DVD Folders (or to create an IMAGE file).

Regards,
George

[George Wing]

[Clint Nitkiewicz Hernandez] “Can I just burn it off my regular burner I have now, or do I need a special HD DVD burner or Blue Ray burner,”

There are some packages that will allow you to author/burn “basic” HD-DVD Folders to regular DVD