[John Cuevas]

Sounds like you figured it out, You just need to set the links that will open up files, folders, websites. Leave the others alone, they are the links to your video timelines.

If you haven’t set chapter points in encore. Each timeline/title will have 2 default chapter points at the first and last frame. For most DVD-ROM content find the correct title and link to the first chapter point. The second chapter point pretty much defines the end action you set in encore.

Occasionally, on longer videos I have added chapter points in the middle of my video that will open a PDF or document that is mentioned in the video.

Needing a DVD vs DVD-Rom isn’t a fuction of eDVD, when you burn the DVD it will be one or the other. If it only plays video, it’s basically just a DVD. The ROM, Read Only Content, is meant for computers, ie..PDF’s, websites, email links. When you were using studio-pro and created the weblinks, you were actually creating a DVD-Rom. I’m not familiar with StudioPro but it sounds like they just handle everything in one program.

Not sure why InterActual is giving you problems. Ive burnt DVD’s with eDVD content often, pop them into computers and except for one system it auto-installed everytime. For that exception, it was a matter of closing my default DVD player, navigating to the DVD drive and double clicking, then it auto-installed.

The only problem I could foresee is in the burning of the DVD’s, where you might need to burn a hybrid DVD that works on both PC/Mac platforms. The eDVD content will not need to be modified but the burning settings might. I use a Rimage system so this is fairly easy, not sure how to do it from Encore or Nero.

Glad I could help, glad you got your project done in time. Nothing like a deadline to motivate ya to learn something new. Been there, done that.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

Yes, ROM content has to be added. You cannot use weblinks from a DVD, it needs to be a DVD-ROM.

Also, if you are just using a regular player on your computer, weblinks won’t work, it will just play the blank timeline. The computer needs to be using the InterActual player. That should automatically install if it currently isn’t on your computer when you put in the DVD rom.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

All rightie.

Create your DVD in encore, make sure for the ROM content links you create timelines with a minimum of 3 second timelines. For safety’s sake, I create timelines with a 4 second black mpeg2 video. For each ROM asset, create 1 timeline.

With everything finished, “Build DVD” choose “Build DVD Folder”.

Open eDVD, on the opening screen choose your Video-TS folder. Choose other options to taste.

eDVD and encore aren’t exactly in sync, so all the timelines come into eDVD as “Timeline 1—Chapter 1” “Timeline 2—Chapter 1”. At this point I will link one of the timelines to a folder and hit “simulate”. Now navigate around your DVD and make note of which buttone connects to which timeline.

Link all the timelines to your ROM content.

Hit the build DVD button.

Rather then using Nero, I prefer to build the DVD-Rom in encore. Open encore and under the disc settings, DVD content browse to your DVD Rom folder. At this point you need to select the “Image” folder.

Burn the DVD

Pop into a computer with that has DVD player software and let Interactual player install. Should work at this point.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

Reading this real quick, while in eDVD did you “build” the project. Hitting save just saves the workspace and the link stuff, but doesn’t actually build the ROM content.

If you have done that I can get into more specifics.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

I roto using both methods, just depends on the subject, look I’m going after…

Just recently did 2 projects that required heavy roto work. One was of quite automation robots. Using masks worked perfectly for the average speed/hard edged machines. Set up independent masks and just keyframe them as needed.

Other project I had to roto out a basketball player & ball. In some spots with the motion blur, depth of field using masks just wouldn’t allow me to get the look I needed so I opted for the VERY VERY VERY time-consuming vector paint method. This way I can use harder or softer mattes as needed.

One tip I can offer is that if you have photoshop, you don’t need to paint out everything. I paint out only the edges of my subject. Then I change the setting to paint only and place it over a black bkg. Render the entire thing to a pict sequence.

Then I open up photoshop and create an automation to select a black pixel that I know stays black the entire sequence. Reverse the selection and fill with white. Then just use the batch automation process and it will fill in all the mattes.

Also if you are going to use this method, I can’t stress enough how much a wacom will save you in time and fatigue/stress on your wrist.

Good luck

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

Sorry the correct link is…

ftp://aquinas:difference@ftp.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

No password, but the username is tower.

Very strange, I just checked the ftp and it was working fine…

One more thing for me to look into this week.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

Sorry, I needed to mention you need to download them. For some reason I can’t figure out how to make them play off the FTP.

Thanks for taking the time Mr. Ebberts.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

Sorry for not making myself clear, I think it would be easier to show you what I’m trying to accomplish.

ftp://tower:@ftp.ckandco.net

In the “out” folder I put a windows media of what I’m trying to do with 1 color. I created that using fractals though, so no alphas, which doesn’t really help me.

The “goal” file is a picture of the schools new fall catalog that is what I’m trying to mimic for video. With the boxes in each changing from one color to another in the pallete. I’ll be layering video over in NLE.

Thank you Mr. Ebberts for taking the time to help me out with this.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
http://www.ckandco.net

[John Cuevas]

How are you burning the DVD? When you linked them in the simulation, what exactly were the timelines they were linked. It’s been my experience that if you create blank timelines, the encore default sometimes isn’t long enough for eDVD. For myself I create 4 second black mpegs that I insert into the timelines or a BKG that matches my menu. This way I know that eDVD is getting enough to work.

need a little more information.