Jon Geddes
Forum Replies Created
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So it sounds like you are trying to combine multiple clips with different PARs into a single timeline. If so, I would recommend trying to export them all as a single file out of your NLE, then import that clip into an Encore timeline.
You can force Encore to use a specific pixel aspect ratio of the video by right clicking on the asset, then going to interpret footage.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
I agree that Encore has many bugs, and some of your observations are valid bugs with the program. However I also have to agree with much of what Joe and Jeff have said. Some of the problems you encountered are not really problems at all, but rather the logical way most people would want the program to work.
I design custom motion menu templates for use with Encore, which includes a pre-designed menu template created in Photoshop which then gets imported into Encore. I have never encountered a problem importing them, nor have any of our customers. I’m not sure where your problem is coming from, maybe you are not creating your menu properly, using the correct Layer Group prefix, and dimensions of the document.
In my blog, I posted a long list of bugs I encountered while authoring a Blu-ray/DVD disc and I also include the solutions for each and every one. Some of which you discovered, such as the rendering of the motion menus regardless if they had been rendered already or not.
You can read it here:
https://www.precomposed.com/blog/2009/05/encore-tutorial/
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
I’ve actually just wrote an article on this topic, since both Apple and Adobe software are plagued by horrible downscaling algorithms. Unfortunately I have yet to find a solution on the Mac, however I do provide a workflow that rivals the quality of Hollywood studios, using completely free applications. I provide sample images and all:
https://www.precomposed.com/blog/2009/07/hd-to-sd-dvd-best-methods/
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
You might find a good expression to do it at Dan Ebbert’s https://www.motionscript.com/
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
Whoops… I just realized you said video, meaning all your objects are in a single layer, in which case this expression would not work. There are some plugins that can create a matte from moving/non-moving objects. Boris FX has one I believe as part of their collection. You might be able to duplicate the footage, then apply the matte (might need to be precomposed and possibly altered to be black/white) as a track matte to an adjustment layer which has a blur applied to it.
Good Luck.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
Or you could apply a fast blur (or any kind of blur) to all the layers, then apply this expression to the Amount of the blur:
S = thisLayer.transform.position.speed;
BlurAmount = 15;
if(S>0){
0;
}else{
BlurAmount;
}That would cause the layer to not be blurred once it started moving.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
If you are talking about the button highlights, then the point at which they are displayed can be configured by the “Loop Point” setting in the menu’s properties.
If you are talking about actual pictures or video that you dragged into a drop zone, then no, you cannot specify that in Encore. You must create the Background in a different application such as Premiere or After Effects.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
If you have After Effects and want an extremely impressive motion menu for your client, you should visit https://www.precomposed.com. The projects are designed for Blu-ray or Standard DVD, and include complete walkthrough video tutorials. The tutorials are available for everyone from the tutorial section, even if you don’t decide to purchase.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
You can edit audio in AE, but it’s not really designed for it. You would be much better off using a multi-track audio application such as vegas, audition, soung forge, etc… Adobe Premiere would even be better to use for audio than AE.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com -
With that many layers you probably should have used a particle system like Trapcode Particular or Trapcode Form which would give you easy controls over that. For best results it should probably be done in a full 3D app.
Jon Geddes
http://www.precomposed.com