Tim Kurkoski
Forum Replies Created
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If you are using AE 6.5 (maybe 6.0, don’t remember), there is a slider in the Preferences > User Interface Colors that will make the UI darker or lighter. It affects the whole application, not just a single window, but it should get you where you want to go.
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I have 3 problems size and quality and format.
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The Indeo codecs are old, and not terribly good. Using the Animation codec will give better results. What purpose are you exporting the clip for? (ie, How are you going to use this clip?)
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Either drag a new background in and arrange it so that it sits behind the buttons (and on top of the old background) or edit the menu in Photoshop. To edit a locked background layer, double-click on it, give it a name, click OK.
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Yes and no. Mostly no.
You can open the menu in Photoshop Elements and edit the background or reorder items in the layers palette. But PSE is lacking one incredibly important feature that will prevent you from being able to fully edit menus: it can’t open or create layer sets.
Since all of Encore’s buttons reside within layer sets, this is a rather important feature. However, there are a couple of workarounds that allow you some limited ability to edit layers sets (but you still can’t create them).
Using the Move tool, if you check the “Auto-select layer” option, you can move items inside of a layer set. Be careful about moving objects with highlights, though, as you’ll have to move them separately and line them up again.
The text tool can select text within a layer set, and you can edit it.
Also, PSE 4 has a DVD menu template editing wizard. It’s designed for use with Premiere Elements, but PRE uses the same structure as Encore, so it’s about the same difference. But the wizard is still somewhat limited.
You’re really much better off with the full version of Photoshop, but if all you want to do is some minor tweaking, you can get away with PSE.
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Clipping paths are a simple, scalable way to create objects. It makes it easier to alter the object’s color or shape.
Clipping paths are really just vector shapes that have been turned into a mask. If you understand how vector shapes work (like in Illustrator), then all you need to do is understand masks in Photoshop. Vector shape + mask = clipping path. You might want to post on the Photoshop forum to see if they have links to tutorials on the subject, the only place I could point you is the Photoshop manual or help files.
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Well, it is only version 1.5.
Quite honestly, you can’t always rely on the application to make the workflow for you. Most advanced applications are toolsets with which you have to devise your own workflow. Not everybody likes to do things the same way.
But for those people that prefer to be handheld through the process, there are applications like Ulead and others.
If you give it some time, Tony, I’m sure you’ll come to appreciate the power of Encore. Maybe go buy a book, those usually teach you a workflow that you can use.
My own personal workflow is to start by sketching my ideas and layout on paper, then build my assets (ie, edit video with Premiere Pro), import the assets and set up the timelines, then create the menus, set the links, and burn. It’s not elegant, and I may not follow the workflow exactly every time, but it works for me.
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Yes, you can do that, but those are four different buttons. Your original post asked if one button could do two things, which it can’t.
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No and No.
First, you can’t have a button that links to two things at the same time (unless you’re thinking of embedding the MPEG in the web page).
Second, Encore can’t make links that go outside of the DVD structure. But you can use Sonic eDVD to edit a DVD image produced by Encore.
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Apply the Cross Dissolve transition.