DVD-Software.info

[Ken Maltby]

I've come across several "tricks" to make just about any menu
you can dream up, in TMPGEnc DVD Author (TDA).

First off you will need a graphics editor that can make ".psd" files,
Photoshop, or the free GIMP 2. (for the first two ideas)

The latest is the "kk_oop Thumbnail Speck" trick
("kk_oop" provided it on the "rec.video.desktop" Newsgroup)

When you make your own Thumbnail Frames, you create a .psd
file with three layers. The bottom layer gets labeled "Frame" and
normally is shaped as a frame. On top of that is a solid black
layer that normally fills in the an area "inside" the frame, this is
labeled "Thumbnail". Lastly, a copy of the thumbnail layer is on
top, it's visibility is set "off" and it's labeled "Highlight".

"kk_oop" came up with this trick so that he could have fancy "layer"
effects on his text menu buttons. TDA's text lets you use most fonts
but only with solid colors, no gradients or such. He posted:

" I made my frame layer the fancy text. I made the thumbnail layer
have a very tiny rectangle. Note that if I made the rectangle too small,
TDA would not let me import it. So I just had to make it the size of a
spec. I made my highlight layer have a rectangle cover the frame
layer, and made the highlight layer invisible, as normal.

This worked great. Since the Thumbnail rectangle is so small, you
really can't see it on the TV (though it is big enough that TDA will
accept it). And the" Frame "can be any graphic you want. The trick
is that you set the highlight size for the frame instead of the "spec"
thumbnail. Like I mentioned, if TDA chokes when you pull it in, it
probably means you made your spec too small."

I've used the "kk_oop Thumbnail Spec" trick to finally make the
TiVo episode description into a "track"/title selection button. I
leave the "Thumbnail" layer transparent and set it at 10x3 pixels.

"Roll-over Text" trick:

Another thing you can do when making your own "Thumbnail
Frame" based graphic "Button" is to use a fancy font text layer
as your "Highlight" labeled layer. You can now adjust the color
and transparency of the highlight effect, so set it to opaque and
when you mouse-over your "frame" the text will appear.

With this approach you can make objects that you can manipulate
within TDA,

My older method won't allow as much manipulation within TDA
but is very versatile otherwise;

I have a trick that I use, that allows me to define any
square or rectangular area, of the background, as the button.
Basically I use blank text characters and a dot, asterisk or
something from the "Wingdings" font for the mouse over highlight.
You incorporate whatever you want to be your "Button" into the
background image. Then, in TDA, you position the blank text area
over your "button" area. The text "button" area's width and height
can be adjusted within TDA.

I've made some with a still background using Gimp-2,
but anything that can make any of the formats the
background selection dialog allows will work. Motion
menus could also be produced -externally from
TDA- and brought in as background clips. As long as
the button area(s) remain in the same spot/area it should
work. (actually, as long as the item you select on's
movements keep it in an area on the screen that doesn't
overlap the area of another selection item, you will be ok.)

Hope this can be of some use.

Luck;
Ken