Table of Contents

Getting Started

Basic DVD Authoring

Lesson 1. Preparing Your First DVD Project

DVD Creation Process

The DVD-Video Specification

Exploring the Interface

Creating a Simple DVD in Basic View

Creating a Menu

Connecting Assets to the Menu

Simulating a Disc

Building a Project and Burning a Disc

Lesson Review

Lesson 2. Exploring the Full Interface

Opening the Project

Exploring Window Configurations

Adjusting the Project

Lesson Review

Lesson 3. Setting Up a Simple DVD

Storyboarding Your DVD

Creating the Swiss Storyboard Using the Graphical Tab

Previewing the Finished Project with Apple’s DVD Player

Identifying Source Video Settings

Setting DVD Studio Pro Preferences

Setting Up Disc Properties

Importing Video and Audio Files

Setting Chapter Markers

Lesson Review

Lesson 4. Creating Menus Within DVD Studio Pro

The Menu Creation Process

Importing Assets

Adding a Background Graphic

Using the Title Safe and Action Safe Features

Creating Buttons on a Still Menu

Making Connections from Buttons to Video

Adding Title and Text to the Menu

Adding Sound to the Menu

Creating an Intro Menu

Targeting Up Navigation on Your DVD

Using a Drop Zone to Create a Motion Menu

Lesson Review

Lesson 5. Creating a Chapter Index Menu

Customizing a Default Chapter Index Menu

Setting Up the Chapter Index Navigation Buttons

Adding a Drop Zone Shape

Automating the Chapter Index Menu Creation Process

Lesson Review

Lesson 6. Creating a Slideshow

Using Slideshows

File Formats for Slideshows

Adding a Slideshow

Modifying Your Slideshow

Slideshow Transitions

Converting a Slideshow to a Track

Lesson Review

Lesson 7. Adding Subtitles

Creating Subtitles in DVD Studio Pro

Modifying the Font and Color of Subtitles

Importing Subtitles from a Text File

Previewing Subtitles

Creating Buttons over Video

About Closed Captioning

Lesson Review

Lesson 8. Finishing Your DVD

Adding DVD-ROM Content to a DVD-Video Disc

Testing Your Project

Building and Formatting a DVD

Using the Apple DVD Player

Burning a Disc Using the Burn Command

Choosing Recordable DVD Media

Distribution of Your Completed DVD

Lesson Review

Advanced Authoring and Design

Lesson 9. Encoding with Compressor

Understanding Compression

Importing a File into Compressor from Final Cut Pro

Applying Preset Settings

Creating Custom Settings

Setting Compression Markers in Compressor

Creating Chapter Markers

Submitting Files for Encoding

Creating a Compressor Droplet

Lesson Review

Lesson 10. Designing Advanced Menus

Maintaining the Look of Menu Graphics

Creating Standard Menus

Adding a Simple Overlay

Creating Buttons for the Overlay

Choosing Highlights for Button States

Using Advanced Overlays with Grayscale Color Mapping

Customizing Button Colors

Saving New Default Colors

Adding a Motion Background

Setting a Loop Point

Working with Motion Menus

Advantages of Layered Menus

Adding a Layered Menu

Creating Layered Menu Buttons

Linking Your Assets

Lesson Review

Lesson 11. Markers, Stories, and Connections

Working with Chapter Markers

Creating Markers in Final Cut Pro

Setting Encoding Preferences

Using Stories as Playlists

Creating and Working with Stories

Establishing Connections

Finding the Unconnected Elements

Lesson Review

Lesson 12. Scripting

Building Menu Loop Scripts

Creating Return to Menu Scripts

Lesson Review

Lesson 13. Creating Transitions

Applying a Transition

Using a Video Transition

Using Alpha Transitions

Exploring the Asset Movie

Exploring the Background Matte Movie

Lesson Review

Lesson 14. Using Alternate Angles

Setting Up the Project

About Alternate Angles

Creating Multi-Angle Tracks

Creating Mixed-Angle Tracks

Targeting Alternate Angle Streams

Simulating Alternate Angle Streams

About Alternate Angle Errors

Exploring Final Cut Pro Cut Markers

Lesson Review

Working with HD

Lesson 15. Converting SD to HD

HD to SD Downconversions

Encoding HD Assets

Converting SD Projects to HD Projects

Lesson Review

Appendix A. Advanced Encoding

Bit Budgeting

Choosing MPEG-2 Encoder Settings

Understanding Audio Encoding Formats

Encoding AC-3 Files

Appendix B. Bit Budget Calculator

Glossary

Index