Custom DVD Menus for Elements 4

[ragsk22]

Hey guys, Im some what new to elements 4 but im quickly learning! My major question here is if and how can i make my own custom dvd menus?
I have Photoshop Elements 6 and Premier Elements 4. Many thanks in advance for any help !!

[Chuck Engels]

I don't like to recommend things that cost money here, but the best thing out there for this is Steve's Tip at http://muvipix.com/products.php?maincat_id=7&subcat_id=7
Be sure to get "Customizing a DVD Template, Step by Step" that is the best one, and for $9.95 it is well worth it. Also, if you have any questions Steve is available to answer them at muvipix :)

You cannot create a menu from scratch without the professional version of Photoshop or After Effects, but you can make modifications to an existing template and make it pretty much whatever you want.

[ATR]

ragsk22

Learning comes in many packages from many sources. But, you may want to check out the following previous threads on the topic before you get involved in any cost involved ventures:

DVD Menus

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31161

Custom DVD Templates

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25223&highlight=Menus


I try to check the threads daily, so, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to post them.

ATR

[Chuck Engels]

This is one of the best FREE explanations
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bc24d89

It is written by the same person that created the $10 article at muvipix. The article has screen shots and goes into a lot more detail about DVD Template structure and how to add and remove buttons and much more.

Free generally comes with a price called TIME, if you have the time to figure it out, ask questions, wait for answers, then go FREE. If you want to cut to the chase and just learn how to do something then it might cost you a few bucks. Sites like Lynda.com, muvipix.com, Total Training, and others are around for a reason, to help people learn quickly :)

[ATR]

Hi CE,

No pun intended, but I guess you did not have time to check out my suggested reading material in this thread. The free link that you suggested is included in that reading material.

I would agree that "quick" and "time saving" are a buzz words in today's society, but quick and time saving are not always synonymous with understanding and getting the deed done.

I have already made comments in the previous threads about edited versus created (from scratch) DVD menus. I do not believe that you have to be a brain surgeon in order to create DVD menus. BUT, you do have to have the proper tools. I believe that my post offered an "overview tool" and that ragsk22 will need to follow up with the appropriate "software tool(s)" to get the desired result.

As always, you, friends, and I are here to help if there is a point were the execution does not meet up with the tools.

ATR

[Chuck Engels]

Hi ATR, Actually I think you do need to be a brain surgeon to create a dvd menu from scratch. You need to be a Photoshop Pro or After Effect guru just to create buttons, Steve has done it but he is a professional.

I don't understand layer sets all that well, and you can't create layer sets in Premiere Elements, so yes the correct tools are important. You can do some modification to layer sets in Premiere Elements but need to be extremely careful.

This was much easier in version 2 than it is now in versions 3 and 4, at least for me it is.

[ATR]

I have to see if I ever downloaded CS3. If I have not, I am going to whip up some DVD menus to prove my point.

The specific combo of Photoshop Elements 4 and Premiere Elements 2 allows you to create DVD menus from scratch. Do you know....Does that let you get at the Layer Sets (which is not a feature of Photoshop Elements) or does "the wizard" do all that behind the scenes.

If I have tried CS3 and am not entitled to another tryout, maybe I could get away with proving my point by getting my hands on Photoshop Elements 4. I already have Premiere Elements 2.

To be continued...but do not be intimidated by creating DVD menus from scratch, although editing existing ones would serve most purposes. BTW, I thought that you created those DVD menu over at your web site. If so, what are your biggest hangups in creating them.

ATR

[Chuck Engels]

In Photoshop Elements 4 you cannot work with Layer Sets, the menus didn't use them in Premiere Elements 2 (or at least you couldn't get at them). Photoshop Elements 4 cannot create menus for anything other than Premiere Elements 2 and it does not let you make buttons.

Steve created most of the Menu Templates at muvipix, I have done a few for version 2. I don't like working with Layer Sets and I don't like the layout, too much that can go wrong. I am not that good with Photoshop, and creating buttons is almost impossible. I have not created a single menu for versions 3 or 4, Steve does all of those.

[ragsk22]

Sorry i have been out of town since posting the question and thanks for the input so far im sure to have many more questions! and im really not in a big hurry hurry yet, Having my first child i went out and bought a camcorder and this elements package and dove right in :) i made my first video and learned alot with just trial and error and the family loved it and now everybody is waiting for the next video of my daughter and i have been putting the next one together and i want to do a video and a couple slideshows but the menu options seem a little limited and kinda cheezy

[ATR]

ragsk22

First, congratulations on the arrival of your child. Some times we get wrapped up in recording a precious moment rather than enjoying it, so do not fall into that trap (which I do very often).

As for DVD menus....I suggest trying "editing the existing DVD Main Menus and Scene Menus" first. I suspect that Chuck Engels may hinted at a visit to his web site http://www.muvipix.com once or twice. There may be some free DVD menus over there that you could download and use.

But, let us know the outcome.

ATR