Menu aspect question for photoshop at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · April 1st, 2009, 01:49 PM

I am making back ground images for my menus for a widescreen dvd. What dimensions and Pixel Aspect ratio should I use in photoshop so they display correctly after being burned to the DVD? Also is there a template for this with safe margins? Thanks :)

Tripp Woelfel · April 1st, 2009, 09:31 PM

You don't state what authoring program you're using. In Encore there are some HD templates that I use after I kick them around in Photoshop. I never stopped to look at the size and aspect ratio but if I had to guess, I'd say 1920x1080 with a PAR of 1.

If your software has template files, open one of them in Photoshop and look at size and PAR.

Mitchell Lewis · April 1st, 2009, 10:33 PM

He said "widescreen DVD". I assume that means Standard Def, not High Def.

I think the number is 720x586, but I can't remember for sure. It's 720 x something.

Tripp Woelfel · April 2nd, 2009, 04:55 AM

Oops... My bad. I shouldn't post late at night.

If you're using Encore or another tool with menu templates, my advice still applies. That said, I have made menus in Photoshop for WS SD DVDs from scratch. What I did was take the dimensions of NTSC SD video, 720x480, and multiply the horizontal resolution by the WS PAR which for SD is 1.2, I think. As I recollect, I came up with 864x480, which is what used. It all worked.

Encore may do some processing to adjust menus to the right size for WS projects, but it will not take 4x3 menus and automatically scale them to 16x9 because I've created WS projects with 4x3 menus and the menus retained their aspect ratio. I cannot speak to other authoring software since my world is all Encore.

Ben Longden · May 20th, 2009, 06:48 AM

Easy stuff... open Photoshop, click on NEW, then in custom sizes, there are a whole heap of templates for you to choose from.

When you work on a project that you would like to use as an transparent overlay, such as logo (or bug) or lower third, then keep it as a .PSD file, making the base layer transparent.

Ben

April 1st, 2009, 01:49 PM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Menu aspect question for photoshop I am making back ground images for my menus for a widescreen dvd. What dimensions and Pixel Aspect ratio should I use in photoshop so they display correctly after being burned to the DVD? Also is there a template for this with safe margins? Thanks :) __________________ Cinematography Site

April 1st, 2009, 10:33 PM	#3
Mitchell Lewis Trustee Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 1,124	He said "widescreen DVD". I assume that means Standard Def, not High Def. I think the number is 720x586, but I can't remember for sure. It's 720 x something. __________________ Sony EX3, Canon 5D MkII, Chrosziel Matte Box, Sachtler tripod, Steadicam Flyer, Mac Pro, Apple/Adobe software - 20 years as a local videographer/editor

April 1st, 2009, 09:31 PM	#2
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	You don't state what authoring program you're using. In Encore there are some HD templates that I use after I kick them around in Photoshop. I never stopped to look at the size and aspect ratio but if I had to guess, I'd say 1920x1080 with a PAR of 1. If your software has template files, open one of them in Photoshop and look at size and PAR.

April 2nd, 2009, 04:55 AM	#4
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Oops... My bad. I shouldn't post late at night. If you're using Encore or another tool with menu templates, my advice still applies. That said, I have made menus in Photoshop for WS SD DVDs from scratch. What I did was take the dimensions of NTSC SD video, 720x480, and multiply the horizontal resolution by the WS PAR which for SD is 1.2, I think. As I recollect, I came up with 864x480, which is what used. It all worked. Encore may do some processing to adjust menus to the right size for WS projects, but it will not take 4x3 menus and automatically scale them to 16x9 because I've created WS projects with 4x3 menus and the menus retained their aspect ratio. I cannot speak to other authoring software since my world is all Encore.

May 20th, 2009, 06:48 AM	#5
Ben Longden Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Echuca, Victoria, Australiamate Posts: 179	Easy stuff... open Photoshop, click on NEW, then in custom sizes, there are a whole heap of templates for you to choose from. When you work on a project that you would like to use as an transparent overlay, such as logo (or bug) or lower third, then keep it as a .PSD file, making the base layer transparent. Ben