Typeface for DVD menu

[Peter Rush]

I'm not sure if it's because I'm used to looking at everything in HD these days but I'm increasingly unhappy about fonts looking soft when I'm using a menu for SD.

I use mainly Futura font but am starting to think there may be better fonts out there that alias nicer in SD. Also I find Photoshop's pixel aspect ration preview a little unnerving until I play it back from a DVD. I design my menus for SD at the actual size, rather than author in HD and then le Encore downsample.

Then again my player upscales so I like to watch a preview on an aged machine for confirmation. I would like your opinion though.

As an aside, how many of you still adhere to title safe areas? LCD TV sets have a tiny bezel which renders traditional safe areas a little obsolete I think.

Pete

[Chris Harding]

Hi Pete

On my DVD background which is a pic of the couple I use Monotype Corsiva for the "Our Wedding Day" bit but I find that non fancy fonts are best for the menu titles so I stick to good ole Verdana and it seems to be OK. I too make my menu screen the same as SD so the pic is 1024x576.

I still adhere to safe areas ..I had a DVD set that went over the safe area on an LCD TV and my menu buttons simply vanished. Despite the screen, it can still overscan the video so you can lose critical bits!!

Chris

[Peter Rush]

Hi Chris - yes sans serif fonts are best for menu text but regarding the safe area, I wonder about having my menu buttons (I use motion thumbnails) inside the 'action safe' area but outside the 'title safe' area. I wish I had an old tube TV to test it on

Pete