Designing DVD Menus: How to Create Professional-Looking DVDs

Book Description
The rapid drop in costs and the improved functionality of authoring software has brought DVD production within the scope of every home moviemaker. A good-looking and functional menu is critical to the success of any DVD - without it, end users cannot find their way to the real content. Designing DVD Menus provides both hobbyist moviemakers and design professionals at any level of expertise with all the information and inspiration they need to create slick, stylish, exciting DVDs. It demystifies the jargon and explains technical issues in simple language. Employing plenty of easy-to-follow, step-by-step work-throughs, it encourages readers to focus on getting creative with their ideas. It is full of projects that show how to use animation, picture-within-picture, background movie clips, and audio and imaging effects to create stunning titles, menu screens, transitions, and interactive features. Overall, it offers a wealth of tips and tricks to give DVD designs that cool, professional edge.


From the Inside Flap
The DVD format can get your video out there, but will it get noticed? It's time to discover how innovative features can give your disc an extra kick. Designing DVD Menus is an incredible one-stop guide to the creative side of authoring, helping you to get great results with simple applications, and professional-quality menus using higher-end tools. It covers menu design from beginning to end, with examples of different approaches and real-world insights on style, navigation, and best working practice. Opening with a primer on menu production, it continues with professional advice on every aspect of menu design, including screen layouts, fonts, graphics, animated backgrounds, and interactive effects. The pages are peppered with examples of commercial designs, along with tips from the artists who created them. If you want to give your DVD a slick, professional edge, this is the only book you'll need.


About the Author
George Cairns worked as a video producer before spending a decade teaching Photoshop and video editing at the University of Luton, England. Now a freelance writer and designer, he writes for UK magazines including Digital Camera, Computer Arts Projects, Digital Creative Arts, and 3D World. Michael Burns is a freelance journalist with nine years' experience of writing about the creative computer graphics and digital technology industries. He contributes regulary to Computer Arts, Digit, Televisual, PC Pro, Macworld, and Macformat.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

Designing DVD Menus provides readers at any level with all the information and inspiration they need to create a complete DVD from start to finish. It demystifies the jargon and explains technical issues in terms that are easy to understand. Employing plenty of easy-to-follow, step-by-step work-throughs, it encourages readers to focus on getting creative with their ideas. It is full of projects that show how to use animation, picture-within-picture, background movie clips, and audio and imaging effects to create stunning titles, menu screens, transitions, and interactive features. Overall, it offers a wealth of tips and tricks to give your designs that cool, professional edge.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices