Encore Colour Pallet Compatabilty Photoshop Problem

A problem I was faced with was the compatibility problem between Photoshop and Encore..
Once I exported the menu into Encore, I then had to got into the colour pallet in Encore and make a new profile to adjust the colour correction rollovers in Encore.

Exporting the DVD in Encore to a DVD

EDIT- I have made an edit to the PLAY option on the root menu- after selecting "Play" on the root menu.
after 6 seconds of the black jpeg image- it automatically reverts back to the root menu, as seen in all viewed DVD menus!

Video tutorial assistance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iaX0bd_Kd8

From DVD report( use -R DVD's as they are slightly more compatible)
reduce the speed in which use write the DVD- reduce the en-coding bit rate!
.PAL settings

A last edit I made to my Encore doucment was to add a: Subititle option that when you click it, reverts back to the root menu.
The languages, bonus material and scene selction options link to the black play Jpeg- and then revert back to the menu. As this is also seen on all DVD menus, and re-enacts the movie starting to play and finishing, then returning back to the previous menu!

Update- how to add audio to the menu! + how to ensure your desired option is 1st selected when you open a the menu/option pages!!

In the properties menu, (top right in CS5)
Drag the pick-wip tool- from audio to the audio clip in the project files- located left of the screen.

How to modify the 1st selected option on your menu/ pages.

For example, when you open a scene selection page, you want the 1st button IE scene 1 to be already selected when you first open the menu!

To do this you highlight the button, theen you go to the properties bar and choose: Type number: 1

This will ensure when you open this page, scene 1 is auto-highlighted!

DVD Root Menu--- Fidget annimation of title compatiblity problem

I started by trying to key frame animate the main title in Adobe Premiere, the result was successful, however Encore didn't accept to import the file as importing it as a movie (Mpeg) file caused the buttons to be compressed, therefore in the preview in Encore the buttons didn't work.

Also the title layer couldn't be separately animated as it was too large as it masked over the  button layers

I then tried to animate the title using annimation in Photoshop, this didn't work either as.The buttons now work but the title didn't playing its fidget animation.

Also ive tried hiding the button layers in photoshop and animating the title in photoshop. then exporting the document as a movie.
I then made a transparent background layer, with the buttons visible. This still didn't work!
I then went into Encore and layered the fidget animation video file as a background video file, then tried copying and pasting the buttons onto the video file, the buttons were not able to be copied.

I have asked from advice from teachers and looked at numerous/ countless amounts of video tutorials online, these were unable to help me.

(if you would like to see my video files, PSD files, Premiere files showing my attempts PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

It's a great disappointment that this fidget animation cant be used on my root menu, as this would have greatly added to the horror theme!

Development..

From looking at a large number of DVD menus, I have used the knowledge to help me with my flow chart.

Fade in- Copyright notice- dip to black fade out
Fade in- disclaimer notice- dip to black, fade out
Individual transition entrance to match the theme of the distribution logo
Anti-piracy commerical

Collecting feedback for the edits to make on my intro footage- ( polled to appear before my root menu)

I had gained many ideas of possible edits to carry out some of which I have are:

Edited in Adobe Premiere

1.) Slowly increasing the speed of the images appearance and exit (so they enter and exit quicker), this would build up suspense, (along with the background music.)

I carried out this edit, exported it as a video and posted it on Facebook, to collect qualitative/ detailed feedback. Overall the audience felt it didn't work well with the slow suspense background music. As the images slowly increased in speed, they felt they weren't able to reflect on the horror/ scary imagery.
I also tried increasing the speed of the music to match the timing of the increasing speed of the photo slide show- this was not approved by the audience either.
I also tried increasing the speed of the music to match the timing of the increasing speed of the photo slide show- this was not approved by the audience either!




 So I gave the photos a consistent timing along with consistent animations. The audience felt this had more of an impact on them , as they were able to actually 'see the images'.

The audience also like the white flash (shortened dip to white transition)  as this adds a dramatic effect to the ending of the slide show, which is also well timed with the music.

Distribution logo development

After creating my Dark Light Productions distributions logo, I then animated the logo in Adobe Premiere.
Then polled audience preferred the annimated entrance from the others at they felt it matched the logo itself, as the moonlight seems to gradually expose the logo, from lop left to bottom right.

They also polled the best animated exit would be dip to black/ dissolve out.

After suggesting a number of tranquil/ horror type backing tracks to go with the logo.
Beethoven Moonlight Sonata was most favorited.  

Change to Font- Title.

After publishing the mock-up for feedback, I've had constant suggestions the title 'Hidden In The Dark', it doesn't impress.

So iv'e added a bevel and emboss effect, in Photoshop.
Settings:
Smooth depth 101, size 54, angle -127, altitude 64, soft light, multiply, (global light used.)

My target audience prefers this title appearance as it has more of an impact as it seems to appear as 3D, grabbing the audiences attention.

Transitions: to each page/ option selected

Horror

Dip to black- fade in.

Annimation of the still image on background on the root menu loops 2 times before autoplay into the movie.

New term

SUBPICTURES- is the terminology given for a menu marker, used thorughout the DVD menu.

Animation edits I could make to my SCI-FI or Horror DVD menu?

SCI-FI

Title: "Behind The Sun"
My rollover effects could be when you hover of the sun, the menu options diffuse out from the sun, or when you click on a menu option, the title diffuses into the sun and disappears, "behind the sun".
The background picture of the sun could have a diffuse glowing animation effect- also showing sun flare.

Horror

Rollover effect:
Title : hidden in the dark

Menu titles appear out of the darkness/ become more clear as you hover over/ select them.
The still image in the background on the root menu- darkens and brightens- animation- to appear if the lights were fading on and off. The still image could also flicker, to appear as if light bulbs are flickering.  

Most popular 'horror' edits, I could make to my movie footage/ photography..

De-saturate, Gaussian blur, add film grain to the image, blood brushes, sepia effect, inverting effects, grain extract mode, white balance (photography, changes overall colour filter.) contrast edits,

SCI FI Edits

Diffusion glow to text, titles and images
Contrast edits
Vibrance + Saturation edits
Lens vignetting
(Photography) sun flare edits

Film footage + still images?- Location results from survey

Cellar, Eerie looking house, woods/ forests, grave yard, empty car parks.
These were the popular comments made- I will now take photos and record footage in these locations. Then I'll show these to my audience to decide on the best images and footage.

Film footage + still images?

I'm going to carry out another short survey to identify where my film footage/ still image settings/ locations to shoot could be?

Question: Where do you think is the best location is to capture a 'scary' image?

Suggestions to 'like' on Facebook.com HORROR
>Cellar
>Corridor
>Eerie looking house
>Woods/ forest
>Grave yard
> Churches
>Empty multi- story car parks
>"Eerie" looking hotels
ANY OTHER LOCATIONS COMMENT BELOW. Thank You

SCI-FI

Photographs of:

Space, stars, the sun, the moon- long exposures.- Macro photography

(Hypothetically- my DVD sub-menu title style!

(Hypothetically- my DVD menu title style!

N.b-

Outline of sub-menu titles- rollover effect- become visible- to match 'hidden in the dark' film concept.

Use stills in the root menu?- slide show of images?- in background?- any animations?

Colours to be used..?

From looking at a large number of Horror and Independent horror films. I have seen that the most common colours used were:


Black- usual used to give a strong contrast background
Red: This colour is mainly used in text, ( in my opinion, as this creates a stereotypical horror film image.)


E.G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4OaoRopjrQ (Saw DVD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YQTRjpl_IE (Saw 6 DVD )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUOdfLGGNzY (Friday 13th DVD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9uDm5X8Ndk&feature=related (cabin fever)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tkJDA4HJaE&feature=related (Dead silence DVD menu) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHdUrnlvM2w&feature=related (Gothika)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeliqbwDhvg&feature=related (SCREAM 4 )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzBVa_3oluo (Hell raiser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs7FJWvlKOw (Silent hill)



From looking at a large number of SC FI films. I have seen the most common colours used were:


Blue, green, white (text), orange, red and silver.
Black- usually a background colour.- most backgrounds- space
A majority of text also uses a diffuse glow effect on text.  

E.G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN-j6UFkszk (Monster DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTNr_SieMhg (Total reality DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70KN3SSNM78 (star wars DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwN9dsLI4HM (BAck To The future DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXkJvtETEd8 (E.T DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smvZEQUtsSc (Terminator DVD menu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kur73BL9XQY (Men In Black)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfU7nP3oIH0&feature=related (Ghost busters)

Facebook Moving imagery intro footage before the root menu appears?

From the Facebook poll, I can conclude that 33/ 51 people agreed with using 'scary' moving footage in my DVD menu.
Only 18/51 said they disagreed with the idea.

The main reasons against the idea, was that the moving footage, would simply be 'another' element included in the DVD menu, that increases the time the full film can be played by the viewer. People commented that. " There is always a underlying sense of frustration I get when waiting for all the DVD credits to play and finish, before I can press play on the root menu."

However, a majority agreed that film footage, shown before the root menu, would help suggest to the readers the initial theme/ concept to the actual film. (Suggesting to the viewers the initial emotional response  to the film.) 
The audience think having small captions from the film would help set the initial response of the audience before the film even starts!

Should I use moving imagery in my DVD menu?

In order to answer this question, Iv'e set up a Facebook.com poll.

http://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/poll?pid=AB9SqdzIkPc

DVD Menu- Audio

Suggested ideas:

HORROR

Eeire piano chords
High pitch violins
Drums

SCI - FI

Futuristic theme tune audio- similar to Back To The Future, Star Wars and Indiana Jones- theme tune music.
Must contain- Drums, trumpets ETC

Ideas...

From looking at other DVD menus: my DVD will include:

Auto-play-feature-
Pre-set language- English 
Cut into- copyright notice
Distribution logo- black b.g
Anti- piracy commercial (this dips to black) To:
Option 1 :- Film footage (5 secs) then a cross dissolve into the main root menu (still image as background.)
 Option 2: Anti-piracy commercial dips to black, then fades straight into the root menu (with no film footage/ moving image intro.)

The Creative Process...

Fonts:

I have chosen 10 different font styles that I feel that would help match in with the continuity (theme) of my chosen theme DVD category which is: Independent Horror.

Independent horror: A professional feature film mostly out of major production film studios systems. These films are also distributed by independent entertainment companies.

Some examples of Independent horror films:
Night Of The Living Dead- budget £6000
Texas Chainsaw Massacre- £83,000
Cannibal Holocaust- £100,000
Paranormal Activity- £15,000


After a survey, it was concluded the
Main title of the film should be Font: Face Your Fears- (dafont.com) score: 8/22 vote

All other font INCL.. sub menu font should be in either: IMFELL or OPTIMUSPrinceps font (Dafont.com) score: 13/22 vote

Introduction To Adobe Encore CS3

I have produced a skills audit document on 'how to handle' the basics of Adobe Encore.
It covers:
Keywords such as: Assests, timelines and menus
How to import and simply cut/ edit clips.
How to obtain specific features such as pre-set/ pre-made menus 
Lastly clearly explaining how to link clips together, and how to preview your DVD menu as it would appear on the final exported DVD.