TMPGEnc DVD Author v3.1.2.176

[scytheye]

Hey all,

I'm trying to get my DVD menu just right and have looked everywhere for this. Basically I have 5 pages including the title. 1-4 have 4 chapters each on them. My goal is to *NOT* have the first frame be the chapter preview because it is black, but be an image further down to identify it without importing outside picture files, I want to use the clip stills (there are a lot of chapters).

Tried altering Global Settings - Motion Menu - Motion Menu and Background Audio (selected and looped)and then right clicking under page editor to activate the music part separately but the global settings override it.
Also tried the reverse approach, but the page editor option won't allow it due to global settings.

Basically, I just want chapter previews that either do something or show something (since the intros are black for each file). I also want to have music, but if there is a motion menu, I don't want the music tied to the motion menu length. Ideal solution would be one that allows me to have a chapter preview that links to someplace else, avoiding motion menus and just setting global music up.

Thanks!
Josh

[paglamon]

My goal is to *NOT* have the first frame be the chapter preview

Right click on the chapter thumbnail in the left pane of the Cut-Edit window. Then untick "Display this chapter in the menu".

[scytheye]

Right click on the chapter thumbnail in the left pane of the Cut-Edit window. Then untick "Display this chapter in the menu".

Good suggestion, but....

That hidden first chapter mark doesn't just disappear from the page editor, it disappears during playback too because the majority of navigation is not going to be taking place at the title menu but at the chapter menus beneath.

I want the whole track including the black intro to be a part of the playback when some non-black chapter preview is clicked.

I also want the music to be long. If I can't get the chapter previews to "lie" and show a different image, I have to put them in motion to avoid a blank black screen. Using motion menus is botching up the music, though. If the music is long, TMPGEnc won't let me have short motion menus (see above). It is "locking" the music length to the motion menu. And I'm sure y'all know why long motion menus aren't desireable.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

[paglamon]

In the Page Editor,by Right clicking on the chapter thumbnail(which,in your case, is black), you should get the option "Menu item settings". On clicking that you will get into the Menu item editor, where you can select the picture(and even a motion menu too,with selectable start and end points ).