Designing DVD Menus: How to Create Professional-Looking DVDs (DV Expert Series) [Paperback]

Michael Burns MD (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1578202590 | ISBN-13: 978-1578202591 | Publication Date: January 26, 2004 | Edition: 1

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.

* The definitive guide to creating slick, stylish, exciting DVDs.
* Invaluable for design professionals as well as aspiring filmmakers and home users.
* Covers the basics of user interface design as well as advanced techniques for creating animated menus.

Editorial Reviews

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

Michael Burns is a freelance journalist writing about the creative computer graphics, digital technology, and new media and design industries. George Cairns is a freelance video producer, artist and writer with 10 years' experience teaching Photoshop and video editing at UK Universities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (January 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578202590
• ISBN-13: 978-1578202591
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,482,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Newbie DVD Authors, March 31, 2010

By 

Carol Mathers - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Designing DVD Menus: How to Create Professional-Looking DVDs (DV Expert Series) (Paperback)

I wanted to design my own DVD menus, but had NO CLUE where to start.
This was the only book I could find on the subject, and it tackled my problem
head-on. So I'm happy.

It has plenty of pictures and instructions, and you'll also get a lot of
inspiration from all of the DVD menus featured.

Highly recommended for anybody who is looking to get into DVD authoring!