Quick-Play Menus, the gateway drug to BDedit menu creation.

[Lowpro]

Tomorrow I'll be testing the vertical menu layout support for my Universal Blu-ray Authoring Template. (See the post here for a revised version of the GPR definitions my template will be using.) In preparation for tomorrow I decided to create a mock-up in Photoshop of a Blu-ray menu which utilizes both a horizontal and vertical menu layout. I recently purchased the movie "Twisted" on Blu-ray, a Kino Lorber release. The menus were a bit underwhelming so I decided why not. Eye candy provided below of the TOP MENU.

MAIN MENU:

(Navigating "LEFT/RIGHT" wraps around at either end. Navigating "UP" performs the same action as pressing "OK". Well, only in cases where pressing "OK" would take you up a level within the menu. Navigating "DOWN" is used to return to the previous level of the menu. Navigating "DOWN" from the first level of the menu does nothing. )

PLAY:

(When selecting "PLAY" and pressing "OK" the above "Resume" prompt is given. The "Resume where you left off" option in this case is greyed out as playback can't be resumed.)

PLAY (Commentary):

(When selecting "PLAY" and pressing "OK" the above "Commentary" prompt is given if "Commentary" integration is turned on, options provided to watch the "Feature Presentation" with or without audio commentary.)

PLAY (Commentary\Resume):

(Pressing "OK" from a given "Commentary" option results in the above "Resume" prompt being displayed if playback of the "Feature Presentation" can be resumed. If playback can't be resumed no prompt is given, playback starting immediately. In the above example playback can be resumed, the "Resume where you left off" option selected by default.)

AUDIO:

(When going to the "AUDIO" page the check mark positioned to the right of the items calls out the current audio stream for the Feature Presentation. If the movie hadn't been played yet the first menu item is selected by default. Selecting the current stream will automatically take you to the "SUBTITLES" page. Navigating "RIGHT" at any time will move your selection to the current stream.)

SUBTITLES:

(When going to the "SUBTITLES" page the check mark positioned to the right of the items calls out the current subtitle stream for the Feature Presentation. Selecting the current stream will automatically take you back a level to the "PLAY" button. Navigating "RIGHT" at any time will move your selection to the item that reflects the current state of the subtitles.)

BONUS:

(When selecting the "Bonus" option from the retail Blu-ray a single list of all bonus features is displayed. See here. I decided to group the bonus features by category instead. When going to the "BONUS" page the last category that was in use is selected by default. The same is the case when entering a given category, the last bonus feature played from the given category being selected by default.)

BONUS (Commentary):

(The commentary track is available from the "PLAY", "AUDIO" and "BONUS" options. Turning the commentary off results in the previous audio selection for the Feature Presentation being restored in addition to the previous bonus feature selection.)

BONUS (Featurettes):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 3 featurettes. If playback can be resumed the "Resume" prompt is given when selecting a given item and pressing "OK". Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item also displays the "Resume" prompt, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out if playback can't be resumed. Navigating "LEFT" takes you back to the "Featurettes" bonus option.)

BONUS (Deleted Scenes):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 10 extended/deleted scenes. If playback can be resumed the "Resume" prompt is given when selecting a given item and pressing "OK". Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item also displays the "Resume" prompt, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out if playback can't be resumed. Navigating "LEFT" takes you back to the "Deleted Scenes" bonus option.)

BONUS (Trailers):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 1 feature trailer and 8 bonus trailers. For good measure I'll be including a "Play All" option. If playback can be resumed the "Resume" prompt is given when selecting a given item and pressing "OK". Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item displays the "Resume" prompt as well. Navigating "LEFT" takes you back to the "Trailers" bonus option.)

BONUS (Playback Options\Start from beginning.):

(The above "Resume" prompt is displayed when selecting a "Bonus Feature", then navigating "Right" or pressing "OK". In the above example the "Resume where you left off" option is greyed out as playback of the selected item can't be resumed.)

BONUS (Playback Options\Resume where you left off.):

(The above "Resume" prompt is displayed when selecting a "Bonus Feature", then navigating "Right" or pressing "OK". In the above example playback can be resumed, the "Resume where you left off" option being selected by default.)

[Lowpro]

I just completed the POPUP MENU for the latest Blu-ray I'm working on. Thought I'd share some eye candy. See my prior post for pics of the TOP MENU.

MAIN:

(Navigating "LEFT/RIGHT" wraps around at either end. Navigating "UP" performs the same action as pressing "OK". Well, only in cases where pressing "OK" would take you up a level within the menu. Navigating "DOWN" is used to return to the previous level of the menu. Navigating "DOWN" from the first level of the menu turns the POPUP MENU off. When turning the POPUP MENU off, then back on again the prior state of the POPUP MENU is restored.)

AUDIO:

(When going to the "AUDIO" page the current audio stream is selected by default. While on the "AUDIO" page the header will always call out the current stream. Selecting the current stream will automatically take you to the "SUBTITLES" page. Navigating "UP" at any time will move your selection to the current stream.)

SUBTITLES:

(When going to the "SUBTITLES" page the check mark positioned to the right of the items calls out the current subtitle stream. Navigating "RIGHT" at any time will move your selection to the current stream. Selecting the current stream turns the POPUP MENU off.)

BONUS:

(When selecting the "BONUS" option from the retail Blu-ray a single list of all bonus features is displayed. See here. I decided to group the bonus features by category instead. When going to the "BONUS" page the last category that was in use is selected by default. The same is the case when entering a given category, the last bonus feature played from the given category being selected by default.)

BONUS (Commentary):

(The commentary track is available from the "AUDIO" and "BONUS" options. Turning commentary off results in the previous audio selection for the Feature Presentation being restored in addition to the previous bonus feature selection.)

BONUS (Commentary\Resume):

(The above "Resume" prompt is always displayed when navigating "RIGHT" or pressing "OK" from a given commentary menu item, the options given to continue playback or start from the beginning. When making your selecting the POPUP MENU remains on, the user taken back to the "BONUS\COMMENTARY" page.)

BONUS (Featurettes):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 3 featurettes. When selecting a bonus feature and pressing "OK" no prompt is given. Playback begins immediately. Navigating "LEFT" from a given item takes you back to the "Featurettes" bonus option. Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item displays the "Resume" prompt, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out as it's not possible to resume playback of a bonus feature when played from the Feature Presentation.)

BONUS (Deleted Scenes):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 10 extended/deleted scenes. When selecting a bonus feature and pressing "OK" no prompt is given. Playback begins immediately. Navigating "LEFT" from a given item takes you back to the "Deleted Scenes" bonus option. Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item displays the "Resume" prompt, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out as it's not possible to resume playback of a bonus feature when played from the Feature Presentation.)

BONUS (Trailers):

(The retail Blu-ray includes 1 feature trailer and 8 bonus trailers. For good measure I included a "Play All" option. When selecting a bonus feature and pressing "OK" no prompt is given. Playback begins immediately. Navigating "LEFT" from a given item takes you back to the "Trailers" bonus option. Navigating "RIGHT" from a given item displays the "Resume" prompt, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out as it's not possible to resume playback of a bonus feature when played from the Feature Presentation.)

BONUS (Playback Options\Start from beginning.):

(The above "Resume" prompt is only displayed when navigating "RIGHT" from a given bonus feature. The "Resume where you left off" option will always be greyed out in case as it's not possible to resume playback of a bonus feature when played from the Feature Presentation. That being said, the POPUP MENU does select the last bonus feature played from each category by default. The same is the case for the TOP MENU. From the TOP MENU playback of a given bonus feature can be resumed.)

[Lowpro]

I made a number of revisions to my Universal Blu-ray Authoring Template in the process of authoring "Twisted (2004)" to Blu-ray. A revised version of the GPR Definitions (variables) my template will be using is shown below.


(Click on the preview image above to view the full size image.)

Putting the above into practice...
When re-authoring a Blu-ray using my template I first map out the structure of the original Blu-ray. Below is what that looks like for the Blu-ray release of "Twisted (2004)".
__________________________________

ORIGINAL BLU-RAY STRUCTURE
(Referenced when re-authoring Blu-ray.)

PLAY | BONUS | SUBTITLES | AUDIO

FIRST PLAYBACK
TITLE 02 | MPLS 00007 | M2TS 00001 | 00:00:00.041 (Region Code check. | This disc is intended for playback in Region A only.)
TITLE NA | MPLS 00001 | M2TS 00002 | 00:00:15:140 (Copyright Warning, Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
TITLE NA | MPLS 00001 | M2TS 00007 | 00:00:07.007 (Commentary Disclaimer)
REMINDER: Remove user prohibited actions from playlists also adding IG providing for skipping directly to TOP MENU.

TOP MENU
TITLE 00 | MPLS 00003 | M2TS 00003 | 00:02:33.153 (Menu Background Video)
TITLE 00 | MPLS 00003 | M2TS 00005 (IG | Interactive Graphics Menu)
REMINDER: Re-author 00003.m2ts once new menu background image created in Photoshop.

PLAY
TITLE 01 | MPLS 00004 | M2TS 00008 | 00:00:11.011 (Kino Lorber)
TITLE 01 | MPLS 00004 | M2TS 00004 | 01:37:00.648 (Feature Presentation)
TITLE 01 | MPLS 00004 | M2TS 00000 | 00:00:01.001 (Blank | Video of a black screen.)
TITLE 01 | MPLS 00004 | M2TS 00006 (IG | Interactive Graphics Menu)

BONUS\Audio Commentary
Audio Commentary by Director Philip Kaufman (ON | OFF)
(See Title 01, "PLAY".)

BONUS\Featurettes (All video in MPEG-2, 480i, 29.97)
TITLE 03 | MPLS 00000 | M2TS 00011/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 11:00 | Creating a Twisted Web of Intrigue
TITLE 04 | MPLS 00002 | M2TS 00012/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 10:01 | The Inspectors: Clues to the Crime
TITLE 05 | MPLS 00005 | M2TS 00013/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 06:57 | San Francisco: Scene of the Crime

BONUS\Deleted Scenes (All video in MPEG-2, 480i, 29.97)
TITLE 06 | MPLS 00006 | M2TS 00016-00019/00021-00026/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 16:21 | Play
TITLE 07 | MPLS 00008 | M2TS 00027-00036/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 16:21 | Play with Audio Commentary

BONUS\Trailers (D.C. Cab in MPEG-2, 480i, 29.97)
TITLE 08 | MPLS 00009 | M2TS 00037/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:03 | Twisted
TITLE 09 | MPLS 00010 | M2TS 00038/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:26 | Changing Lanes
TITLE 10 | MPLS 00011 | M2TS 00039/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:22 | Eastern Promises
TITLE 11 | MPLS 00012 | M2TS 00040/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:30 | In Bruges
TITLE 12 | MPLS 00013 | M2TS 00041/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:30 | The Score
TITLE 13 | MPLS 00014 | M2TS 00042/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:14 | Suspect Zero
TITLE 14 | MPLS 00015 | M2TS 00043/00010(Blank)/00015(IG) | 02:33 | D.C. Cab
TITLE 15 | MPLS 00016 | M2TS 00044/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 02:16 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers
TITLE 16 | MPLS 00017 | M2TS 00045/00000(Blank)/00020(IG) | 01:53 | The Wanderers

SUBTITLES
English (ON | OFF)

AUDIO (5.1 | 2.0)
1. DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
2. DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
3. Dolby Digital 2.0 (Audio Commentary. Not included under "Audio" option.)
__________________________________

Once mapping out the Blu-ray I updated my Blu-ray template so that the filenames for the menus matched the original Blu-ray.

TOP MENU renamed from "99000.m2ts/clpi" to "00005.m2ts/clpi".
POPUP MENU for Feature Presentation renamed from "99001.m2ts/clpi" to "00006.m2ts/clpi".
POPUP MENU for First Playback and Bonus Features renamed from "99002.m2ts/clpi" to "00015.m2ts/clpi" and "00020.m2ts/clpi".

I then copied all M2TS/CLPI/MPLS files from the original Blu-ray over to my Blu-ray template with the exception of the below files, all of which are related to the Blu-ray menus.

(File "00003.m2ts" contains the video played from the TOP MENU. Once creating the menu graphics I re-authored the M2TS file laying my own menu background image on top of the original video.)

Files not carried over from original Blu-ray...
00005.m2ts (Top Menu)
00006.m2ts (Popup Menu for Feature Presentation)
00015.m2ts (Popup Menu for Bonus Features) (SD, includes no graphics.)
00020.m2ts (Popup Menu for Bonus Features) (HD)

(When the time comes I'll make this Blu-ray available for those interested, no files from the original Blu-ray being included. Those that own the original Blu-ray would just need to move over all M2TS files except for the 4 detailed above.)

With all files in place I then loaded my template up in BDedit updating MovieObject 0 from the BDMV tab. The first GPR (variables) values I updated are GPR700-GPR732. These GPRs link each Playlist to a Title. (See the above excel sheet for reference.) My template out the box includes 32 Titles. In this case I only needed 17 Titles (GPR700-GPR716). As such, I deleted Titles 18-32 from the BDMV tab. With each playlist assigned to a Title I then started at the top of MovieObject 0 and worked my way down updating the assigned GPR values (...the fields on the excel sheet which use the cyan fill color) based on the menu design I had in mind and contents of the original Blu-ray shown above, the excel sheet being updated accordingly.

Once updating MovieObject 0 I shifted my focus to the graphics for the Blu-ray menus. Using Photoshop I created a mock-up of the Blu-ray menus, then exporting the assets (images) for import to BDedit. Prior to import the images (PNGs) for each menu needed processed though PNG Quantizer, PNG Quantizer making a given set of images compliant for use with HDMV based Blu-ray's. With my assets ready for import I returned to BDedit accessing each menu importing the given set of images from the "Objects" tab, then updating the "x" and "y" coordinates referenced within the applicable BOGs on each menu page. In this case there were only three sets of coordinates used, "0.838 (x.y)" for all objects at Level 1 of the menus, "0.410 (x.y)" for all objects at Level 2 of the menus with the exception of the static portions of the "Audio" and "Subtitle" menu items. Those objects used the coordinates, "103.410 (x.y)". Lastly, I mux'd out to the M2TS file for the given menu.
__________________________________

Well, there's a bit more to the process, mostly with respects to the menu graphics. The documentation I'll be providing along with the template should fill in most of the gaps. Over the next week I'll be completing my work on the template. The last item to address is the navigation orientation, i.e. horizontal and vertical menu layout support. It's working well at this point. There's still a scenario or two I need to account for though. By next weekend I should have the functionality completely flushed out. I'll then start my work on the accompanying documentation to be included when making the template available.

[Lowpro]

I continue to make progress on my "Universal Blu-ray Authoring Template". Below is a list of the most recent additions.

(See my prior post for the GPR definitions called out below.)

Navigation Orientation (UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT)
By default a horizontal menu layout is used, i.e. "LEFT/RIGHT" is used to navigate from menu item to menu item. "UP" is used to access the next level of the interface. "DOWN" is used to return to the prior level of the interface. Variables GPR1810-GPR1931 provide for rotating the "UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT" functionality 90 degrees clockwise (vertical expanding right), 90 degrees counterclockwise (vertical expanding left) in addition to inverting "UP/DOWN" (horizontal expanding up) to "DOWN/UP" (horizontal expanding down). For maximum flexibility the desired orientation can be set per page and per "Resume" prompt, the menu item navigation adjusting accordingly.

Button Navigation User Operations (Move Up/Move Down/Move Left/Move Right)
The Blu-ray format provides for restricting access to "UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT" for a given Playlist (MPLS). I've implemented this at the page level. Variables GPR16-GPR19 are used to disable/enable navigation in any given direction while on Page 1 for example. Depending on the menu layout one may choose to restrict "Move Up" for example requiring the user press "OK" instead. One example that comes to mind is the menu layout used by Studio Distribution Services (SDS), the main menu items arranged horizontally across the bottom of the screen to the left, the next level of the interface displaying menu items vertically on the far right side of the screen. When adding this feature I also included the ability to prevent navigation from wrapping around when there are only 2 menu items available, cases where visually both items are displayed on-screen at the same time.

Resuming playback of the "Feature Presentation" and "Bonus Features" from the TOP MENU.
I spent the better part of a day enhancing the resume functionality. Originally it was only possible to resume playback of the last item played whether that be the feature presentation or a bonus feature. I'm watching the feature presentation (Title 1) for example. During the middle of the presentation I return to the TOP MENU (Title 0). At this point I'm able to resume playback of the feature presentation (Title 1) if I like. This remains the case so long as I don't play another title whether it be the same title or a different title. That being said, GPR3000 now provides a way around that. Well, it's a tradeoff, but an interesting one.

When assigned the value of "1" the core structure of the Blu-ray changes on First Playback now. Title 2 was previously used for the first bonus feature. Title 2 is now reserved for use with the TOP MENU and all bonus features. On First playback MovieObject 0 is played, the last command taking us to Title 0 which is always reserved for the TOP MENU. Title 0 in this case is assigned to MovieObject 1. If GPR3000 equals 0 the TOP MENU plays from Title 0 as it normally would, the bonus features being played from Titles 3-32. If GPR3000 equals 1 during First Playback a redirect immediately takes place from Title 0, MovieObject 1 to Title 2, MovieObject 3.

Movie Object 3 was originally used solely for the bonus features. That continues to be the case when GPR3000 equals 0. When GPR3000 equals 1 the MovieObject is used to play the TOP MENU as well. This provides for retaining the ability to resume playback of the feature presentation (Title 1) from the TOP MENU (Title 2) even after playing a bonus feature (Title 2), the tradeoff here being that it's no longer possible to resume playback of a bonus feature from the TOP MENU. To play a bonus feature from the TOP MENU in this case the "Terminate PL" command is used rather than the "Jump Title" command. Executing the "Jump Title" command, even for the same title would result in the backup registry being cleared which we don't want.

So when selecting a bonus feature the associated title is assigned to GPR4. When the playlist is terminated MovieObject 3 executes the next series of commands in the list, the playlist associated with the title in question being assigned to GPR6, the "Play PL GPR6" command then being executed playing the bonus feature. When the bonus feature finishes playing (or when leaving the bonus feature via the POPUP MENU) the MovieObject then assigns GPR4 the value of 0, i.e. Title 0 (TOP MENU). The playlist associated with Title 0 is then played taking us back to the TOP MENU (Title 2). Rinse and repeat, the ability to resume playback of the feature presentation being retained as we never left Title 2.

Now one might ask the question, why perform that initial redirect from Title 0 to Title 2 on First Playback. Couldn't I just play the TOP MENU and bonus features from Title 0. Well yes, I could do that. Title 0 is a special case however. It's only intended for use with the TOP MENU. As such, certain functionality is not available. When playing a bonus feature from Title 0 the Blu-ray player will be unable to show you the actual running time for instance. Chapters also aren't supported in addition to some other things, hence my redirect to a regular title. I'm also in this case prohibiting access to the TOP MENU via the Blu-ray player remote which is hard coded to Title 0. The redirect would immediately take place to Title 2, but that redirect would also clear the backup registry. Instead the POPUP MENU must be used to access the TOP MENU.

Restricting access to the "Resume" prompt.
The "Resume" prompt can now be turned on or off. When GPR3001 equals 0 or 1 the "Resume" prompt is disabled. When set to 0 playback will resume if possible, otherwise playback starts from the beginning. When set to 1 playback always starts from the beginning. When GPR3001 equals 2, 3 or 4 the "Resume" prompt is enabled. When set to 2 the "Resume" prompt can be accessed by navigating "UP" even in cases where playback can't be resumed. Pressing "OK" in this case only displays the "Resume" prompt if playback can be resumed. When set to 3 the "Resume" prompt is not available by navigating "UP". Pressing "OK" again in this case only displays the "Resume" prompt if playback can be resumed. When set to "4" the "Resume" prompt can once again be accessed by navigating "UP". Pressing "OK" in this case does not display the "Resume" prompt, playback resuming if possible, otherwise playback starts from the beginning.

Play behavior for Page 1 (Play).
The "Play" button on Page 1 is used to play the feature presentation. GPR14 is used to tailor that experience to your liking. When GPR14 equals 0 or 1 playback begins immediately if playback can't be resumed. If playback be can resumed the "Resume" prompt is given. Well, so long as the "Resume" prompt is enabled. (See GPR3001). When GPR14 equals 1 you're taken to Page 2 (Play\Commentary) if the current audio selection is a commentary track, otherwise the standard functionality applies. When GPR14 equals 2 or 3 the "Resume" prompt is always given first, the "Resume where you left off" option being greyed out if playback can't be resumed. (I include the synopsis for the feature presentation within the "Resume" prompt, hence why one might want to go to the "Resume" prompt even in cases where playback can't be resumed). When GPR14 equals 3 you're taken to Page 2 (Play\Commentary) if the current audio selection is a commentary track, otherwise the standard functionality applies. Also, Page 1 (Play) can be hard coded to Page 2 (Play\Commentary) if you like. That's done by assigning GPR311 the value of 0 and GPR321 the value of 2. If GPR311 is assigned a value of 3 or higher the Title matching that value is played. If GPR311 equals 0 it jumps to the page which matches the value of GPR321, in this case Page 2 (Play\Commentary).