How to make a new menu or modify the background image of a menu

[goonix]

PART1: HOW TO MAKE A NEW 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN

Just for fun I have searched for a way to make a DVD menu using the free version of MuxMan. Now it works and I can achieve very nice graphics and fancy looking buttons with it. You can make motion menus (movie as background) with audio just as easy.

Used programms:

MuxMan
PgcEdit
VobBlanker
Graphic Editor
PgcDemux (optional)

This is the workflow:

1. Open your DVD that don't have a menu in PgcEdit.
- You can also start with "New DVD" in PgcEdit and import a VTST title.
2. Now you have to create the menu PGC.
- If you want to make a new VMGM menu, then select the "First-Play PGC", click the right mouse button and choose "New Menu" to get a VMGM dummy PGC.
- If you want to make a new VTSM menu, then select the VTST title and choose "New Menu" to get a VTSM dummy PGC.
- If there is already a PGC in the VMGM or VTSM domain, then choose "New dummy PGC" for creating the PGC of your new menu.
3. Open the created dummy PGC with the PGCEditor (double click this PGC) and "Create new blank cell".
4. Create a background picture BG.BMP in a true 4:3 format (e.g. 768x576, 720x540 or 640x480) in 24 Bit/16 millons colors and resize it to (720x576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC) with a graphic program. (see note #1)
- For a motion menu choose a short movie and demux it to mpv and mpa.
5. Create a highlight picture SUB.BMP (720X576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC) 4 Bit/16 colors.
- Use red (ff0000) for background.
- Use black (000000) for pattern.
- Use blue (0000ff) for emphasis 1.
- Use white (ffffff) for emphasis 2. (see note #2)
- Think of pattern, emphasis 1 and emphasis 2 simply as 3 colors that can be used for your button highlight. This way you can make nice 3-colored button highlights.
- If you use PhotoShop then save the subpicture BMP in OS/2 format and not in windows format.
6. Create a text file SUB.SST. Use following templates:

SST file for PAL:
st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type PAL
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 574)
Display_Area (0 2 719 574)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 SUB.bmp
#SST file for NTSC:
st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 479)
Display_Area (0 2 719 479)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 SUB.bmp
#The SUB.SST file has to be in the same folder as the SUB.BMP file.
7. Open MuxMan and import BG.BMP as video. Add audio to your still menu if you want.
8. If you want to have a motion menu then import your mpv and mpa file instead of the BG.BMP.
9. Import SUB.SST as subpicture.
10. Press "START" and after your menu is muxed (only a few seconds) you can close MuxMan. (see note #3)
11. Open your DVD (the one where you have created the new menu PGC with PgcEdit) in VobBlanker.
12. In settings check only "Use Input Folder" and "Process Menus".
13. Replace the dummy menu cell with VTS_01_1.VOB muxed by MuxMan.
14. Press "PROCESS!!" and after your DVD is processed you can close VobBlanker.
15. Open the DVD (the one where you have replaced the menu cell with VobBlanker) in PgcEdit.
16. Point to the PGC with your replaced cell and press the MENU button.
17. Press the EDIT button to add new buttons.
18. Place the hotspot rectangles around your button highlight graphics.
- Hopefully you remember where they are. I use the background graphic as reference.
19. Use color scheme 1 for your buttons and edit color scheme 1.
- Set the opacity for backgound to 0 and set the opacity for pattern, emphasis 1 and emphasis 2 to 15.
- Use different colors for selected and activated buttons.
20. Choose the colors you prefer. If the colors don't fit your taste you can edit the CLUT (color look up table) with the PGCEditor.
21. Edit the adjacent button order.
22. Edit the button commands.
- Be aware that not all commands are allowed for buttons.
23. Close the menu editor and edit the PGC commands if necessary.
24. Set the Cell still time to 255.
- If you have added audio to your menu or if you use a motion menu:
-- Set audio stream 0 to ID 0 and use the "Fix number of streams in VMGM/VTSI_MAT tables" function.
-- Don't forget to add the cell command "LinkTopCell", set the still time to 0 and the cell command to 1.
25. Save your DVD and close PgcEdit.
26. Test your new menu with a software player (e.g.PowerDVD) and be proud!

If you take courage to do this procedure one time, you will find that it is really easy and the results are amazing. Depending on your graphic skills your self made menus can look much better than the results of DVDAuthorGUI and most of the expensive commercial programs.

You can make a still menu, a still menu with audio or a motion menu with audio in the same way. Try it!

-------------------------------------------

PART2: HOW TO MODIFY A 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN

In the same manner you can modify a 4:3 menu of a commercial DVD. You can change the text of a button, add a button, delete a button, change the background picture (or the background movie), change the audio track or make all other changes you can think on.

Additional program used:

SubRip (see note #4)

This is the workflow:

1. Open the DVD in PgcEdit
2. Open the menu you want to modify in the menu editor.
3. Press the "Preview" button and save the menu background as BG.BMP.
4. Export whole menu.
5. Export color schemes.
6. Close PgcEdit and open your DVD in VobBlanker.
7. Extract the menu cell you want to modify as VOB.
8. Don't process rather close VobBlanker.
9. If your menu contains audio or is a motion menu then demux the mpv and mpa file from the extracted VOB.
10. Open your extracted VOB with SubRip.
- Choose "Save SubPictures as BMP"
- Don't check the "option" check box.
11. After pressing the "Start" button you have to give a name for your SubPic. Now you can see the highlight picture.
- Under the "Cropping" tab set the picture size to (720x576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC). Set the xy alignment to center.
- Under the "Colors" tab set the palette to 4 bits. Don't check the "custom" check box.
- Under the "Posit" tab don't check the check box.
- Use Sonic Scenarist as preset.
12. Press OK and close SubRip.
13. Rename the SubPic to SUB.BMP.
14. Use the same SUB.SST as in part 1.
15. Edit the background picture and highlight picture (subpic) in the way you want.
- Edit both pictures that they will fit together.
16. Now you can mux the background picture (or the demuxed mpv file if you have a motion menu), the highlight picture (SST file) and optional the audio track with MuxMan.
17. Replace your orginal menu cell with the new muxed menu cell with VobBlanker in the same way as explained in part 1.
18. Open your DVD in PgcEdit and import your saved menu buttons and color scheme.
19. Edit your button hotspot rectangles if you have removed, added or changed the size of a button.
20. Edit the button commands and PGC commands if necessary.
21. Set the Cell still time to 255.
- If you have added audio to your menu or if you use a motion menu:
-- Set audio stream 0 to ID 0 and use the "Fix number of streams in VMGM/VTSI_MAT tables" function.
-- Don't forget to add the cell command "LinkTopCell", set the still time to 0 and the cell command to 1.
-- If your menu had audio or was a motion menu before, then these corrections are not needed and should be right already.
22. Save your DVD and test it.
23. Done!

------------------------------------------

Note #1
Yes, I know the ITU pixel aspect ratio discussions. But creating the picture in a true 4:3 format and then resizing to 720x576(480) looks good enough for my eyes.

Note #2
You may wonder why I have used these colors. The answer is: These are the colors I get from SubRip if I choose Scenarist as output format.

Note #3
There is a limit of 1440 bits per line for a subpicture. If you get a buffer underflow warning from MuxMan, you have to reduce the details of your subpicture.

Note #4
You can extract the subpicture also using jeanl's DVDSubEdit.

-------------------------------------------

[EDIT1] Changes according to posts from mpucoder, rolZ, kumi and tigrilito.
[EDIT2] Changes according to new versions of the used programs.
[EDIT3] Deleted some steps by a minimal modification of the SST file thanks to a hint of Sir Didymus.

goonix

[mpucoder]

If you seperate the equal signs in the sst file with a space (= = = just as in the mxp file) you won't get ampersands.
MuxMan 0.14 uses quant 1, which produces very good stills but can also use a lot of bits.

[goonix]

Thanks for your advice to change it to (= = =) mpucoder.

What about the buffer underflow? Can I avoid it?

goonix

[r0lZ]

Thanks for the mini-guide, goonix. Will try it.

Just some remarks:23. Choose the colors you prefer. If the colors don't fit your taste you can export the CLUT (color look up table) as text file, edit the RGB values to the colors you like and import it back.It is simpler to just click on the color you want to change, and edit it interactively.


Then save your DVD and re-open it again. PgcEdit fixes the VTSI_MAT table now.It is not necessary to save and reload the DVD to fix the VTSI_MAT table: just call the "Domain Streams Attributes" (on any PGC belonging to the domain you want to fix) or the "Fix number of streams in VMGM/VTSI_MAT tables" function (which will fix all domains at once).


Also, I wonder why you use a subpic bitmap size of 720 x 574. Why not 720 x 576? Seems more logical, and easier to align the highlights with the background.
Also, it might be necessary to use 704 x XXX when the video stream is in that resolution.


Now, it should be nice to find a way to build the subpic for the 16:9 display modes. But it's not easy, I'm affraid.

[mpucoder]

Subpictures are always 720 wide, regardless of the video resolution, and either 478 or 573 high. These are the maximums for the encoded sub. You can, of course, make them smaller and position them almost anywhere on the 720x480 (720x576) screen. You may also use only part of the bitmap by setting the Pixel Area. You must avoid the top 2 lines of the screen, and for PAL avoid the bottom line.

[r0lZ]

Thanks, mpucoder! Subpic streams is something I haven't studied yet.

... or 573 high.So, 720x574 for PAL is too high?

[goonix]

@rolZ
Thanks for your advice. I have edited the suggested changes in my mini-guide.

I have used a 720x574 bitmap because MuxMan ignores the entry in the SST file and uses these values per default. But now I have changed my mind, because it is a lot easier to edit the background and the subpic according to its alignment if they have exactly the same size.


@mpucoder
If I use a 720x576 bitmap for the subpic it seems to work perfectly, but I don't use the top 2 lines and the bottom line for buttons - only for background (red color). Of course now I have to edit the mxp file accordingly.

Can I do it in this way?

I think the second sentence in your first reply was the answer to my buffer underun question. So we can simply ignore this message, right?

goonix

[mpucoder]

The Pixel_Area and Display_Area give you enough adjustment so that you can use a full size (720x576) bitmap and then position it correctly. For a 720x576 that is aligned with the video layer you can use:
Pixel_Area (2 574)
Display_Area (0 2 719 574)

The buffer underrun can cause problems in older players, as it also means the frame is larger than the buffer. I've never had a bmp so complex as to see an underrun, so if you could send me one that does it would be appreciated. Send it to muxman (at) mpucoder (dot) com
I'd like to see if the buffer (232K) size is exceeded. It may be possible to either suppress the message for stills, or get more sophisticated about the encoding.

[goonix]

@mpucoder
The settings Pixel_Area (2 574) and Display_Area (0 2 719 574) in the SST file work even if I use an aligned 720x576 subpic.
Thank you for your information!

The background picture that leads to an buffer underun is sent.

goonix

[goonix]

Now, it should be nice to find a way to build the subpic for the 16:9 display modes. But it's not easy, I'm affraid.It is easy, but you have to do a little bit more of work. Here is the mini-guide:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART 1: HOW TO CREATE A NEW 16:9 MENU

First some basics about widescreen (16:9) menus:

You have to make sure that it can be used for widescreen TVs and for 4:3 TVs too. Since a 4:3 TV has 2 modes to display a widescreen menu (pan&scan and letterbox) 3 different subpics for the button highlights are possible. But you can force the usage of one of the display modes so you need at least only widescreen and pan&scan or widescreen and letterbox.

I have seen commercial DVDs with all 3 display modes implemented, but most common is a widescreen menu using only the middle 4:3 area for the buttons and forcing pan&scan for 4:3 TV sets. Then you have to create only 2 different subpictures for the button highlights.

There is a maximum of 36 buttons per menu. If you don't care about 4:3 TVs you need only the widescreeen subpic and you can use all 36 buttons. If you want to use 2 subpic streams you can have only 18 buttons in your menu (2x18=36) and if you want to have all 3 subpic streams you are restricted to 12 buttons (3x12=36).

But to be complete here is the way to create a menu with all 3 subpics:
You have to follow the mini-guide for 4:3 menus. Only the additional or different steps are mentioned.

------
Step A (Create the menu pictures):

- Create a background picture BG.BMP (1024x576 PAL) (854x480 NTSC) 24bit/16 million colors.
- Create an aligned highlight picture SUB.BMP (1024x576 PAL) (854x480 NTSC) 4bit/16 colors.
(see note #1)
- For the highlight picture use only the 4 colors: red for the background and black, blue and white for the button highlights.
- Copy the highlight picture 2 times so we have 3 identical highlight pictures.
- Resize the pictures as follows:

BG (background): Rezize the pic to (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC)
WS (widescreen): Resize the pic to (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC)
LB (letterbox):
1. Resize the pic to (720x432 PAL) (720x360 NTSC)
2. Resize the canvas to (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC) keeping the pic in center
3. Fill the empty canvas on top and bottom with red color
PS (pan&scan):
1. Resize the pic to (960x576 PAL) (960x480 NTSC)
2. Resize the canvas to (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC) keeping the pic in center
(pic will be cropped left and right)

------
Step B (Mux the menu pictures):

You have to create 3 SST files (WS.SST, LB.SST and PS.SST). The only difference is the name of the subpic in its content (WS.bmp or LB.bmp or PS.bmp). The SST files have to be in the same folder as the BMP files.

SST file for PAL:
st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type PAL
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 574)
Display_Area (0 2 719 574)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 WS.bmp
#SST file for NTSC:
st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 479)
Display_Area (0 2 719 479)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 WS.bmp
#The line containing the BMP name in the .sst file MUST be followed by a carriage return (Enter key) for muxman 0.14g to work correctly! (Should be OK if you copy and paste this template.)

- Now load your background picture BG.BMP as video into MuxMan or load a 16:9 mpv video file if you want to have a motion menu.
- Save the MuxMan project as mxp file and change the Display Mode from "4:3" to "P/S and LB", "Only Panscan", or "Only Letterbox" with a text editor, save it and reload the mxp file. We chose "P/S and LB" for our example.
- Load your audio track (optional).
- Load your first subpicture WS.SST and press (mark) the "wide" button.
- Choose subpicture number 2 on the MuxMan GUI, load LB.SST and press (mark) the "LB" button.
- Choose subpicture number 3, add PS.SST as third subpicture and press (mark) the "PS" button.
- The subpicture track 1 should have the stream IDs "W 20 LB 21 PS 22" now.
- By pressing the START button your new menu will be muxed.

------
Step C (Replace the menu cell):

- Open your DVD in VobBlanker and replace the "dummy" menu cell (see also mini-guide for 4:3 menus) with the VOB that MuxMan has created.
- In settings check only "Use Input Folder" and "Process Menus".
- Skip all VTS but the one that contains your modified menu.
- Process your DVD.

------
Step D (Edit the button hotspot rectangles):

- Open your DVD in PgcEdit, point to your menu PGC and click on the "Domain streams attributes" button (the film reel). Choose 16:9 as video format, check the automatic pan&scan and the automatic letterbox or even only the one you have created and press OK.

- Open the menu editor, choose group all, add the number of buttons you need, define the adjacent buttons, choose color scheme 1 and edit the button commands.

- Choose group 1 (widescreen) and place the hotspot rectangles for your widescreen buttons.
- Choose group 2 (letterbox) and place the hotspot rectangles for your letterbox buttons.
- Choose group 3 (pan&scan) and place the hotspot rectangles for your pan&scan buttons.
(see note #3)

- Edit color scheme 1 and close the menu editor.

- Open the menu PGC in the PGC Editor by double clicking and press the subpicture stream setup button 0.
- Set the subpicture IDs 4:3 to 0x20, wide to 0x20, letterbox to 0x21 and pan&scan to 0x22. The streams for 4:3 and wide should be the same.

- Set the cell still time to 255 for a still menu and to 0 if you have a motion menu or audio.
To loop a motion menu or a still menu with audio set the cell command to 1 and add the cell command "LinkTopCell".

- Use "Fix number of streams in VMGM/VTSI_MAT tables" under the DVD tab.

After editing the PGC commands (e.g. add a jump to root menu in the First-Play PGC) you can save your DVD.

-----
Note #1: If your graphic editor is capable of using layers, then edit the highlight picture as second layer and export it to a different picture if finished. This way it is easier to align background and highlights.
If you use PhotoShop then save the subpicture BMP in OS/2 format and not in windows format.

Note #2: Resizing the background picture is not a problem since it has 16 million colors and is very good antialiased after shrinking to 720. But SUBs have only 4 colors and therefore automatic antialiasing is not possible. That's the reason you sometimes have to do some fine tuning with your graphic editor after resizing to 720 (but only if you are meticulous).

Note #3: If you have checked per accident the wrong check boxes or none at all in the domain stream attributes window, then some group buttons may be greyed out. To enable the groups you need to delete all buttons, set the stream attributes correctly and open the menu editor again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART 2: HOW TO EDIT A 16:9 MENU

Sometimes you want to edit or delete the text of a menu button, because even if you hide or delete a button in PgcEdit, the text on the background is still visible. This can easily be done with VobBlanker. HOW TO REPLACE A MENU BACKGROUND WITH VOBBLANKER (http://www.goonix.biz/download/tutorials/replacebackground.htm)

But if you need to modify the subpicture itself, then here is the way how you can edit the background text, edit the highlights or even add a new button to the menu of a commercial DVD.

To change a button text of the background video of a motion menu, have a look here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=711093#post711093).
Then mux the modified background video as described in Step E below.
Using your own video file for the background of a motion menu is also not a problem.
Another option is to change a motion menu to a still menu using jeanl's MenuShrink or the Motion2Still function in jsoto's VobBlanker.

------
Step A (Export the original menu structure):

- Open your DVD in PgcEdit and export the menu background as BG.BMP, the whole menu (button positions) and the color schemes of the menu PGC you want to modify.
- Open the PGC editor by double clicking and press the "Current Domain Stream Attributes" button. Note which display modes are set (pan&scan, letterbox or both).
- Press the "Sub-picture Streams" button 0 and note which streams are set for 4:3, wide, letterbox and pan&scan (0x20 ... 0x22).

------
Step B (Extract the menu cell):

Extracting the menu cell you want to edit isn't really necessary for a still menu. But it will simplify the process of finding the concerning subpictures.
- Load your DVD in VobBlanker and extract the menu cell you want to modify as small VOB.
- Exit VobBlanker without processing.
- Demux the extracted VOB if you have a motion menu or a still menu with audio.

------
Step C (Extract the subpictures):

- Open your extracted small menu VOB with SubRip and choose "Save Subpictures as BMP", no options.
- After pressing the "Verify" button you can see the number of streams in the display above. Stream 00 has the ID 0x20, stream 01 has the ID 0x21 and stream 02 has the ID 0x22.
(see note #4)
- Mark the stream you want to extract and press the "Start" button. You have to specify path and name of the subpic BMP. To make it easy choose a name corresponding to your notes in Step A (e.g. for stream 0x20 use WS.BMP, for stream 0x21 and 0x22 use PS.BMP or LB.BMP depending on the original menu).
- Now you can see the subpic. Set the picture size to (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC), set the color palette to 4 bits, choose Sonic Scenarist, don't use custom colors and press OK.
- Do the same for all subpicture streams.
(see note #5)

------
Step D (Edit the menu):

- Edit the background picture in the way you want.
- Edit the highlight pictures if needed.
(see note #6)

------
Step E (Mux the menu pictures):

- You need as many SST files as you have subpictures for your menu (WS.SST, LB.SST and/or PS.SST).
- Choose the PAL or NTSC SST file template from above, but don't forget to set the correct subpicture name.
- Now load your background picture BG.BMP as video into MuxMan, use the modified background video or use your own 16:9 video file for the background of a motion menu.
- Save the MuxMan project as mxp file and change the Display Mode from "4:3" to "P/S and LB", "Only Panscan", or "Only Letterbox" with a text editor to the same as your original DVD (as you have noted in Step A), save it and reload the mxp file.
(see note #7)
- Load your demuxed audio track (optional).
- Load your first subpicture WS.SST and press (mark) the "wide" button. It gets stream ID 0x20 (w 20).
- Now choose subpicture number 2 on the MuxMan GUI and load the SST file for stream 0x21 (you have noted in Step A if it is letterbox or pan&scan) and press (mark) the related button.
- Do the same for stream 0x22 if you have a third subpic.
- The subpicture track 1 should have the correct stream IDs now (e.g. W 20 PS 21).
- By pressing the START button your modified menu will be muxed.

------
Step F (Replace the menu cell):

- Open your DVD in VobBlanker and replace the original menu cell with the VOB that MuxMan has created.
- In settings check only "Use Input Folder" and "Process Menus".
- Skip all VTS but the one that contains your modified menu.
- Process your DVD.

------
Step G (Restore the original menu structure):

- Open your modified DVD in PgcEdit and import the whole menu (button positions) and the color schemes.
- Edit the hotspot rectangles and button commands if needed (depends on the changes you have made).
- Save your DVD including your modified buttons.

------
Note #4: Even if the menu has only pan&scan or only letterbox, you can find sometimes all 3 subpicture streams encoded in the menu VOB. Then extract all streams even the one you don't really need.

Note #5: SubRip adds a ".1" to the name. You can delete this name extension or use it "as is" within the SST file later. You don't need the srm file.

Note #6: It could be easier for editing to expand your background picture from (720x576 PAL) (720x480 NTSC) to its original size (1024x576 PAL) (854x480 NTSC) and resize it back afterward. Editing the subpictures is normally not needed. But if you want to edit them, then I recommend to use the 720 pixel format. You can rezize the widescreen subpic easily to the original size for editing, but for the letterbox and pan&scan highlight pictures resizing is more difficult (going the way backwards as described in "How to create a new 16:9 menu").

Note #7: If your orignal stream attributes are "Only Panscan" or "Only Letterbox" but you have found 3 subpicture streams using SubRip, then set the Display Mode within MuxMan's mxp file to "P/S and LB".

------
[EDIT1] Changed the description of resizing the pan&scan subpic for NTSC according to Mystiqq and mpucoder, thanks!
[EDIT2] Added a comment to the SST file according to a tip from kumi and tigrilito, thanks!
[EDIT3] Added a link to a guide for modifying the background video. Thanks, borry!
[EDIT4] Cosmetic Changes.
[EDIT5] Deleted some steps by a minimal modification of the SST file thanks to a hint of Sir Didymus.

goonix

[r0lZ]

Great job, goonix!

[goonix]

Thanks, rolZ!
I only have collected the informations by searching the doom9 forums.
Good to have doom9 and the authors of the wonderful tools!

PS: I wish I were able to make such nice guides as 2COOL...

goonix

[Taelon]

The guides look great goonix!
I look forward to trying out the 16:9 guide soon.

[kumi]

Thank you for your guides, goonix! Most helpful.

I am using your method to replace the menu background and subpicture on a static 4:3 NTSC menu with audio. The menu background and audio multiplex perfectly, but I cannot get the subpicture to appear correctly.

This is the original menu subpicture on my DVD (as ripped by SubRip.) The blue areas are the 5 button highlights:
http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/original_subpicture.bmp

If I multiplex that same BMP with Muxman 0.14g, the resultant BMP (as ripped by SubRip) is all-red, the blue highlights have disappeared:
http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/muxman_subpicture_output.bmp

My .sst file ( http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/SUB.sst ) is:
st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 479)
Display_Area (0 2 719 479)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
# Insert your correct path in the line above!
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:01:00:00 original_subpicture.bmp


and my muxman.log is:
MuxMan version 0.14g
Accepted image G:\bt\WILD\SUBPIC MENU BMP\SUBPIC MENU.bmp
Accepted audio G:\bt\WILD\MENUDEMUX\AudioFile_80.ac3
Opened sub 1 file G:\bt\WILD\MENUDEMUX\SUB.sst.
15:09:37 Begin multiplex.
Maximum audio duration 1776 fields.
new graphics buffer size 414720.
graphics buffer size 1244160.
Starting scene Segment_1_scn1 at 00:00:00:00
SeqEnd at 181BC.
Bytes remaining in buffer = 0.
15:09:39 End multiplex.
Bitrate - avg: 255467, min: 196411 (lba 181), max: 1800439 (lba 0).
Shortest GOP has 2 fields, longest GOP has 2 fields.
Fields: 1776, Still fields: 1774, VOBU: 59, Sectors: 462.


The relevant (?) portion of my .mxp ( http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/SUB.mxp ) reads:
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=.\original_subpicture.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC drop
Duration=00:01:00:01
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=0000ff = & &
Color 2(E1)=000000 = & &
Color 3(E2)=ff0000 = & &
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}

Any idea why the new menu subpicture is all red?

[mpucoder]

When I load your .sst file I get the following in the .mxp file:
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=.\original_subpicture.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC non-drop
Duration=00:01:00:00
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=000000 = = =
Color 2(E1)=0000ff = = =
Color 3(E2)=ffffff = = =
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}

Are you using WinXP?

[kumi]

Indeed, WinXP Service Pack 1.

EDIT:

mpucoder, I replaced your Sub-Picture Stream Item section into my .mxp, and now the subpic seems to be correct:
http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/mpucoders.mxp.file_output.bmp

Is there an error in the .sst parsing perhaps?

[mpucoder]

There are all manner of problems with a small number of WinXP systems. I believe they are all fixed in version 0.15, as they all traced back to one api call.

[kumi]

Thanks very much for your help, mpucoder.

Curiously enough, after determining that the original sub-picture BMP was muxing correctly, I tried with a modified .BMP and got the all-red problem again.

It turns out that Photoshop (7.0) does _something_ when saving a BMP that is incompatible with Muxman. Editing and saving the BMP in the open-source editor GIMP produces no problems.

Problematic .BMP edited in Photoshop 7.0:
http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/original_subpicture_modified_in_PS7.0.bmp

Problem-free .BMP edited in GIMP 2.2.8 (windows):
http://www.piracy.se/~kumi/doom9/goonix/original_subpicture_modified_in_GIMP.bmp

The only difference between the two that I can determine is the color table: the Photoshop file has all FFFFFF colors after the first 4 colors, while the GIMP file has all 000000 colors (just like the original subpicture BMP demuxed from my DVD-Video.)

EDIT:

In fact, Photoshop saves the bitmap as an indexed 4-color BMP, while The GIMP save it as a indexed 16-color BMP.

[goonix]

@kumi
I have tried your SST file and it works for me. Seems to be correct.
Using the dot as Directory path is a good idea!

@mpucoder
Testing kumi's sst file and original_subpicture.bmp on a computer of my friend (WinXP SP2) MuxMan's log is:

MuxMan version 0.14g
Accepted image C:\TEST\pic1.bmp
Opened sub 1 file C:\TEST\SUB.sst.
unable to open .\original_subpicture.bm, file skipped.

-> Muxman tries to open a bm and not a bmp pic!

If I change the name to original_subpicture.bm, MuxMan's log is:

MuxMan version 0.14g
Accepted image C:\TEST\pic1.bmp
Opened sub 1 file C:\TEST\SUB.sst.
unable to open .\original_subpicture.b, file skipped.

-> The last letter is always cut.

The PAL tests on his computer have been OK however!

So you are right, the parsing in MuxMan version 0.14g causes errors with some WinXP systems.

If anyone get the same problem using MuxMan, then you have to copy the template of mpucoder's post above into your mxp file and reload it. Don't forget to edit the file name of your subpicture. Then it will work!

Waiting for MuxMan version 0.15...

goonix

[kumi]

unable to open .\original_subpicture.bm, file skipped.That's because you are missing a carriage return (Enter key) after the sub-picture line in your .SST file. That had me stumped for a while too :)

[goonix]

@kumi
You're probably right (shame on me). Because I'm at home now, I can do the *real* parsing test on my friend's computer not before tomorrow.

But now to your second problem: Both of your pictures work for me.

Seems to be the same error of MuxMan as for your first issue.

Try using mpucoder's template in your mxp file and let us know...

goonix

[Taelon]

I've edited a couple dozen 4:3 menu backgrounds to eliminate the text from removed buttons with PGCDemux, PGCEdit, MuxMan and VOBBlanker and everything has gone without a hitch. But this whole subpic thing is really throwing me for a loop. In Step 5 of the first guide:5. Create a highlight picture SUB.BMP (720X576 4 Bit/16 colors).
- Use red (ff0000) for background.
- Use black (000000) for pattern.
- Use blue (0000ff) for emphasis 1.
- Use white (ffffff) for emphasis 2.
First off we're creating a 16 color image but apparently only using 4 colors. Does it matter what the other 12 are? Is there a standard pallette to use in case we want to use other colors than white, blue, black & red, or can we use any 4 colors? The few menu subs that I've ripped seem to only contain 4 colors.

In Step 6: Create a text file SUB.SST (use following content). st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type PAL
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 574)
Display_Area (0 2 719 574)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
etc...I think I understand that if emphasis 2 is white (R G B) = (ff ff ff) I can see that E2 would be (255 255 255) but what are the (= = =) for?

And is there a guide somewhere that tells us what the heck emphasis 1 and 2 are or perhaps a picture, sorry goonix but I just can't visualize this: Think of pattern, emphasis 1 and emphasis 2 simply as 3 colors that can be used for your button highlight. This way you can make nice 3-colored buttons (e.g. 3D-looking buttons).Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I'd really like to get at least a marginal understanding of how this all works.

thanks

[mpucoder]

Subpictures have only 4 color values (i.e. they have 2 bits/pixel), which were given names to describe their most common use. Background and pattern are the main elements of the graphic, with E1 and E2 being used for shadows or anti-aliasing. The names are arbitrary, even for the background color, since they are then associated with colors in the PGC Color LookUp Table and transparency values in the SPU.
But's that's after encoding into a SPU. Beforehand the graphic is a bitmap, and can have as few as 2 colors or as many as 16.7 million. These colors then get mapped into the four SPU colors using the conversion rules, which are made up of two parts. For each primary color there is a color value and conversion rule. The rules are applied to each pixel of the bitmap, for each of the four SPU colors in the order P, E1, E2. Anything that does not pass the tests becomes the background color.
= is the most common rule, and means the value must match exactly. You can also use < or >. And & is a special rule where the boolean product of the conversion color value and the bitmap color must be non-zero to pass unless the conversion color value is zero, in which case any bitmap value is a match. One last rule is X, which matches anything.
One note: MuxMan up to 0.15 accepts only 16 color bitmaps.

[Taelon]

mpucoder,

Thank you for the explanation, it's starting to sink in. One other question/concern, I've read about using 'NTSC safe colors' for menu backgrounds, do the same concerns apply to the 4 SPU colors as well?

[goonix]

@Taelon

First off we're creating a 16 color image but apparently only using 4 colors. Does it matter what the other 12 are?
No, for my system (WinXP SP1) it does'nt matter.

what are the (= = =) for?
They define how the colors are interpreted. If you for example use an ampersand (&) instead of the equalsign (=), you can define the Contrast of the colors in the second last line of the SST file (e.g. needed for semi-tranparent subtitles). For the highlight picture we need the full colors, therefore (= = =) -> "use the original colors" is correct.

I'd really like to get at least a marginal understanding of how this all works.It is easier as you think!
Red is the background of the highlight picture. Since it will be set to transparent in most cases in the final menu, you probably will never see it. (You can set the background to any color and any opacity you like in PgcEdit. Then it will be shown, but only within the hotspot rectangle.)
Black, blue and white are simply the 3 colors you can use for painting a button highlight. These colors are mapped finally to the colors you want to have, using the CLUT (color look up table). You can assign your final colors in the Color Scheme Editor of PgcEdit. Don't be confused about their denomination (Pattern, Emphasis 1, Emphasis 2). This has its roots in subtitles, e.g. pattern is used for the white text, emphasis 1 for a black outline of the white letters and so on. You can use all 3 colors in the same way, there is no difference between them.

Now to the 3D-looking buttons: You can create a button shape (e.g. a rectangle, arrow or what else) using a middle color tone. Then place a lighter color line at the left and upper side and a darker color line at the right and lower side of your button. This is the way also windows uses for its buttons. And this is what is difficult to impossible to do even in expensive authoring tools (of course Scenarist can do it...). For that you must have at least 3 colors in your button highlight. The final colors (e.g. middle blue, light blue, dark blue) will be assigned later in PgcEdit's Color Scheme Editor.

[EDIT] mpucoder was faster and (as expected) more accurate than me. :D
Thank you for these precise informations!

goonix

[mpucoder]

mpucoder,

Thank you for the explanation, it's starting to sink in. One other question/concern, I've read about using 'NTSC safe colors' for menu backgrounds, do the same concerns apply to the 4 SPU colors as well?
Only the colors that are actually rendered matter. That is the original bitmap colors do not matter, just the PGC Color LookUp Table colors.
NTSC safe colors are not computed accurately by a number of applications, they use the wrong color space (YUV is usually used, but NTSC uses the YIQ color space, which is similar, but shifted 33 degrees). The limitations apply mainly to analog broadcasting, where overmodulation will cause problems. Composite (single coax) cables also cannot tolerate negative signal excursions, so NTSC safe applies to them as well. But for component (RGB or YPbPr) connections it is not a concern. Y/C (aka S-Video) connections do not need to be concerned with the effect of adding the color subcarrier to the luminance, but still need to limit C (the vector sum of I and Q) to 100 ire.
There is a good discussion of NTSC safe colors, and how to compute the necessary values, at http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/3930/illegal_colors.html

[Taelon]

goonix,

Thanks for your explanations! The naming conventions and 3D buttons still had me somewhat confused, since the original non-background colors listed were black, blue and white. But your example of using 3 shades of blue (body, highlight, shadow) makes it crystal clear.

mpucoder,

Thanks for the explanation and link regarding NTSC safe colors, I'll be sure to study that as well since I'd like to keep everything as compliant as possible in my re-authored backups.

I'm saving this whole thread (again) for reference.

[jeanl]

If I may, on the subject of subpics, 1 more piece of info that's often overlooked. If I'm not mistaken, the color schemes (defined in the nav packs, and accessible via PgcEdit's menu editor) only control the aspect of the highlights when the buttons are selected, or activated. The "default" aspect of the highlights (for buttons that are not selected and not activated) are defined inside the subpic packs. This is not accessible via PgcEdit yet (because PgcEdit does not parse the subpic pack to get to the commands that set the color and contrasts for each 4 pixel types). It's not terribly important, because in 99% of the time, the opacity is transparent (you don't see anything until the button is selected or activated). In some fancy menus, though, they're not (for example, default highlights are opaque and hide the underlying video, which is only revealed when the button is selected).
Jeanl

[goonix]

@jeanl
Your info is highly appreciated. I missed that one.

Thank you!

goonix

[Mystiqq]

EDIT:

Nevermind, problem was wrong depth when saving the file.

EDIT2:
Note to self: Use 8bit depth instead of 4bit. :)

[goonix]

@Mystiqq

The menu you got, is a logical result of your highlight picture. The red background color is set to transparent. The blue color (your button) is set to dark red as in your original menu. Since the blue color however covers nearly the whole subpic, you can see it in your hotspot rectangle.

So the error is occured ripping the subpic. It should be completely red, only the brackets and the plussign should be blue.

Please check all parameters of SubRip and try it again. Most important is setting the output to Sonic Scenarist, use 4 bit for the palette and don't use custom colors (uncheck the box).

[EDIT]
I'm too slow!
You got it already by yourself, good...

goonix

[Mystiqq]

Nice! Got things working now!

THANKS! :)

[Spaceone]

Load your first subpicture WS.SST and press (mark) the "wide" button. It gets stream ID 0x20 (w 20).

I have those 3 buttons (PS, LB and WIDE) in Muxman (0.14g) gray out. Is this option possible only in 0.15 version?

[Mystiqq]

They worked for me and im using the 0.14g version as well.

Im guessing you didnt do the previous step yet?

- Save the MuxMan project as mxp file and change the Display Mode from "4:3" to "P/S and LB", "Only Panscan", or "Only Letterbox" with a text editor to the same as your original DVD (as you have noted in Step A), save it and reload the mxp file.
(see note #7)

After you do that and reload the mxp, the options should be avaitable.

[goonix]

@Spaceone
Use the settings without the quotation marks!
After loading your subpic the buttons will be enabled.

@kumi
I have tested your subpic and SST file on my friends computer (WinXP SP2) now in the "right" way. It works like a charm.

So your system seems to be one of the few that has problems with MuxMan 0.14 as mpucoder has mentioned.

goonix

[kumi]

Yes, for an SST file pointing to just one menu bitmap subpicture, the bug doesn't cause much of a hassle: one just has to remember to manually edit the .MXP file. However in the case of an SST file containing hundreds of bitmap subtitles, the resultant .MXP file contains hundred of "Item=Sub-Picture Play" entries, each exhibiting the parsing bug. Quite annoying :)

@mpucoder: As you said the problem stems from an API call, I wonder if there is any way to fix the issue by patching my Windows XP system, somehow?

[Mystiqq]

Ive been testing more and trying to get the pan&scan pictures to line up exactly with the extracted background to be able to edit the pan&scan highlights inside photoshop. I noticed that if you change the background image width to 960 (multiply 720 by 4/3 you get 960), while keeping the canvas at 720 width and then copy the pan&scan highlight image as new layer it matches what pan&scan would look like in DVD player.

I first did test it visually by stretching the image to match it what pan&scan looks like in dvd player (used PGCedit/menubuttons/groups), and got 959 pixels width.

If someone can explain me why this "calculation" seems to give the correct width, that would be great, because i dont understand why it does that. :)

EDIT:
Also load up the widescreen highlight bmp, image size to 960x480,"resample image: nearest neighbor" to eliminate any smoothing/antialiasing, then canvas size to 720x480 and you get the pan&scan highlight.

[Mystiqq]

Found out why i had issues with the color depth yesterday. It seems that muxman has some issues with accepting and muxing bitmaps.

MuxMan version 0.14g
Opened sub 1 file F:\***\WS.sst.
F:\***\WS.bmp contains 8 bit pixels, must be 4. file skipped.
Opened sub 2 file F:\***\PS.sst.
F:\***\PS.bmp contains 8 bit pixels, must be 4. file skipped.

Noticed that i have to save the highlight bitmaps as 4 bit bmp when im adding them into muxman or else it wont accept them, but when i start the muxing it will halt on error.

MuxMan version 0.14g
Opened script file F:\***\muxman.mxp
Accepted image F:\***\bg.bmp
18:35:24 Begin multiplex.
Maximum audio duration 0 fields.
new graphics buffer size 414720.
SPU buffer size 8192.
graphics buffer size 1244160.
Starting scene Segment_1_scn1 at 00:00:00:00
SeqEnd at 1A2CD.
SPU error, , encoded line exceeds 1440 bits.

Now, if i go back and save both files as 8bit and reload the mxp and start the mux it will work without problems. The files have been already selected so muxman wont apparently checked them. Im using Photoshop here.

log when changed to 8 bit and muxed.

MuxMan version 0.14g
Opened script file F:\***\muxman.mxp
Accepted image F:\***\bg.bmp
18:45:18 Begin multiplex.
Maximum audio duration 0 fields.
new graphics buffer size 414720.
SPU buffer size 8192.
graphics buffer size 1244160.
Starting scene Segment_1_scn1 at 00:00:00:00
SeqEnd at 1A2CD.
Bytes remaining in buffer = 0.
18:45:19 End multiplex.
Bitrate - avg: 1865910, min: 1865910 (lba 0), max: 1865910 (lba 0).
Shortest GOP has 2 fields, longest GOP has 2 fields.
Fields: 30, Still fields: 28, VOBU: 1, Sectors: 57.

EDIT:
BUT, if i take the original extracted files, both which are 4bit and mux them without editing them first they will work!

Seems to me that saving bmp inside photoshop will make the files different even though colortable is correct etc. Now, i dont understand what there is different with the PS saved 4 bit files that muxman accepts when selecting but fails when trying to mux as 4 bit.

Also there is no size difference on the muxed result even though 8bit files are 2x as big compared to the original 4bit (unedited) files, but they do work like they should.

[mpucoder]

This is an area that definitely needs some work. When .sst files are parsed the bitmap files are checked for signature, resolution, and color depth. But the counterpart in .mxp parsing does no checking. The actual encoder assumes 16 colors, so as long as only the first 16 colors are used it will encode properly.

However, 4-bit or 8-bit of the same image should have the same complexity, which is what the 1440 bits error is about (the limit per horizontal line). If you could send me both the 4-bit and 8-bit version of a bitmap that fails I'll look at it.

[kumi]

Seems to me that saving bmp inside photoshop will make the files different even though colortable is correct etc. Now, i dont understand what there is different with the PS saved 4 bit files that muxman accepts when selecting but fails when trying to mux as 4 bit.In my case, photoshop was truncating my 16-color colortables to 4-colors, which was cause all sorts of wierdness in muxman. The solution was to append 12 #000000 entries at the end of the colortable before muxing.

[mic]

Ive been testing more and trying to get the pan&scan pictures to line up exactly with the extracted background to be able to edit the pan&scan highlights inside photoshop. I noticed that if you change the background image width to 960 (multiply 720 by 4/3 you get 960), while keeping the canvas at 720 width and then copy the pan&scan highlight image as new layer it matches what pan&scan would look like in DVD player.

I first did test it visually by stretching the image to match it what pan&scan looks like in dvd player (used PGCedit/menubuttons/groups), and got 959 pixels width.

If someone can explain me why this "calculation" seems to give the correct width, that would be great, because i dont understand why it does that. :)

EDIT:
Also load up the widescreen highlight bmp, image size to 960x480,"resample image: nearest neighbor" to eliminate any smoothing/antialiasing, then canvas size to 720x480 and you get the pan&scan highlight.
Matter of some controversy when you get talking about TV signals, but some numbers anyway that point to your 960 width. Also note that DVD player will create a taller frame to compensate for different display on PC & TV. But more or less trivia I guess, and only in response to your question. :)

[720 * 1.2121 (NTSC w/s pixel aspect)] = ~873
[873 / .9091 (NTSC non-square pixel aspect)] = ~960
[720 * 1.4568 (PAL w/s pixel aspect)] = ~1048
[1048 / 1.0926 (PAL non-square pixel aspect)] = ~960

4:3 is just another way of representing ratios, ie.
640 x 480 frame -> 640 / 480 = 1.333... for every height pixel, there are 1.333... width pixels or 1:1.333
(1.333... * 3) = ~4 & (1 * 3) = 3 or 4:3 if you eliminate decimals

All based orig. on fractions based on broadcast signal sampling, but not all in agreement as to w/s ratios. But, whomever authored your DVD menu used as above I think.:) Not always so however, & even Sony & Adobe disagree in software.

[mic]

Seems to me that saving bmp inside photoshop will make the files different even though colortable is correct etc. Now, i dont understand what there is different with the PS saved 4 bit files that muxman accepts when selecting but fails when trying to mux as 4 bit.
Could it be colorspace conversion in p/shop? Open file and it asks what space to open, save etc., plus have default working space and so on.

[mpucoder]

What a DVD player does to display panscan is take 540 horizontal pixels and stretch to 720. The location of the 540 pixels is usually in the center of the image, but does not have to be (it can be moved by an offset encoded into the video).
960/720 = 720/540
And the reason is 16:9 is 4/3 as wide as 4:3 (4:3 = 12:9, 16/12 = 4/3)

[goonix]

@mpucoder
So Mystiqq's way to stretch the picture to 960 pixels width and then resize the canvas to 720 seems to be correct for NTSC.

It would be nice if you can explain why resize the canvas to 768 pixels and then resize the pic to 720 is working for PAL.

goonix

[mpucoder]

That's for dealing with the pixel geometry of a computer display. 768x576 is 4:3 using square pixels.
Note: PCs are moving away from 4:3 displays and square pixels, so the values given in many guides for working with graphics on computers in correct aspect may not apply. For example my graphics card has resolutions for widescreen monitors, one (848x480) is 16:9 (should be 848x477, but it's close enough). This is still square pixels, but it also has 1280x768 (5:3, which on a 16:9 display means the pixel height is 15/16 the width) and 1280x1024 (5:4, which is the same ratio as PAL DVD)

[goonix]

OK, I understand. Thanks for the explanation!

So I will change the method of resizing the pan&scan subpic for NTSC to Mystiqq's suggestion. For PAL it was correct already.

goonix

[Mystiqq]

This is an area that definitely needs some work. When .sst files are parsed the bitmap files are checked for signature, resolution, and color depth. But the counterpart in .mxp parsing does no checking. The actual encoder assumes 16 colors, so as long as only the first 16 colors are used it will encode properly.

However, 4-bit or 8-bit of the same image should have the same complexity, which is what the 1440 bits error is about (the limit per horizontal line). If you could send me both the 4-bit and 8-bit version of a bitmap that fails I'll look at it.

Sure. Good thing i did save them into separate folders just in case.

http://rapidshare.de/files/4972900/highlight_bitmaps.zip.html

In my case, photoshop was truncating my 16-color colortables to 4-colors, which was cause all sorts of wierdness in muxman. The solution was to append 12 #000000 entries at the end of the colortable before muxing.

I see, ive got to test that out.

Anyways, the menu stuff is working for me and i did it for two menus. Great guide overall, even for newbies like me. :)

[mic]

Note: PCs are moving away from 4:3 displays and square pixels, so the values given in many guides for working with graphics on computers in correct aspect may not apply. For example my graphics card has resolutions for widescreen monitors, one (848x480) is 16:9 (should be 848x477, but it's close enough). This is still square pixels, but it also has 1280x768 (5:3, which on a 16:9 display means the pixel height is 15/16 the width) and 1280x1024 (5:4, which is the same ratio as PAL DVD)
FWIW... if it interests etc. :) A PC monitor always displays square (or round :)) pixels by definition, or even mobile phone screen. And I think non-square originally was just an idea or method of displaying & manipulating more horiz data from scanning broadcast signal when the accepted standard was still 640 x 480. A PC monitor still uses square pixels to display non-square video, but the frame size itself is altered and pixels being square or not is the explanation of why. One source would be: http://visarts.ucsd.edu/grad/lab/dv-craigb.html if only for the historical context. A 1280 x 768 PC monitor would still show square pixels by definition, but in a 5:3 frame.
@Mystiqq
Downloaded files, & there was obviously difference in color tables from 8 to 4 bit. Opening orig, in P/Shop 7.01, choosing no color mgmt on open, saving as 4 bit, new file showed same color table & file size etc.

[Mystiqq]

@Mystiqq
Downloaded files, & there was obviously difference in color tables from 8 to 4 bit. Opening orig, in P/Shop 7.01, choosing no color mgmt on open, saving as 4 bit, new file showed same color table & file size etc.

Same here, but it doesnt help. The problem is still there, you can open the file in muxman but when you try to mux it will fail with "encoded line exceeds 1440 bits" error, for me at least

[mpucoder]

Forgot to mention the parsing of .sst files has been fixed for MuxMan version 0.15 and later.

And, of course, a big thank you to goonix for the guides.

[Morlock]

Where does one download PgcEdit 0.61beta4? Can I get away with just using 0.6?

[r0lZ]

Get beta12 here (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/beta/PgcEdit_winexe_0.6.1beta12.zip). V0.6.1 final will be released soon.

[r0lZ]

As this thread is now sticky, I suggest to rename it 'How to make a new menu or modify the background image of a menu'.

[Dimad]

Yeah, "make a new menu" reflects thread content much better. Replacing menu background does not actually requires whole menu reauthoring and can be done in just few clicks (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=98280).

[goonix]

I like the new thread title too.

@Dimad
To be honest, I have changed the menus on many of my DVDs using your great tool.
I can highly recommend DVDRemake Pro to all which are interested in personalizing their DVDs.

But my intention of this thread was to show that it can be done using only free tools.
Moreover the described procedure is more flexible, because to edit the highlight picture is'nt really easy with DVDRemake for example.

Since PgcEdit and VobBlanker (not to forget MuxMan, MenuShrink etc.) are going better and better with a different approach to DVDRemake, it is great for the whole DVD community to have the choice now between such fantastic programs.

goonix

[Dimad]

But my intention of this thread was to show that it can be done using only free tools.
Sorry, somehow I did not realize it reading the subj and posts. Hope link was not completely out of topic.

No doubts that described by you method is much more flexible as it recreates menu completely from bits and pieces. It is just that for some people procedure may be too complicated (or just too time consuming) if changing background image is all they want.

...it is great for the whole DVD community to have the choice now between such fantastic programs.
Yeap, absolutely agree :D

[berrick]

Darn!! i give up :(

The only problem i have with this proceedure is I only have photoshop to edit the subpic and no matter how i try (the I try being important lol) i just cant get muxman to mux it correctly. This is using win xp sp2 and muxman 0.14.

The results i get are either all red no blue, or a distorted picture. These results are based on saving file from photoshop with color management turned of and 4 bit. using muxman to mux the BG.bmp and sub pic bmp then doing a subrip of the resulting vob to check results before going any further.

If i use the original sup pic to mux with modified bg.bmp all works fine.

Ne1 ne suggestions

[FilipeAmadeuO]

Just use DVDAuthorGUI

[berrick]

@FilipeAmadeuO
I would but havent had time to look at whether it is possible for DVDAuthogui to do what i want to do.
That is use the subpic to show a bullet next to menu option when moving round the options rather than a highlight

[goonix]

@berrick

Save your subpic BMP in OS/2 and not in Windows format and try again.
It works for me (Photoshop CS 8.01).

goonix

[senderj]

I followed the guide up to the point where I put the sst into MuxMan. MuxMan showed a "Free" at the sub-pic file name. I saved the project and edit the mxp. I found that there is no "Duration" under "Item=Sub-Picture Stream". So I add "Duration=Default". Reopen it in MuxMan and start. MuxMan stopped with message "cannot reopen Free". My sst is the same as the NTSC version posted in this thread and I am sure I put a space after the bmp file name. I've tried "." and the exact path in the "Directory", both upper and lower case, but still the same. It must be my sst, but I don't know what. Please help.

[berrick]

I was having some funny issues with my .sst file so to be on the safe side i made sure that there were no spaces in directory/file names, as well as the space i used a carriage return. The space is important as the last character on the line is stripped.I havent back tracked to see if having spaces in the directory/file name causes issues. Maybe mpucoder can verify this?
My .sst file now works fine.
To check i have a space at the end of a line i always get cursor to front of line in question and then press the "end" key.

[berrick]

@Goonix
Thnxs i can confirm that saving PS bmp as OS/2 works for me as well with i use PS 7.0 for windows, now to understand the color setting of subpic and correcting a time limit that menu now has lol
L8R's

[mpucoder]

There have been some fixes to sst file parsing in 0.15, but spaces in the file names was fixed a long time ago.
You can see how an sst file was interpretted by looking at the mxp file, as it expands the sst into mxp. Also there is no duration to a stream, only each play item.

[senderj]

I don't have any play item in my mxp. Here is my sst

st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 478)
Display_Area (0 2 719 478)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory e:\project\demuxed_menu
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:01:00:00 sub2.bmp

and here is the relevant part of mxp

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=2
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
File=E:\project\demuxed_menu\[1]_VTS_01_1.21.sup
}

here is the MuxMan log

MuxMan version 0.14g
Opened script file E:\project\demuxed_menu\sub.mxp
Accepted image E:\project\demuxed_menu\language2.bmp
Opened sub 2 file E:\project\demuxed_menu\[1]_VTS_01_1.21.sup.
22:57:19 Begin multiplex.
Maximum audio duration 0 fields.
unable to reopen free.

Please help.

[berrick]

Looks to me like you are using a project file you created using a differnet sub filename...
the file name your .sst file is using is sub2.bmp but the .mpx file is using something totaly different. It must match the file name used in the .sst file

[senderj]

No. The demuxed vob gave me 2 sup files: 20.sup and 21.sup. I use the sst and 21.sup in MuxMan. You can see two sub-pic stream in the mxp file. But the problem is MuxMan didn't seem to able to open the sst (I mean it can open the sst but not the sub2.bmp). PLease read my problem in my previous post.

[berrick]

I'm sorry but if you have followed the instructions then you should be dealing with 2 bmp files, The first the main bmp refered to as bg.bmp and the second which is stripped from the VOB using subrip called sub.bmp.

If you havent ended up with 2 .bmp files you are doing something slightly different

[goonix]

@senderj

You only need a .SST file if you want to mux a BMP as subpicture.
The .sup files are the raw subpicture frame data of the VOB file plus a header.
You can't edit them with a graphic editor, but if you only want to change the background picture, it is'nt necessary of course.

You can load .sup files directly into MuxMan as subpicture stream.

goonix

[senderj]

I use sst and a sup file because I want to try modifying one sub first. My problem is on MuxMan (seems) not able to read the sst file correctly. Anyway, I have tried to use sst only. I note down what I did (relevant part only) and repeat my question here:

Let me start at after I got the menu background bmp and extracted the menu vob.

1. I then use SubRip to output sub00.bmp and sub01.bmp which correspond to ID 20 and 21. 20 is for 4:3, wide, and LB. 21 is for PS. I got my first problem here since after I click verify, SubRip shows "00-????" and "01-????" in the pull down, instead of 20 and 21. Don't know why.

2. I edit both the background bmp, sub00.bmp and sub01.bmp. What I did was to change the word "Espanol" to "Chinese" on both background and highlight (sub).

3. I copy the sst in this thread, modify it to become sub00.sst and sub01.sst. This is the sub00.sst

st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 479)
Display_Area (0 2 719 479)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory E:\project\demuxed_menu
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:01:00:00 sub00.bmp
My second problem is, in this thread, NTSC size for the sub is 719X479. But the output of SubRip (that is the sub00.bmp) has size 720X478. I don't know which is correct.

4. I open MuxMan, use the background as video. I don't have audio so I skip it. I use sub00.sst in Sub1. MuxMan showed "20" against "Track 1". But MuxMan showed "Free" in the sub file name and the "PS" "LB" "WIDE" buttons were disabled. I ignore it and use sub01.sst in Sub2. MuxMan put "21" in "Track 2" and again showed "Free" in filename. The instruction said I am suppose to select the buttons according to Step A (PgcEdit), but they are not available to me. What's wrong?

5. I save the project. The mxp is this:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=2
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
}

6. MuxMan didn't seems to read the sst files. So I edited the mxp, change it to become:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Only Letterbox
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=e:\project\demuxed_menu\sub00.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=0000ff = & &
Color 2(E1)=000000 = & &
Color 3(E2)=ff0000 = & &
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=2
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Only Panscan
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=e:\project\demuxed_menu\sub01.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=0000ff = & &
Color 2(E1)=000000 = & &
Color 3(E2)=ff0000 = & &
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}

7. Reopen it in MuxMan, now MuxMan showed the file names correctly. BUt the three buttons were still disabled.

8. I click Start to generate the DVD files. But it halted with a line at the end of the MuxMan.log:

"SPU error, , encoded line exceeds 1440 bits."

Can anybody help me on this?

[berrick]

@goonix
I didn't know you could use .sup directly with muxman, i learn something new every time i come to this site! With regard to changing just the BG.bmp i still find it quicker to use the relevant part of this guide (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=555936&highlight=alien+menu#post555936) BUT for doing sub.bmp this guide is way Kewl

[goonix]

@senderj
1. I then use SubRip to output sub00.bmp and sub01.bmp which correspond to ID 20 and 21. 20 is for 4:3, wide, and LB. 21 is for PS. I got my first problem here since after I click verify, SubRip shows "00-????" and "01-????" in the pull down, instead of 20 and 21. Don't know why.Stream 20 can't contain wide and LB. There are different streams needed. So you have probably 20 for wide and 21 for PS.
Don't care about the question marks in SubRip.
3. My second problem is, in this thread, NTSC size for the sub is 719X479. But the output of SubRip (that is the sub00.bmp) has size 720X478. I don't know which is correct.In the .SST file the Display_Area (0 2 719 479) is correct for NTSC, but your subpicture should have 720x480. You can change the size in SubRip under the "Cropping" tab.
4. But MuxMan showed "Free" in the sub file name and the "PS" "LB" "WIDE" buttons were disabled.If MuxMan shows "Free", then the subpicture is not found or the subpicture has the wrong format. "PS" "LB" "WIDE" buttons were then disabled. Remember the correct settings of 720X480 for NTSC, the 4 bit color palette and the colors red, blue, black and white. And read some posts above about the OS/2 format of the BMP in PhotoShop. (btw PaintShop's BMP output in windows format is OK for MuxMan).
6. MuxMan didn't seems to read the sst files. So I edited the mxp.Please edit only the parts that are described in the mini-guide. Else if you are not an expert in MuxMan it surely goes wrong.
8. "SPU error, , encoded line exceeds 1440 bits."This error is a result of editing the mxp file in a wrong manner.

If you follow the mini-guide step by step and the explanations above, you should master this challenge.
You are on the right way...

goonix

[mpucoder]

The log (c:\muxman.log) might give you and me some more information (especially version number and file reject messages). But if it says "unable to reopen free" it means it was unable to open the bmp. Make sure there is a cr/lf after the bmp name (check in notepad or wordpad by opening the file and hitting crtl end, the cursor should be at the left below the last line).

[senderj]

I finally find out the reason of the "free" problem in my sst. There is a space at the end of the "Directory" line. I delete it and MuxMan is able to show the file name after I choose the sst. However, the "WIDE" "LB" "PS" buttons are still disabled. I've checked my sst over and over again but didn't find anything wrong. I did some more test on my case and sum up my observations here hoping that you can help me.

a. Muxman can now open my sst and find the bmp file name to display. But the "WIDE" "LB" "PS" buttons are still disabled.

b. Nevertheless, I save the muxman project and edit the mxp as in mpucoder's post.

c. But anytime I use two sub-pic, Muxman is halted with "SPU error, , encoded line exceeds 1440 bits." I am using 0.14g.

d. If I only use one sub-pic, Muxman can produce the files.

e. Then I proceed to complete the rest of the steps with Muxman's output: replace vob, put back the menu stuff etc. The final DVD works well, except the highlight of the modified menu (which is a language selection menu). The highlight shows up as if some horizontal lines are filtered off. And the most interesting thing is, the remaining lines is showing the characters of the main menu rather then those in the language menu.

f. I want to check what has been muxed into Muxman's ouptput. So with Mxuman's output (as in Point d above), I extract the vob in the same way as I extract the menu vob from the original DVD. Then I use SubRip to rip the sub to bmp. But SubRip stopped at 70% then nothing happen. It didn't complete, didn't show the sub on screen and didn't produce the bmp.

g. Without success in f). I do the same using the final DVD files instead. This time I can produce the bmp. But it is not the same as the one I put into sst. It looks as if some bits have been shifted. Here is the link
http://home.netvigator.com/~zarino/abc.bmp
and here is the edited sub I put in MuxMan
http://home.netvigator.com/~zarino/sub00.bmp

My sst and mxp can be found here
http://home.netvigator.com/~zarino/sub.mxp
http://home.netvigator.com/~zarino/sub00.sst

Can somebody please let me know what's wrong with my files?

Oh! forgot about the Muxman log, which is the one successful (with one sub)
http://home.netvigator.com/~zarino/muxman.log

[goonix]

@senderj
a. Muxman can now open my sst and find the bmp file name to display. But the "WIDE" "LB" "PS" buttons are still disabled.You have to change the Display Mode from "4:3" to "Only Panscan" in your mxp file and reload it. Only then the buttons are enabled. This is described in the mini-guide!
e. The highlight shows up as if some horizontal lines are filtered off.This is the result of a wrong format of the subpicture. The destroyed subpicture of your abc.bmp clearly shows this effect. If you are using PhotoShop then choose the OS/2 output format for your BMP. In PaintShop also the windows format will work. I have tried some other graphic editors and some of them work, some not. I don't know what is specific to this problem, only mpucoder knows. To proof the format use SubRip after muxing your subpic. It should look the same as before muxing, in other words your abc.bmp should be the same as your sub00.bmp. If it is'nt the case try different settings of your BMP output or an other graphic editor.
c. But anytime I use two sub-pic, Muxman is halted with "SPU error, , encoded line exceeds 1440 bits." I am using 0.14g.I never got this error. Only mpucoder can explain it. I mux all 3 subpictures without any problem. Maybe this is also comes from a wrong subpic format. One subpicture with the wrong format will work (but with a bad result), 2 wrong subpictures lead to this error.
Then I proceed to complete the rest.... SubRip stopped at 70% then nothing happen.If you get an error in MuxMan proceeding does'nt make any sense. No wonder SubRip will not work correctly.

Conclusion: All your problems seems to come from a wrong subpicture format. If you have managed this issue, then you will have success.

Good luck and let us stay informed!

goonix

[berrick]

@goonix
I got "encoded line exceeds 1440bits" error when i first tried to use your guide. I saw it once and corrected somehow but cannot remeber what i did. I have tried now everything works for me to recreate the problem but cant.

I was using 0.14g only mux'ing one sub pic and bg bmp no audio, i suspect it was something to do with the .mpx file as am sure when i stopped using it .mxp file.

The problems with senderj abc.bmp are to do with the way the bmp file is saved. That is excatly the issue i was getting before using photoshop and save as os/2 bmp

[mpucoder]

"Encoded line exceed 1440 bits" error has to do with the complexity of the subpicture bitmap, each line must compress to 1440 bits or less. No doubt the garbled bmp caused this.

[qwik3r2]

idk guys i just can't get this to work, i follow it to a T (or atleast i think i do) and all i get is a still menu with music.

I am trying to add audio to an edited background pic, i extract the vob than i use subrip to rip the subpics than i use muxman to add it all back together and yes i followed those instructions to a T aswell.

Finally i copy it back to my VIDEO_TS folder and it has the music but isn't a menu anymore, even PGCEDIT shows it not as a menu, i can't click on anything, no highlights etc. I DO know that i would have to use PGCEDIT in order to get the hotspots back but thats not my prob right now, any help would be great, thanks.

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

If you don't set the hotspot rectangles in PgcEdit it is'nt a menu.
It is only a still picture with a subpicture and audio.
PgcEdit writes the button info to the navpacks when you define a hotspot and the button command.
Only now you have a real button and a menu.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

I guess you dont' quite understand, after i do everything and use vobblanker to replace the menu cell i load up PGCEDIT and where there was perviously a menu there is no more, so i am doing something wrong between the process here.

This is what i do:

I open up VTS_02_0.VOB which contains my menus. I than demux with cell id's using vobedit.

The menu i want is a special features menu in which i want to blank out part of it where i deleted buttons and add music. The menu is located in: VTS_02_007.VOB

I use subrip to rip the bmp out of it, i do not edit the highlight. I than use muxman and load up the bg image, save the project and edit the mxp so that it says Only Panscan. Load up muxman again and load my bg audio and my .SST file which corrently points to the right dir and right BMP filename. (which is sub.sst and sub.bmp, all files are in the same DIR btw)

I than click on the PS button and save the project. I than open up the mxp in notepad again and change the duration to DEFAULT. Open it up again click start and than get my extracted VOB and load up VOBblanker, replace the menu cell with the new one, load up PGC and its not there, all the other menus are there, but not that one, WHAT am i doing wrong?

P.S. I DO have preserve menu's ticked in vobblanker and i do have skip all on everything else and i DO have process on the menu.

[Taelon]

Sounds like you skipped 2 important steps with PgcEdit

4. Export whole menu and export color schemes.

19. Open your DVD in PgcEdit and import your saved PGC commands, menu buttons and color scheme.

[senderj]

goonix,

Thanks for the reply. My mistake was on Display Mode 4:3. I have changed the one under sub-pic stream, instead of the Segment item. My second mistake was on the sub-pic bmp. In Photoshop, I saved it as Windows 4 bits, instead of OS/2 4 bits.

After correcting them, my project has been completed successfully. Thanks alot for the group in helping me to sort it out.

[goonix]

@senderj
Congratulation and thanks for informing us about your success!

@qwik3r2
To verify if the subpic is really in your new muxed menu cell you can use SubRip before you replace the menu cell of your original DVD.
If not then something was going wrong at muxing the cell with MuxMan.
After you have replaced your menu cell you should see at least your modified background image in PgcEdit.
If not then something was going wrong at replacing the cell with VobBlanker.

And Taelon is right. These are important steps.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

ok well i did something wrong with muxman now because when i load the background pic i click save edit it to Only Panscan load it up again add the audio than add the .SST than click PS button, i save the project open it up and i do not see subpicture streams, the sub pic is not shown as saved in the file, so wtf did i do wrong? I.E. I can't change it to default.

[qwik3r2]

When i load up the sub.sst it says Sub1: Free - than across from it "Warning: Stream 1 has no modes selected" I click PS than it says warning Track 1 is missing wide subs, so i click on wide and save and i open it and i have no duration or directory path or anything in the mxp file. Also under subpics why do i have 2 available radio boxes 1 and 2 if i only have one subpic? I have attached my mxp file as a txt for viewing aswell as my .sst file as a txt

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

You're correct. Even if MuxMan shows "Sub1: Free", the subpic buttons are enabled.
MuxMan should show the path to your subpic however (Directory in SST file + subpic name).
For example: "Sub1: C:\TEST\NEWMENU\SUB.bmp".
If you set a dot "." as Directory in your SST file and put the SST file and the subpic.BMP into the same folder, it should work too.

Instead of:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified


You should have something like that in your mxp file:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=C:\TEST\NEWMENU\SUB.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC non-drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=000000 = = =
Color 2(E1)=0000ff = = =
Color 3(E2)=ffffff = = =
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0

Pay attention that each line of the SST file must end with a carriage return, even the last one.

The radio buttons are for adding the 2nd 3rd etc subpic.

For 16:9 menus you need at least 2 subpictures. The wide subpic is required in any case.
Then you have to add the panscan, the letterbox or both subpics depending on your menu.
If you have set the Display Mode from "4:3" to "Only Panscan", then you have to add the wide and the ps subpics.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

First Q, what do you mean by set a "." as a directory, you mean a directory name? Second when i extract the subpic with subrip it only extracts 1bmp file. When i look at the vob in PGCEDIT under the pgc editor and under current domain stream attributes it says video: 16:9 and "automatic pan&scan" so is what i have in my mxp file correct? Panscan only?

[qwik3r2]

I just put a space after every line in my .SST file and that did nothing, WTF am i doing wrong bro? Thanks.

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

First A, you have to specify the path (Directory) to your subpic in the SST file.
If you set a "." instead of the complete path, then all DOS veterans know it simply means "the same folder". Then the subpic have to be in the same folder as the SST file. If you specify a path, then the subpic has to be in that specified folder. It is your choice what you prefer, the path or the dot (without the quotation marks).

Second A, if PgcEdit shows 16:9 and only "automatic pan&scan" then "Only Panscan" in the mxp file is correct and your menu has 2 subpics, wide and ps. To extract them with SubRip mark the checkbox "Show all 32 streams" and click the verify button. In the selection box above you can now specify which stream you want to extract. In most cases stream 00 is wide and stream 01 is the second subpic, in your case panscan.

Third A, if MuxMan shows "Sub1: Free", it don't find the subpic file because either the directory path or the filename is wrong, or the subpic file has the wrong format (size, number of colors, etc). Please check all "to a T" again.

goonix

[senderj]

@qwik3r2

You said that you put a space at the end of each line in .sst. Does this include the "Directory" line. If so, when Muxman read it, it will also put that end space between the path and the file name, like this: "c:\project\dir \filename.bmp" (with the space after "dir"). That is why Muxman cannot find the file. If this is the case, remove the space at the end of the "Directory" line. Muxman will read the file as: "c:\project\dir\filename.bmp" (without the space after "dir"). I made this mistake before. See if this is also your case.

[qwik3r2]

ugh i still don't know what i am doing wrong here, i did everything both of you said to do. I loaded up subrip again and selected the VOB that has my menu in it, save subpic's as BMP is selected and also autoselect matching vobs was selected but i deselected it. I also have show all 32 streams selected and it only prompts me to save ONE bmp file.

I don't even edit that bmp file, i just load up muxman and throw in my audio and this SST and it STILL says sub1: free. I can't get it to find it. It definitly IS in the same dir and i even edited the SST to include that DIR and still nothing. I even got rid of all the spaces after each line except for the last one as indicated in the guide.

P.S. When i open subrip and open up my vob it says at the top language stream 00, it didn't select 01. Further help please lol.

Thanks alot for helping me so far guys you've been great.

[qwik3r2]

I wanted to test something so i loaded up my main VOB that contains the menu's in subrip and at the top drop down menu was 00 and 01 etc and it said letterbox and what not and the descriptions. I than clicked on extract and it tried extracting all the sub titles, which i don't want. VTS_02_2.vob contains all my menus, the menu i want to change is located IN that vob and it is VTS_02_007.VOB - i try extracting from that file and don't get the language stream selection or anything, just the ONE subpic, is this my problem?

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

I only can repeat myself. If PgcEdit shows that your menu is 16:9 "automatic pan&scan", then you have 2 subpictures.

The main purpose of SubRip is to extract subtitles. If you select a regular VOB of your DVD, then you get a lot of subpictures per stream, because there are many subtitles in a chain during the movie. If you select a menu VOB (prefered the VOB of the menu cell you have extracted with VobBlanker before, as described in the mini-guide), then you have only ONE subpicture per stream. To get the second subpicture you have to open the VOB again and manually select stream 01 in the selection box.

And keep in mind that you have to set the picture size to 720x480, the color depth to 4 bit and the preset to Sonic Scenarist WITHIN SubRip before you click on the OK button to extract the subpicture. Please verify these settings! If you do this exactly and really "to a T", then your subpic will be accepted by MuxMan.

Hope this helps and best luck
goonix

[qwik3r2]

Ok i'm getting somewhere but i have a new problem.

I downloaded subrip 1.40 beta i had 1.17 before and i was able to finally get muxman to recognize the damn subpic did my thing than loaded up vob blanker, replaced the menu cell and clicked skip all and process only that vob that contained the menu cell. Load it up into pgcedit and load the pgc commands and i see nothing.

After realizing that muxman was not muxing the subpics i looked back through the thread and found someone with a similiar problem, i pasted mpucoder's picture stream and viola i finally got the sub pics to mux into the vob that muxman creates.

The only problem from here is making the thing into a menu, i understand that i need to import the pgc commands that i extracted, menu buttons, and color schemes but i only know how to import the menu buttons when i already am editing a menu, i goto file and import pgc commands and import the commands that i extracted from only that menu and the commands appear on the right but i do not know how to go from there, I.E. previewing the menu or adding the buttons etc. Slowly moving along, thanks for your patience.

[senderj]

goonix,

I am too early to say the success. In fact it is just base on the test with software player. I finally burn it to DVD and play it with standalone player and TV, and found that the highlight of the menu did not in line with the background. I give below some info that I think is related to my problem.

Remember my case: replace a subtitle and wanted to modify the language menu. The menu is a still, no audio, with highlight characters over the background characters.

-Original language menu is 16:9, Auto Pan&Scan, sub-pic for 4:3, wide, LB is x20, for pan&scan is x21.
-Subrip produced two bmp: sub00 from 00 and sub01 from 01. sub00.bmp has narrow characters while sub01.bmp has wider characters. Is this normal?
-My mxp after edit has "Only PanScan" in the "Item=Segment" block, "Wide" and "sub00.bmp" in the first "Item=Sub-pic" block and "Pan" and "sub01.bmp" in the second one. The Muxman shows W20PS21.

When play with software player, the player auto to 16:9 and the menu works fine. So I proceed to standalone player & TV. My TV is an old 4:3 one. My player has 3 choices: PS, LB and 16:9. InPS and LB modes, only part of the menu background is shown and the highlight is narrower than the background characters. In 16:9 mode, the whole background is shown and the highlight matchs with the background characters.

I've checked my steps against the guide but didn't find anything wrong. Can you spot anything wrong from my description above?

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

Load it up into pgcedit and load the pgc commands and i see nothing.You can't see the highlight subpicture in PgcEdit. It is only visible in a software player like PowerDVD. And loading the PGC commands is'nt enough. You have to load your menu buttons in PgcEdit's menu editor (->Import whole menu,->Import color schemes).

i was able to finally get muxman to recognize the damn subpic...
After realizing that muxman was not muxing the subpics...If MuxMan recognizes the subpic and you don't get an error message after muxing, then your subpic should be resided in your muxed VOB.
To verify if the subpic is really in your new muxed menu cell you can use SubRip before you replace the menu cell of your original DVD.

i pasted mpucoder's picture stream and viola i finally got the sub pics to mux into the vobIf your subpic is recognized by MuxMan and you save MuxMan's project file, then your mxp file should contain exactly the same part as in mpucoders post. Then you have to edit from Duration=00:01:00:00 to Duration=Default and reload the mxp file before starting MuxMan.

i only know how to import the menu buttons when i already am editing a menuYou're on the right way. Use the menu editor.
Do you have read the mini-guide for modifying a 4:3 menu?
Most of the steps of modifying a 4:3 menu are identical to a 16:9 menu.
And read also to the part of creating a 4:3 menu. Some steps are explained here too.

goonix

[goonix]

@senderj

Original language menu is 16:9, Auto Pan&Scan, sub-pic for 4:3, wide, LB is x20, for pan&scan is x21.As I said before: wide and LB can't have the same subpic stream.
Therefore wide is stream x20 and panscan is stream x21. A 4:3 subpicture is not needed for a 16:9 menu. The LB stream is omitted.

sub00.bmp has narrow characters while sub01.bmp has wider characters. Is this normal?Yes.
The wide subpic will be stretched in the same way as the background image.
The panscan subpic will be displayed nearly 1:1. The background image will be stretched and then cut on the left and right side to 4:3.

My mxp after edit has "Only PanScan" in the "Item=Segment" block, "Wide" and "sub00.bmp" in the first "Item=Sub-pic" block and "Pan" and "sub01.bmp" in the second one. The Muxman shows W20PS21.Absolutely correct.

When play with software player, the player auto to 16:9It's a pity that we can't change this in the properties of a software player. I don't know a player which is able to do it.

In PS and LB modes, only part of the menu background is shown and the highlight is narrower than the background characters.In PS display mode you can see only the middle 4:3 part of the widescreen menu.
What will be displayed by a standalone player if it is set to LB when there is no LB subpicture depends on the player. My players are showing the PS menu instead.

But even in PS display mode the subpicture should be aligned.

To test your workflow don't use your modified subpictures but use the original ones. After muxing with MuxMan, replacing with VobBlanker and reloading the buttons and the color schemes with PgcEdit, your menu should look exactly as before.

If this works then compare your modfied PS subpicture with the original. It should be identical except for your edited part.

goonix

[mpucoder]

As I said before: wide and LB can't have the same subpic stream.
Yes they can, although the appearance will suffer as the characters will be either skinny in LB or fat in Wide. This does happen, and works because both align the same horizontally. In LB the subs appear in the black area, in wide they overlay video.
MuxMan can reproduce this. Set the Display Mode for the segment to "P/S and LB". Set subpicture stream 1 to "Wide/Letter" and stream 2 to "Pan". The gui should show W 20 LB 20 PS 21

Also, if you have access to 0.16 try it, you can now set the display mode for stills from the gui. There's also the ability to composite the stills, which may be all some people need to make the new background.

[qwik3r2]

I know i cannot see the highlight subpics, i am talking about when i load up my original entire VIDEO_TS folder i do not see anything new. What i mean't was i do not see the background of the new menu. I click on load PGC commands and than from there if i click on menu and import menu i get:

"Warning there is already a VMGM menu if you continue it will be replaced by a new one", i click yes and it looks for an IFO file but that is not what i exported when i opted to export whole menu within the menu editor, still what am i doing wrong?

I may now have a problem with the menu not adding corrently as a menu when i use vobblanker

[goonix]

@mpucoder

Thanks for the clarification!
It should be possible for subtitles. Now I know how to edit the mxp file accordingly.
But I can't imagine this for the button highlight subpicture stream, because it must be vertically aligned too.

And I really should consider to use MuxMan 0.16.

goonix

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

What i mean't was i do not see the background of the new menuAfter muxing your new menu with MuxMan:
- Start PgcEdit and open the mini-DVD that MuxMan has created.
- Mark Title 1 in the PGC pane.
- Click on the Preview icon (the eye on the right side of the iconbar).
- Now you should see your modified background image.

After replacing your original menu with your new muxed menu by VobBlanker:
- Start PgcEdit and open your modified DVD.
- Mark the PGC of your modified menu in the PGC pane.
- Click on the Preview icon (the eye on the right side of the iconbar).
- If your menu PGC has several cells you can scroll through them by using the Cell+ and Cell- buttons.
- Now you should see your modified background image.

if i click on menu and import menuYou should not import a menu. Who has said that?
Your menu cell is hopefully replaced by VobBlanker.

- Start PgcEdit and open your modified DVD.
- Mark the PGC of your modified menu in the PGC pane.
- Click on the square green menu button.
- If your menu PGC has several cells then choose the correct cell by clicking on the cell button on top.
- Now you should see your modified background image.
- Click on the Edit button.
- PgcEdit will ask you if you want to create a new button.
- Click on the Yes button.
- Now the Menu Editor opens.
- Click on the File tab in the left upper corner.
- Click on "Import whole menu".
- Load your .mnu menu button file that you have saved before from your original DVD.
- Now you should see the hotspot rectangles of your buttons.
- Click on the File tab in the left upper corner.
- Click on "Import color schemes".
- Load your .csm button color scheme file that you have saved before from your original DVD.
- Now your highlights will have the correct colors although you can't see them now.
- If you have changed the size of a button (e.g. using a longer text as before), then you can change now the size or the position of the hotspot rectangle.
- If you have removed a button in the menu background then you can hide the hotspot of this button now.
- Close the Menu Editor by clicking on the OK button.
- Close the Menu buttons window by clicking on the Close button.
- Your PGC commands should not be modified, but to be shure you can load your saved PGC commands now.
- Save your DVD.
- PgcEdit will ask you if you want to save your modified buttons as well.
- Click on the Yes button.
- If you want to create a backup click on the Yes button again.

Now you can test your new menu in a software player like PowerDVD.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

@qwik3r2

After muxing your new menu with MuxMan:
- Start PgcEdit and open the mini-DVD that MuxMan has created.
- Mark Title 1 in the PGC pane.
- Click on the Preview icon (the eye on the right side of the iconbar).
- Now you should see your modified background image.


What do you mean by "mark title 1 in the pgc pane" I think that the vob is correct becaue it says time 4:11 and the background music is that long i believe. If i just click preview nothing happens so i guess i have to mark it like you said, but not sure how hehe. Thanks.

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

If you want to have the letter "A" in your textdokument, then you have to press the "A" button on your keyboard. It is the second left button in the 3rd line of keys if you count them from the bottom to top. And don't forget to press the Shift button at the same time, else you get the letter "a".

To mark a line in PgcEdits PGC pane you have to click on it with the left button of your mouse (one time, no double-click). Then the line will be highlighted with a grey color for your convenience.

Maybe I should use the word "select" instead?

goonix

[qwik3r2]

Not quite sure what you mean about the whole letter "a" thing.

Yeah select would have been understood better than mark, anyway i select title 1 and click on preview and NOTHING gets shown. I have loaded up the vob that muxman creates in DGIindex and it DOES have the background, so why can't i preview it in PGCedit? (the mini-dvd)

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

Here is what *I* do if something will not work on my first attempt:

1. Checking if I really use the latest versions of the tools.
2. Checking if I had made some spelling errors.
3. Checking if I had set all the parameters correct.
4. Checking if there are properties I have to set before.
5. Checking if the tool has some checkboxes I had overseen.
6. Checking if there are any options thats important to set correctly.
7. etc.

And then I try it again with a slightly different setting.
If I still have no success then I try it again with a slightly different setting.
If I still have no success then I try it again with a slightly different setting.
If I still have no success ...

goonix
Eagerly awaiting your success message!

[qwik3r2]

idk bro, i appreciate your help but obviously your even stuck with helpin me out of this. The vob that muxman creates HAS the subpics, because i can rip both the PS and WS ones out with subrip. It HAS the music and the new background because if i drag the VOB into VLC media player it will play the music and show the new background, so why the hell can i not view it in PGCedit? I have the latest version of every program, and given that all of the above that i just mentioned shows that the files are muxed together than something else is wrong. If you don't mind i uploaded the vobs that muxman created, give it a go if you have the time and see if its just something on my side that is screwed up. I PM'd you the link. Thanks.

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

You don't give up. I like it.

I have analyzed your files.
Your problem was you don't have followed the guide right, at least the sequence of the steps. So your subpics were not assigned correctly and your stream gets corrupted. That's the reason why PgcEdit could'nt open the preview.

In your mxp file:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=unspecified
Item=Sub-Picture Play

The correct mxp file:

Item=Sub-Picture Stream
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Wide
Item=Sub-Picture Play

The sequence of the steps is really important, I repeat:

1. Start MuxMan
2. Load your BG.bmp pic.
3. Save MuxMan's mxp project file.
4. Edit the mxp file from Display Mode "4:3" to "Only Panscan".
5. Reload the mxp file into MuxMan.
6. Load your audio file.
7. Load WS.SST and assign it to "wide" with the wide button in MuxMan's GUI.
8. Verify that you don't have "free" as subpic name in MuxMan's GUI, but "WS.bmp"
9. Choose subpicture stream number 2 in MuxMan's GUI with the radio buttons.
10. Load PS.SST and assign it to "PS" with the PS button in MuxMans GUI.
11. Verify that you don't have "free" as subpic name in MuxMans GUI, but "PS.bmp".
12. The subpicture track 1 should have the stream IDs "W 20 PS 21" in MuxMans GUI now, verify it.
13. Save MuxMans mxp project file.
14. Edit in the mxp file the duration of both subpicture streams to "Default".
15. Reload the mxp file into MuxMan.
16. Start the muxing process.

I have taken your assets and made the mini-DVD with MuxMan.
Then I have replaced it with VobBlanker to the final-DVD.
After setting the hotspots we have a working menu.

You can download it here: http://rapidshare.de/files/6434867/MENU.rar.html

Since I don't know the original colors of your buttons, I have choosen green for the selected buttons and red for the activated buttons. All button commands call the main movie, but since the movie is only a short black frame you won't see anything. You will only see changing the button color and the music starts over. This is the proof that the menu is working.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

Goonix: Success! Finally got it. For anyone else reading this thread now or in the future that may have the same problem just make sure you check and recheck your steps. I was screwing up when it came to the muxing i did not click on the appropriate radiobutton and my MXP was incorrect.

One more Q for you Goonix, is there any way to edit the sub pics in photoshop with it saving the correct way? I read to use GIMP but i like being able to use layers to overlay my sub pics and view where the subpics line up with my background pics, simple programs usually don't have layers and such to do that. Thanks

[goonix]

@qwik3r2

Great! You got it!

Using a graphic editor with layer capabilities is the prefered way to edit the subpicture for the reason you have mentioned: To align the subpicture with the background image. You only have to remember the requirements for a subpicture (which colors, color depth) and in Photoshop you must save the subpicture layer as a BMP in OS/2 format.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

Well you know whats strange is that when i save the edited subpics with photoshop 7.0 and save them in OS/2 format muxman will not recognize them, i read earlier about this in this thread and as i said above the solution i guess was to use gimp, well unless gimp allows layers i don't see what the purpose of using it is, what do you use, if its PS what version? Thanks.

[Taelon]

@qwik3r2,

Perhaps you missed this point? Remember the correct settings of 720X480 for NTSC, the 4 bit color palette and the colors red, blue, black and white. And read some posts above about the OS/2 format of the BMP in PhotoShop. (btw PaintShop's BMP output in windows format is OK for MuxMan).

[qwik3r2]

perhaps.... lol

[senderj]

Goonix,

I finally have time to return to my project. With your helps, I finally and really this time got it right. The sub of my menu now match correctly with the background on TV. The stupid mistake I made was to use the same character layer in Photoshop for both W and PS sub.

What I did to correct it was to compress the character layer by a ratio calculated from the characters of W and PS sub that I didn't change. I got the size correctly. But for the position of the characters, I had to do it by trial and error. Luck was on my side since I got it right in just 2 attempts. I don't think I can be as luck next time. So I am thinking what is the better way to do it?

To recap my objective: how to use the PS sub to create a W sub? The reason I start with PS sub is because in my case the subrip output PS match with the background. I read again the relevant posts in this thread and come up with this procedure:

1. Resize the PS sub (720X480) canvas to 960X480 and fill with red.
2. Resize the image to 720X480 with resample image: nearest neighbor.

Can you or anybody please tell me if this is the correct way for PS to W sub conversion?

[goonix]

@senderj

Yes, that's the correct way.
But consider that resizing can cause some pixel shift.
It can be better to extract the original WS subpicture and make the same changes as you have done on the PS subpicture.
It depends on the complexity of the subpicture what's the better/easier way.

Thanks for your success info!

goonix

[qwik3r2]

ttt - i already PM'd goonix on this but i am working on the project now so if someone can chime in, please do. I have a dvd that in pgcedit says is 16:9 and the auto pan&scan box is checked. I recreate my menu etc but after its burned and i check it out on my tv the background image is stretched and does not confine to the tv's proportions. Whats the deal? How do i get it to look the correct size? (the background image that is)

[goonix]

The image MUST be stretched, it is intended!

So it fits the whole screen for a 16:9 TV set. 4:3 TV sets show only the middle part of the stretched image. This is called "pan&scan" and nearly all Hollywood movies are authored in this way in the menu domain.

If you author a pan&scan menu, you have to care that all "important" parts of the background and all buttons are within this middle 4:3 area of the widescreen.

This way you get a "full screen" menu for 16:9 and for 4:3.

If you make a real 4:3 menu for a 16:9 movie, then you will have black bars on left and right if you spend the money for a new 16:9 TV one day.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

Although the image is stretched beyond what i can see, isn't there a way for me to just make the background image smaller so it will conform either way. It is quite annoying, the faces are basically cut off on the background image and the buttons are not even visible.

If 720x480 is WS than what is 4:3? If i know that than i can atleast make the important part of my image in that area and put some negative space in the remaining.

Personally i don't care about the black bars since the only person that i know that has a WS tv i don't watch the dvd on, and if only the menu is going to have the black bars on the left and right than who cares, i'd prefer my menu, so if you can direct me on how to do that i would forever be in your debt, thank you ! ;)

[goonix]

If you don't care about the black bars, then make a letterbox menu. You will have black bars on top and bottom on your current 4:3 TV but you can see the whole image. You have full screen without black bars if you buy a 16:9 TV next year. ;)

goonix

[qwik3r2]

Well maybe by next year the price will come down more, i am astonished on how cheap tv's are these days, i haven't purchased one in a while, i have a nice sony trinitron 25'' flat screen that is very sharp, but i would kill for a new HDTV widescreen, x-mas next year baby! lol Thanks.

[Nightweaver]

I've attempted to do this several times now, without luck :(

I've got my self-made menu image, which seems fine, and I'm trying to add the overlay but it just won't go for some reason.

I'm using MuxMan 0.14g, and I've tried with several versions of mask file but to no avail.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'm happy to send you the bitmaps I've created. I'd really like to figure out what I'm doing wrong, because I intend to start authoring a few DVDs soon and I'd really, really like to put menus on them.

[jsoto]

If you only want to change the background, may be you can try the new VobBlanker's feature.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=747389#post747389
It's still in beta stage, mainly because I'm still adding more features in the same release.
Simply configure MuxMan as external tool and drang & drop the bmp on the selected cell.
jsoto

[Sir Didymus]

...may be you can try the new VobBlanker's feature...


Wow... Unbelievable... Perfectly working...
Two click of mouse, and voila'...

Just tested a little bit this new feature of VobBlanker on a couple of titles...

I am really impressed... Now the biggest issue left in customising the still Menus is learning the usage of Photoshop...

Jsoto, excellent work!!!

[goonix]

@jsoto

Most of the time you only want to delete a button (with PgcEdit) and edit the according button background too. Now you can replace it directly with VobBlanker, excellent!

In very rare situations it is needed to modify also the highlight picture(s). This can be done following my guide.

But if VobBlanker some day is able to export and import the subpics too, we can completely forget my guide...

Thanks for your great tool!

goonix

[goonix]

@Nightweaver

This guide is mostly for experienced users. If you are not familiar with the DVD structure, it is way more easy to use a DVD authoring program.

I recommend DVDauthorGUI and DVDstyler (both freeware) and TMPGenc DVD Author and DVDLab (for both are full working trial versions downloadable).

If you however want to try making a menu "the hard way" and maybe learn something, you can PM me and I will help.

goonix

[Sir Didymus]

...
In very rare situations it is needed to modify also the highlight picture(s). This can be done following my guide.

But if VobBlanker some day is able to export and import the subpics too, we can completely forget my guide...
...


Hi goonix,
well, IMHO the need of changing the highlight is not very rare [even whith little modifications of the menues, like deleting a single button, it may be nice to change the position of the remaining buttons, and of the related highlight...], so for the moment your guide is still fundamental, very useful, and appreciated...

Even for the future, when and if VobBlanker will be able to export and import highlights, the value of your guide will be unchanged, for learning purposes, since it is showing very clarily, step by step, the structure and the operations necessary for tweaking a menu...

So, one again, a big :thanks: for your guide...

Cheers,
SD

Edit: well I should admit that my previous post was simply not taking into account the highlights... You know, I was a little bit biased on the wave of the new capabilities of VobBlanker...

[jeanl]

SubEdit might offer a solution for moving the highlights directly in the VOB, without having to demux/remux. However, at this point, it can only move them up and down...
jeanl

[spud_2011]

can someone of site's guru take a look to my thread?
i think what i'm doing (modifying dvd's menu with dvdremake, vobblanker and pgcedit by adding a single new button to a new substream content) it's pretty simple for most of you
thanks

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=759428#post759428

[j-fish]

I followed the guide but i guess it didnt go that well,
I cant see the highlight to the new button.
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/3410/button7rt.jpg
the "X" highlight,despite i made another one next to the hebrew it doesnt show up(and yeah i made the rectangle on that new highlight spot).
I saved the "sub.bmp" as 16bit windows format,cause i couldnt get it to 4 bit in photoshop.
also in muxman 0.14,the project file doesnt contain that Item=Sub-Picture Stream duration time,so i just left it the way it is.
i got that buffer underflow's warning,but i understand its fine.

Help?:)
thanks

[goonix]

@j-fish

I saved the "sub.bmp" as 16bit windows formatYou must save the subpic in 4 bit and in OS/2 format if you have read my guide carefully, else it won't be accepted by MuxMan and you don't see "sub.bmp" in MuxMan's GUI before you press the start button. You don't find the subpicture duration time in the mxp file as consequence.

In Photoshop use the mode "indexed colors", then you can save the image in 4 bit.

Here is the workflow how you can test your modified menu if it is working before you insert it to your original DVD:

1. Start PgcEdit and open the mini-DVD that you get as output from MuxMan after muxing the background pic and the sub pic.
2. Select title1 and click on the green square menu button.
3. Click "Edit" to add new buttons.
4. Draw the hotspot rectangle around the background text and the related highlight pic.
(You can't see the highlight pic, so you have to remember where it is...)
5. Assign the button to color scheme 1.
6. Add the next button and do step 4 and 5 again.
7. After you have added all the buttons you need, set the adjacent button order.
8. Set all button commands to LinkTopCell.
9. Edit color scheme 1 (color and opacity).
10. Close the menu editor.
11. Open the PGC editor and set the cell still time to 255.
12. Save the mini-DVD including the buttons.

The description above needs only a few minutes to do.
Now you can open the mini-DVD in PowerDVD and test if the highlights (and therefore the buttons) of your new menu are working.

If they don't work, you have done something wrong.
If it works, you can proceed and replace the new menu to your original DVD.

goonix

[qwik3r2]

j-fish hope your able to get it, with goonix as your guide your bound to get it for sure. It took me some time when i had a problem. It really boiled down to my computer not wanting to mux the files because it was not service back 2. So i switched to my laptop than the files would mux correctly. GL.

P.S.

Hey goonix whats up!!! ;op

[Skiro]

I have one question about modify menu
I followed guide to point 17. of PART2: HOW TO MODIFY A 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN.
then I look with PowerDVD my new little DVD from muxman and I see highlight picture SUB.BMP and not BG.bmp.
Yes in muxman for video I browse for BG.bmp and for sub1 I browse for sub.sst.
Any help about this or is this OK?

[goonix]

@Skiro

No, that's not OK.

If you open the mini-DVD you get from MuxMan without any modification with PgcEdit, you should see the background image for a fractal of a second.

If you first set the cell still time to 255 with PgcEdit, then you will see the background image staying on your screen in PowerDVD.

To see the highlights of the subpic, you have to specify the hotspot rectangles and the color scheme with PgcEdit.

I only can say: Check your workflow again.

goonix

[Skiro]

I found a mistake and now work just fine in PowerDVD but on
standalone DVDplayer I dont have highlights - buttons - anymore in my editing menu.
Is there a solution for me goonix?

[goonix]

@Skiro

This can have some reasons.

At first use following precommand to your menu:
(SetHL_BTN) Set Highlighted Button =(mov) 1024 (button 1)

For a standalone player it is important to set the adjacent button order in the right way.

goonix

[Skiro]

I put that comand on first place.
I also compared adjacent buttons order betwen old and my new menu and it's the same.
Works excelent on PC But still doesn't work on standalone player.
Work only original not mine menu.:(:helpful:

[goonix]

@Skiro

I never had this in my attempts. If it works in PowerDVD (testing with the arrow keys of the PowerDVD pad), it works in my standalone player(s) too.

I can take a look at your menu, if you blank the titles (main movie, extras) of your DVD with VobBlanker and zip/rar the remaining files (IFO,BUP,VOB) and send it per PM to me over yousendit.com or similar.

goonix

[Skiro]

I try again and result is same. I discovered that the buttons works (i can navigate) but doesn't change colors when click with remote on them . They doesn't change the colors like in the PowerDVD.

[video_magic]

PART1: HOW TO MAKE A NEW 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN.....

14. Open your DVD (the one where you have created the new menu PGC with PgcEdit) in VobBlanker.
15. In settings check only "Use Input Folder" and "Process Menus".
16. Replace the dummy menu cell with VTS_01_1.VOB muxed by MuxMan.
17. Press "PROCESS!!" and after your DVD is processed you can close VobBlanker.

........

I have got this far but I don't know what to do. I cannot see anything in VobBlanker (version 2.1.0.0 ) to "Replace the dummy menu cell with VTS_01_1.VOB muxed by MuxMan".

Muxman created a series of files, in a seperate folder from the dvd, where my BG.BMP and SUB.BMP are located:
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VIDEO_TS.BUP

After I have opened the dvd in VobBlanker am I supposed to manually copy over just the Muxman VTS_01_1.VOB into the DVD folder - overwriting the original one - and then press 'Process' in Vobblanker?
Or am I supposed to copy all the Muxman created files into the DVD folder and then process?
.... Or something else in VobBlanker?

Please help :( - Thanks

[goonix]

@video_magic

You don't need to copy something manually.

It is easy to find out what is the VTS, LU, PGC and cell of your menu, if you check your DVD with PgcEdit,
If you open this DVD with VobBlanker click on VIDEO_TS.VOB (VMG menu) or on the related VTS_xx_*.VOB (VTSM menu).
Now click on the "Menu" button, the "Menu of VTSxx" window opens and you can select the language.
In the lower part "Menu PGCs" select the PGC, click on the "Cells" button and the "Cells in menu" window opens.
Select the correct cell you want to replace.
With the button "Prev/Cut" you can verify if it is really the cell you want to replace.
After clicking the "Replace" button, choose VTS_01_1.VOB of MuxMan's output.
Close the "Cells in menu" window with the "Apply" button.
Close the "Menu of VTSxx" window with the "OK" button.
In the setting area of VobBlanker's main window you have ticked only "Use Input Folder" and "Process Menus" check boxes of course.
Set only the VTS of your menu to "Process", all other to "Skip".
By clicking the "PROCESS!!" button your work was done. ;)

goonix

[goonix]

@Skiro

Analyzing your files I found following reason:

Your menu is 16:9 and the letterbox subpic is missing.
You have to follow the 16:9 guide and mux the widescreen and the letterbox subpicture to your menu.

goonix

[video_magic]

Thanks a lot for your help goonix. I have completed that step.

I am still getting stuck on the final processes, but this is because I am not familiar with using the programs, but I'm sure I will get there! :)

So, this guide uses the free Muxman.

I know there is a higher version which is available to paid membership. Does that version do full authoring with menus? I know it says on Mpucoders site that it is an authoring program, I mean is that paid-version an all in one authorer?

[goonix]

@video_magic

I'm shure you will master the next steps too.

To your question: Yes, the paid version is an all in one authorer.
You can make a complete DVD including menus in one step with a single mxp file.

goonix

[Gugge]

@goonix

I tried to follow your guide "PART2: HOW TO MODIFY A 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN" but did not succeed. Are there a guide describing it for "dummies" like me?

Now, I had to wait 5 days since I tested this, so let's see if I remember all places that went wrong. (I searched a lot during those days without succeeding.)

Well, the problem is that I authored a 16:9 DVD using Pinnacle Studio, getting a 16:9 menu that works ok in widescreen, but the 4:3 letterbox subpicture is missing. Instead, the 16:9 subpicture is used even as 4:3 letterbox subpicture with terrible result.


1. Open the DVD in PgcEdit
2. Open the menu you want to modify in the menu editor.
3. Press the "Preview" button and save the menu background as BG.BMP.
4. Export whole menu.
5. Export color schemes.
6. Close PgcEdit and open your DVD in VobBlanker.
7. Extract the menu cell you want to modify as VOB.
8. Don't process rather close VobBlanker.
9. If your menu contains audio or is a motion menu then demux the mpv and mpa file from the extracted VOB.


Steps 1..9 went ok if I remember correctly.


10. Open your extracted VOB with SubRip.
- Choose "Save SubPictures as BMP"
- Don't check the "option" check box.
11. After pressing the "Start" button you have to give a name for your SubPic. Now you can see the highlight picture.
- Under the "Cropping" tab set the picture size to (720x576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC). Set the xy alignment to center.
- Under the "Colors" tab set the palette to 4 bits. Don't check the "custom" check box.
- Under the "Posit" tab don't check the check box.
- Use Sonic Scenarist as preset.
12. Press OK and close SubRip.


Steps 10..12: Well, I hade problems, but I know I succeeded earlier in ripping the subpic, but I don't know what program I used. Perhaps it was Subrip. Anyway, my menu bmp:s are 720x576 and I made the subpics 720x574 according to your guide, even if I did not understand why and if I did right or not. (EDIT: Maybe I didn't read your guide thorougly...)


13. Rename the SubPic to SUB.BMP.
14. Create the same SUB.SST as in part 1.
15. Edit the background picture and highlight picture (subpic) in the way you want.
- Edit both pictures that they will fit together.


Steps 13..15 went ok - I guess. (EDIT: Only - I hade three menus with the same problem.)


16. Now you can mux the background picture (or the demuxed mpv file if you have a motion menu), the highlight picture (SST file) and optional the audio track with MuxMan.


Step 16: This is where I guess it all went wrong. What? How? Should I make new menu files using Muxman, using the files I extracted? Changing 3 menus, should I do this all in one pass, or menu by menu? How add the extra subpicture? Now I'm lost.


17. Save the MuxMan project file, make the same changes as explained in part 1 to the mxp file and load it back before you start MuxMan.


Step 17 is clear. Edit text file, change to "Default".


18. Replace your orginal menu cell with the new muxed menu cell with VobBlanker in the same way as explained in part 1.


Step 18? Cell? VobBlanker? How?

Step 19..24: I'm really lost... Help...

So... Can I have a bit more hands-on help. I want to be able to recreate what to do. I will be sure to write a detailed guide for my own sake, and of course put in on the web...

Or is there another guide, perhaps another utility, making it possible and preferably easy. Sorry if you think my questions are to basic.

Gunnar Parment, email first name at last name dot se

EDIT: Corrected som spelling errors, added quotes, added two comments above marked "EDIT".

[goonix]

@Gugge

I authored a 16:9 DVD using Pinnacle Studio, getting a 16:9 menuI tried to follow your guide "PART2: HOW TO MODIFY A 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN"First of all, you should follow this: PART 2: HOW TO EDIT A 16:9 MENU

The easiest way seems to be a new authoring with Pinnacle Studio. Maybe some settings were wrong or missing. I can't imagine such an error in a well-known commercial program.

But if you are interested to go this winding road, I can guide you per PM. If there is something important to know for the public, I will post it in this thread.

goonix

[Gugge]

@Gugge

First of all, you should follow this: PART 2: HOW TO EDIT A 16:9 MENU



Oh, I'm sure that was i typo... it was five whole days since I tried your guide... anyway, lets follow up in PM as you suggested.

/Gugge, newbee at DVD authoring

[tepman]

The guide is a little bit complicated but is very good. It solve my problem with the highlights rollovers of the menu. THX a lot.

[Gugge]

The guide is a little bit complicated...

Yes, that's the problem. I got help by goonix and made it on my DVD, and now I'm writing a guide for dummies (like me) that is easier for thoes who have not used any of the mentioned programs.

I also made a Perl script for converting the exported .mnu files correctly calculating the coordinates for the buttons on the letterbox subpic.

I will publish my guide and perl script as soon as I have done a "test drive" of my guide, to be sure it still works after I reworked it.

EDIT: Corrected spelling error

[tepman]

When I played the dvd in powerdvd the highlights are showed correctly, but when I play it in my PS2 there isn't any highlight in my modified menu. Why? Any clue or suggestion are welcome. THX in advance.

[r0lZ]

Verify that the stream attributes are correct: right-click on the menu PGC, and select "Domain Stream Attributes". One (and only one) subpic stream must be defined. There is no need for a language code.

You must also verify that the right stream is defined in the PGC. Double-click on it to open the PGC Editor, and verify if the subpic stream is correctly defined. For a 4:3 menu, the stream numbers should be "0 0 0 0", and for 16:9, "0 1 0 0" or "0 0 1 0".

[tepman]

My movie have a 16:9 Menu with two sub-picture streams, wide and P/S but when I use subrip to extract the subpictures there's only one. What's the problem?

[r0lZ]

Maybe subrip is smart enough to consider both streams as one, as they should have the same content.
Have a look with DVDSubEdit. You should see two streams in the subpic selection frame.

[goonix]

- Open ...the VOB with SubRip.
- After pressing the "Verify" button you can see the number of streams in the display above. Stream 00 has the ID 0x20, stream 01 has the ID 0x21 and stream 02 has the ID 0x22.
- ... extract the subpicture.
- Do the same for all subpicture streams.This is an excerpt from the guide.

You have to open the VOB again and select a different subpicture-stream to extract the other subpictures.

goonix

[tepman]

Problem solved. THX for your help, you are fast.

[jamewoong]

Did anyone manage to get the "highlight" working? I've follow the guide and everything seem to be okay, but only highlight sub pix is not working...

Can anyone give me a hint?

[goonix]

@jamewoong

All people get the highlight working if they follow the guide correctly. :)

If you upload your IFO, VIDEO_TS.VOB and VTS_0x_0.VOB files somewhere, I can try to find your mistake.

goonix

[jamewoong]

@jamewoong

All people get the highlight working if they follow the guide correctly. :)

If you upload your IFO, VIDEO_TS.VOB and VTS_0x_0.VOB files somewhere, I can try to find your mistake.

goonix
Haha, thanks for the head up even if you didn't tell me anything. It works like charm. The problem was during my editing in PhotoShop - I copy that subpic in a new layer and edit it instead of editing it directly from the main source. :)

[tepman]

When I extracted the highlights subpictures with subrip I found it 4 subpictures. One of this:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8188/011dg3.th.png (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=011dg3.png)
And 3 of this:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5978/012bl4.th.png (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=012bl4.png)
What should I do?

[goonix]

Hi tepman!

These different subpictures obviously belong to different menus.
Seems your menu has more than one cell. Maybe the other cells are submenus.
You should know which of these subpictures is from the menu you want to modify.

To avoid this confusion I have proposed in my guide to extract the menu cell with VobBlanker before extracting the subpics.

goonix

[tepman]

Hi tepman!

These different subpictures obviously belong to different menus.
Seems your menu has more than one cell. Maybe the other cells are submenus.
You should know which of these subpictures is from the menu you want to modify.

To avoid this confusion I have proposed in my guide to extract the menu cell with VobBlanker before extracting the subpics.

goonix

It was that. THX. Problem solved. I Extracted all instead.

[jamewoong]

Is there a way to edit subpic with photoshop or any graphic tool to match the menu button?

When I extract the subpic of an still menu (4-BIT) and insert it into PS, it's an index... So, we can't import anything into it, we must create the text to button directly. When we duplicate something in PS, it will make the same thing with the same position... But it is not the case with the subpic...

[goonix]

Hi jamewoong!

I'm not a PhotoShop expert. This is my procedure:

1. Load BG.bmp
2. Load SUB.bmp
3. Copy SUB.bmp as new layer to BG.bmp
4. Remove the background color of the subpicture (set to transparent).
-> Now I can see the alignment of the background image and the subpicture.
5. Edit the subpicture and background layers.
6. Fill the transparent parts of the subpicture layer with the subpicture background color.
7. Make a copy of the image including both layers.
8. Remove the subpicture layer and save the modified BG.bmp (24 bit).
9. Remove the background layer of the copy and save the modified SUB.bmp (4 bit OS/2).

goonix

[jamewoong]

Hi jamewoong!

I'm not a PhotoShop expert. This is my procedure:

1. Load BG.bmp
2. Load SUB.bmp
3. Copy SUB.bmp as new layer to BG.bmp
4. Remove the background color of the subpicture (set to transparent).
-> Now I can see the alignment of the background image and the subpicture.
5. Edit the subpicture and background layers.
6. Fill the transparent parts of the subpicture layer with the subpicture background color.
7. Make a copy of the image including both layers.
8. Remove the subpicture layer and save the modified BG.bmp (24 bit).
9. Remove the background layer of the copy and save the modified SUB.bmp (4 bit OS/2).

goonix
The problem is it doesn't let me to save it as 4 BIT OS/2.

I can only save it as 24 BIT. Will it work? :rolleyes:

[mapi]

Hi jamewoong,
I had tha same problem. What I do is to open the SUB.bmp saved with photoshop with paint and save it back as 4 bit bitmap.
bye
mapi

[goonix]

If you copy SUB.bmp as new layer to BG.bmp, it is changed to RGB/8.
You have to change the mode back to indexed before saving.
Then you can choose 4 bit OS/2.

goonix

[Dr.Khron]

My quick and dirty workaround for the 4-bit issue is this:

Once you have the layers other layers turned off, and the sub refilled with red, select all, copy, open MS paint, and paste.

MS paint will allow you to save as a 4-bit BMP.



On to my main concern:
I am trying to make a 16:9 menu from scratch, per Goonix's guide. I have had previous sucess with making a 4:3 menu from scratch, and editing and existing 16:9 menu set.

I want to do WS and PS ONLY, as mentioned in the guide:
but most common is a widescreen menu using only the middle 4:3 area for the buttons and forcing pan&scan for 4:3 TV sets. Then you have to create only 2 different subpictures for the button highlights.

In order to do this which setting do I paste into the muxman file?

It lists: "P/S and LB", "Only Panscan", or "Only Letterbox" so options, there is no "WS and P/S" option listed, which is what I want to use.

Also, should I really enable the check the "automatic letterbox" option in the domain stream attributes for this set up? Doing so creates 3 menu groups, when I only want 2.

Thanks for the great guide, Goonix.

[r0lZ]

Use "Only Panscan". WS is synonym to 16:9, and must not be specified. It means exactly 16:9 picture shown full screen on a 16:9 TV.
Muxman will create the right Domain Streams Attributes for you. If should be 16:9 with only the P&S checkbox ticked. In this case, you need only two groups of buttons.

[goonix]

Hi Dr.Khron!

The WS subpicture is mandatory for a 16:9 menu.
The Muxman option adds "Only Panscan" to the WS subpicture.
Then you have to provide the WS and the PS subpictures.

If you have a WS subpicture for a 16:9 TV and a PS subpicture for a 4:3 TV, you should only enable "Automatic Pan&Scan".

If a DVD has all 3 subpictures and both "Automatic Letterbox" and "Automatic Pan&Scan" are enabled, it depends on the setting of the DVD player which one will be displayed.

What happens if you have a WS and PS subpicture and only "Automatic Letterbox" or both are enabled, is different from player to player, because the behaviour of a player for a wrongly authored DVD is not standardized.

EDIT: Now I see r0lZ answer. Thanks! My typing is really very slow...

goonix

[daemon22]

WOW goonix you made a graet tutorial and helped me alot.

But now i have a problem in modifying one of my DVD menu,

I replace the subtitle in one of my DVD movie from "dnask" to "hebrew" (my own languge).

Then i used your tutorial to modify the menu and subpicture but when i put the menu back than evrythin work graet exept the last 2 button, thay work but the subpicture isnt, the menu has 13 buttons and number 12 and 13 (main menu, resume film) subpicture dont work (the buttons command work fine).

What can i do to fix it?

[goonix]

Hi daemon22!

It is difficult to presume the possible error upon your short description.
Please send the IFOs and the VTS_0x_0.VOB (containing the menu) via Rapidshare or something similar.
Then I will take a look. I'm shure we get it to work...

goonix

[daemon22]

this is the original one

http://rapidshare.com/files/18894693/VTS_01_0.IFO.html

http://rapidshare.com/files/18906818/VTS_01_0.VOB.html


and this is the modiy menu

http://rapidshare.com/files/18875632/VTS_01_0.IFO.html

http://rapidshare.com/files/18890716/VTS_01_0.VOB.html

If you want i can upload the BG.bmp and SUB.bmp.

or any other file please help me with this one

thanx alot in advance!!!

[goonix]

Hi daemon22!

That was easy...

I have extracted your new language subpicture and there is no highlight information for MAIN MENU and RESUME FILM.
So there is nothing to display for button 12 and 13.

Following mistakes are possible:

Your SUB.bmp has no highlights for MAIN MENU and RESUME FILM. There is a wrong size information in the SST file with the result that only the first part of the complete subpicture is muxed in.And a short tip:
The highlight of the HEBREW text is somewhat messed up. Although it works, it could look better if you do a little finetuning with the 1-point brush of your graphic tool. Make it similar to the SUOMI text below.

Please let me know if you found the mistake or if you have more questions.

goonix

[daemon22]

I just mannaged to solve my problem, i know that m SUB.bmp file is good so i take a look in the SST file and notist that i copied the NTSC file instead of the PAL file so i tried it now and evrything worked lik a chaem.

THANXXXXXXXXX alot for all of your help.

:)

[hani1621]

hi!
I have a problem when I save the project for the second time(for changing duration=default) I receive this message "unable to reopen .\WS.bmp. "
I am using MuxMan version 0.15Q
If I don't save the the project second time everithing it's OK but the problem is that the buttons appears only 1 min
please help!!!!!

[goonix]

Hi hani1621!

Sorry, I never had this error message.
If you send the backgound and subpicture images including the mxp file that makes problems, we can try to solve this issue.

goonix

[hani1621]

Hi Goonix ! Thank you for your help !
Here are the files:
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317195/menu.bmp
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317662/PS.bmp
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317677/PS.SST.txt
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317703/WS.bmp
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317720/WS.SST.txt
http://rapidshare.com/files/19317752/2.mxp

[goonix]

Hi hani1621

It would have been easier for you (and for me ;) ) if you have zipped all your files and sent only one zip file via rapidshare...

Nevertheless, I have tested your files with MuxMan 0.15Q and they work for me without any error.
I got a working menu. I had only to modify the path to menu.bmp within the mxp file to adapt my own computer pathes. Thats all.
Maybe your MuxMan.exe is corrupted. Please try to load it again.

The highlights look somewhat strange (like debris between walls). I think thats in original the spaces between the letters. Its very difficult to align, so I have simplified them a little bit.

You can download the modified assets and the working menu here: http://rapidshare.com/files/19522123/MENU.rar.html

The menu is authored as a complete DVD, so you can load and test it with PowerDVD or any other software player.
Sorry for not getting and solving your error...

goonix

[hani1621]

Thank you very much goonix !
Muxman was the problem. I've downloaded again,as you said,and it works:thanks:

[daemon22]

Hi goonix,

I have another problem in another movie of mine.

I did the same as the tutorial (i have already done this 3 times and evrything go well) but the subpicture only show when i push the button and not when i stend on it, the buttons work fine exept this problem (i import the color schemes from the original so that is not the problem).

What i notis that in pgcedit the menu line isn't the same as the original one

original:
VTSM 1 , LU 1 (en), 11 (1:15) 9b.

modify:
VTSM 1 , LU 1 (en), 11 (0:00) 9b.

I dont know if this is the problem but i cant find what.

Please help me (if you need any file tell me and i will send it to you)

[goonix]

Hi daemon22

Your original seems to be a motion menu (1:15) or a still menu with audio, but your modified menu seems to be a still menu (0:00).

Was it your intention to do it this way?
Then you have to set the PGC still time to 255.

If you want to keep the motion menu, then you have to load the m2v file into MuxMan as video.
If you want to keep the audio, then you have to load the audio into MuxMan.

Or send your assets (background, subpicture and mxp file) via Rapidshare.

goonix

[daemon22]

WOW man you are a genius i checked my dvd again and there was also sound in there so i insert the sound to the menu and it worked perfect.


THANX ALOT (agin)


:thanks:

[daemon22]

Hi goonix (again)

I have another problem in another movie of mine.

I try to use muxman to join the background and the subpicture (like i did a several of time) but when i open the subpicture in muxman the subpicture name (SUB.bmp) wont appear in the "sub 1:" line but the "Track 1:" changed from -unused- to 20.

I try to ignore this but then in the mpx file i dont have the "Item=Sub-Picture Stream" Duration.

I think that its somthim with muxman but im not sure becuse this is the first time i get this.

Here are the "BG.bmp, SUB.bmp, mux.mxp and SUB.SST":

http://rapidshare.com/files/19879896/daemon22.rar.html

:)

[goonix]

Hi daemon22

Your SUB.bmp has a size of 720x478.
If I change the size to 720x480, I can load it into MuxMan.

goonix

[daemon22]

you right agian


THANX alot i didnt notis this


:thanks:

[tacitus]

I have been attempting to encode a widescreen/letterbox/pan subpicture set following instructions.

I am using Gimp and output the subpicture bitmaps as "window bitmap image" with 16 color indexed. They are all 720x480.

This is the muxman error log:

MuxMan version 0.15Q
Opened script file D:\dvd_nova\aaa.mxp
Accepted image D:\dvd_nova\bg.bmp

22:59:35 Begin multiplex VTS01.
Title Segment List
Segment_1
Encoded stream 20 is script stream 1.
Encoded stream 21 is script stream 2.
Encoded stream 22 is script stream 3.
Maximum audio duration 0 fields.
new graphics buffer size 414720.
SPU buffer size 8192.
graphics buffer size 1244160.
Starting scene Segment_1_scn1 at 00:00:00:00
SeqEnd at 1CC86.
SPU error, D:\DVD_NOVA\LB.bmp, encoded line exceeds 1440 bits.
SPU error, .\PS.bmp, encoded line exceeds 1440 bits.
SPU error, .\PS.bmp, encoded line exceeds 1440 bits.


Here is my .mxp file:

Section=Settings
{
Destination Folder=D:\VIDEO_TS
Item=Palette
{
Name=DefaultPalette
Color 0=0, 0, 255
Color 1=255, 0, 0
Color 2=0, 0, 0
Color 3=255, 255, 255
Color 4=0, 255, 0
Color 5=255, 0, 255
Color 6=255, 255, 0
Color 7=0, 125, 125
Color 8=125, 125, 125
Color 9=225, 225, 225
Color 10=125, 0, 0
Color 11=0, 125, 0
Color 12=0, 0, 125
Color 13=222, 0, 255
Color 14=222, 125, 0
Color 15=125, 0, 125
}
}
Section=Content
{
Item=Segment
{
Name=Segment_1
Display Mode=P/S and LB
Item=Video Stream
{
Coding Mode=Mpeg-2
Standard=NTSC
CC Field 1=No
CC Field 2=No
Item=Video Play
{
File=D:\dvd_nova\bg.bmp
Size=1036854
Duration=Default
}
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=1
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Wide
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=d:\dvd_nova\WS.BMP
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC non-drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=000000 = = =
Color 2(E1)=0000ff = = =
Color 3(E2)=ffffff = = =
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=2
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Letter
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=D:\DVD_NOVA\LB.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC non-drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=000000 = = =
Color 2(E1)=0000ff = = =
Color 3(E2)=ffffff = = =
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}
Item=Sub-Picture Stream
{
Stream Number=3
Language Extension=1
Display Mode=Pan
Item=Sub-Picture Play
{
File=.\PS.bmp
Start=00:00:00:00 (0)
Forced Start=Yes
Time Code=NTSC non-drop
Duration=Default
Origin=0,2
Display Area=0,2,719,479
Color 1(Pa)=000000 = = =
Color 2(E1)=0000ff = = =
Color 3(E2)=ffffff = = =
Color=1 1 1 1
Contr=0 0 0 0
}
}
Item=Scene List
{
Item=Scene
{
Name=Segment_1_scn1
Scene Time=00:00:00:00
Uop=00000000
}
}
}
}
Section=Navigation
{
Item=First PGC
{
Name=FP
Menu ID=No Menu
Uop=00000000
PG Playback Mode=Sequential Playback
Repeat Times=0
PGC Still Time=0
Palette=DefaultPalette
Item=Pre Commands
{
JumpTT VTS01_TTL01
}
Item=Post Commands
{
}
Item=Cell Commands
{
}
Item=Program List
{
}
}
Item=VMG
{
Item=Language
{
Name=Unspecified_0
Language=unspecified
Item=PGC
{
Name=Unspecified_title
Menu ID=Title Menu
Uop=00000000
Next PGC=
GoUp PGC=
PG Playback Mode=Sequential Playback
Repeat Times=0
PGC Still Time=0
Palette=DefaultPalette
Item=Pre Commands
{
JumpTT VTS01_TTL01
}
Item=Post Commands
{
}
Item=Cell Commands
{
}
Item=Program List
{
}
}
}
}
Item=VTS01
{
Item=Language
{
Name=Unspecified_1
Language=unspecified
Item=PGC
{
Name=Unspecified_root
Menu ID=Root Menu
Uop=00000000
Next PGC=
GoUp PGC=
PG Playback Mode=Sequential Playback
Repeat Times=0
PGC Still Time=0
Palette=DefaultPalette
Item=Pre Commands
{
JumpVTS_TT VTS01_TTL01
}
Item=Post Commands
{
}
Item=Cell Commands
{
}
Item=Program List
{
}
}
}
Item=Title
{
Name=VTS01_TTL01
Uop=0
Item=PGC
{
Name=VTS01_TTL01_PGC1
Menu ID=Title Entry
Uop=00000000
Next PGC=
Prev PGC=
GoUp PGC=
PG Playback Mode=Sequential Playback
Repeat Times=0
PGC Still Time=0
Palette=DefaultPalette
Item=Pre Commands
{
}
Item=Post Commands
{
}
Item=Cell Commands
{
}
Item=Program List
{
Item=Program
{
Name=VTS01_TTL01_pg1
Item=Cell
{
Name=VTS01_TTL01_cell1
Linked Scene=Segment_1_scn1
Command=
Cell Still Time=0
Access Restriction Flag=Permitted
}
}
}
}
Item=Part of Title List
{
Item=VTS01_TTL01_pg1
}
}
}
}


Thanks for any suggestions.

[mpucoder]

That error means there is too much detail in one horizontal line of the bitmap for a subpicture. The spec limit after compression is 1440 bits per horizontal line. Make sure that only 4 colors are used and no anti-aliasing or dithering. If you could post a link or attach LB.bmp (has 1 error) and PS.bmp (has 2 errors) so we can look at the bitmaps

[tacitus]

Thanks!

Here's lb.bmp

http://rapidshare.com/files/24541448/lb.bmp

I will add ps.bmp when my other computer becomes available.

[bigotti5]

This is a 1bit/pixel bmp (2 colors).
Muxman cant handle such a bmp.
Use a custom 4 color palette (example attached) for your indexed file and make sure that "Remove unused colors from final palette" is unchecked!

[Sir Didymus]

Hi goonix!

Hem... :)

I have a doubt on the steps performed in your guide(s) - by the way, thanks again for the contribution you have given to all of us with your fundamental work...
Sorry if it will turn out as a babbling from my side... :rolleyes:


9. Import SUB.SST as subpicture.
10. Save your MuxMan project.
11. Edit the MuxMan mxp project file with a text editor.
- Change in "Item=Sub-Picture Stream" from Duration=00:01:00:00 to Duration=Default.
12. Load your edited project file into MuxMan.


It seems to me that these four steps can be reduced to a single one (the direct import of the SUB.SST file), if this line:

1 00:00:00:00 00:01:00:00 picture.bmp

is replaced by:

1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 picture.bmp

in the SUB.SST file itself.

On what I understand about the mxp syntax, the duration value of 00:00:00:00 is properly handled by the MuxMan parser in order to provide a duration until the end of the subpicture play...

Am I wrong ?

SD

[goonix]

Hi Sir Didymus!

Hem... :)

You are right!

I got this procedure by trial-and-error and setting the duration to Default was the first try that worked correctly. So I never changed it. I read about MuxMan's interpretation of 00:00:00:00 duration time as infinite some time ago, but didn't realize this could simplify the menu guide. But setting the subpicture duration to infinite already within the SST file can save the inconvenient steps to save, edit and reload the mxp file.

I have corrected the guide accordingly.

Thank you for this great hint and for your kind words.

goonix

[daemon22]

Hi goonix i have a problem.

my friend gave me the movie "The Return" and the movie dont have hebrew subtitles.

I want to replace one of the french subtitle to hebrew and i also want to modify the menu.

So i use you tutorial and i have a problem when i replace the original subtitle menu withe the one i craeted usin Muxman and the press the subtitle button the the subtitle menu appear to one second and the return to the main menu.

I have done this on all of my movie collection and never have this problem.

Pleas help me

:helpful:

[blutach]

daemon22

Please do not cross post - see rule 8

Regards

[goonix]

Hi daemon22!

This could be an indication for a still menu, where the cell still time isn't set to 255.

If the cell still time is 0, then the menu is displayed only for a fraction of a second.

255 gives you an infinite display time. This is usual for a still menu.

goonix

[daemon22]

Thanx goonix for the replay but this is not the problem becuse i used vobblanker to still the menu and the still time is 255 (usin pgcedit).

This movie has 2 pages that need to be modifyd (one that came at the start of the dvd and the second in the subtitle menu) the first on is working but the second isnt, if you need i can send any file you want.


thanx in advance.

[goonix]

If you blank all titles with VobBlanker, then the remaining part of the DVD (complete menu) should be small enough to upload it to rapidshare.

Please PM the link, we don't want to violate any copyrights.

goonix

[r0lZ]

@daemon22
In PgcEdit's menu editor (advanced options), verify that the Force Action Button number is 0.

[daemon22]

@r0lZ

Thanx for the help but i dont know PgcEdit that good so if you can tell me step by step how to do this it will be graet


thanx in advance

[goonix]

@daemon22

My first assumption was right!
If I open the modified menu with PgcEdit, the cell still time of your subtitle menu has a value of 0.
How did you readout the 255?

Your original is a motion menu (although showing a still picture) with a run time of 1:00 minute. The (here) correct cell still time of 0, results in returning to the main menu after 1 minute. However converting the menu to a real still menu without correcting the cell still time, results in returning to the main menu immediately.

Setting the cell still time to 255 with PgcEdit will solve this problem.

Another point is the missing subpicture in your modified subtitle menu. Therefore we can't see any highlights.
Please mux it again.

goonix

[daemon22]

Thanx alot goonix you solved my problem i had a mistake thinking that the cell time is 255


Thanx alot.

:thanks:

[sam240]

@goonix,
PART2: HOW TO MODIFY A 4:3 MENU WITH MUXMAN

In the same manner you can modify a 4:3 menu of a commercial DVD. You can change the text of a button, add a button, delete a button, change the background picture (or the background movie), change the audio track or make all other changes you can think on.

Additional program used:

SubRip (see note #4)

This is the workflow:

1. Open the DVD in PgcEdit
2. Open the menu you want to modify in the menu editor.
3. Press the "Preview" button and save the menu background as BG.BMP.
4. Export whole menu.
5. Export color schemes.
6. Close PgcEdit and open your DVD in VobBlanker.
7. Extract the menu cell you want to modify as VOB.

hi, newbie here...i want to edit/modify DVD menu, but...when I use the PCGEdit, I cannot find the EXPORT that you mention....how to export WHOLE MENU?

BTW, I already created a menu with NeroVision, how can I just import and replace the existing? what should I need to edit/modify?....i'm really new to this, really need your all guide here...thanks.

[goonix]

Hi sam240!

The export function is part of the menu editor of PgcEdit.
Select the menu PGC in the left pane. Green menu button -> Edit button -> File -> Export whole menu.

But note this function will only export all hotspot rectangles and all button commands of the menu.
The subpicture and the background image get not exported.
So it is'nt really the "whole menu".

To import a complete menu, select the VTS in the left pane. Right mouse click -> Import menu.

goonix

[blutach]

Open the menu PGC (Ctrl-M). Click Edit. File --> Export whole menu

EDIT: goonix was faster!

Regards

[daemon22]

I have a problem with my Pioneer dvd player (DV-393).

When i use this methood with muxman to modify the dvd menu then the menu that i modifyed not working on this player but on other players it works fine, the menu is shown but there are no buttons and no way to go back.

On my other player and on the computer the menu wors fine, also there are some movies that when i add my own subtitles to them then the DVD dont show any of the subtitle that are on the dvd movie (agian in other player it work).

I download and install the latest fimware for this player but with still nothing has changed.

I just want to know if there is somthing that i can do in the proccess that can fix this.

:thanks:

[goonix]

Hi daemon22!

I use this method not only for modifying menus, but also for creating the menus for my own video stuff. Since I produce a lot of life concert recordings of local bands, my DVDs are relatively wide spread. I never got complaints.

But to be honest, I don't have experience with the Pioneer DV-393.

goonix

[daemon22]

goonix, thanx for the replay.

I have notise that in this movies that i modify the menu not only that the menu subpictuedont work (its like that there are no buttons at all) but the subtitle of that movie not work at all (not only the subtitle that i have been replace but all the subtitle that where in the movie from the start).

So the problem is more complicated.

:helpful:

[bokkoman]

Hi, i'm having problems with the highlight subpicture.
This is my picture (looks weird here, but its the left side only, and its the full image, so take of the red part and streth it :p).
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7232/subbmp1un0.png

How do i edit this, i have photoshop cs2, how do i add/change the text?

Thanks.

[goonix]

When using SubRip did you follow this part of the guide correctly?

11. After pressing the "Start" button you have to give a name for your SubPic. Now you can see the highlight picture.
- Under the "Cropping" tab set the picture size to (720x576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC). Set the xy alignment to center.
- Under the "Colors" tab set the palette to 4 bits. Don't tick the "custom" check box.
- Under the "Posit" tab don't tick the check box.
- Use Sonic Scenarist as preset.

The ripped subpicture should have full size. You don't need to stretch or something.

The subpicture is a standard bitmap picture as every other picture with the exeption it has only 4 colors. So you can add/change the text pixel for pixel with a small brush or use the vector text tool and combine both layers afterwards. Then save in 4 Bit/16 colors BMP OS/2 format.

goonix

[bokkoman]

When using SubRip did you follow this part of the guide correctly?



The ripped subpicture should have full size. You don't need to stretch or something.

The subpicture is a standard bitmap picture as every other picture with the exeption it has only 4 colors. So you can add/change the text pixel for pixel with a small brush or use the vector text tool and combine both layers afterwards. Then save in 4 Bit/16 colors BMP OS/2 format.

goonix

Yeah i did follow that, what i meant is, that the picture in the link is not how it really looks like, it is messed up by imageshack. The picture is all black with red text (with some blue outline) on it (the left side on the picture in the link, thats why i said, remove the red side and stretch it :p).

Anyway, i did exactly as your tut but when i replaced the authored menu vob with the dvdremake pro, and tested it, the highlight was still the same as before :S.

[goonix]

it is messed up by imageshack
Ok, now I understand.

It doesn't matter if you replace your new menu with DVDRemake or with VobBlanker (according to the guide).

After muxing the new menu with MuxMan, you can examine the modified subpicture with DVDSubEdit before you replace it.

goonix

[bokkoman]

Ok, now I understand.

It doesn't matter if you replace your new menu with DVDRemake or with VobBlanker (according to the guide).

After muxing the new menu with MuxMan, you can examine the modified subpicture with DVDSubEdit before you replace it.

goonix

With DVDSubedit i can't find any subtitle at all, in the original that is. It's just weird :S. Cause the background is changed, but only the highlight subtitle isn't changed.
Man, it is getting anoying :p

*edit*
Wait, i found out with subrip that the menu has 2 subtitle pictures, i think one for 16:9 and one for 4:3.
Darn, which do i use. I need to change both of them i guess. But what do i do with the background image, there is only 1. I'm getting confused :p

[goonix]

Post #1 of this thread is about 4:3 menus.
Post #10 is about 16:9 menus.

You better read both carefully.

And some of your questions may be answered before.
Take time to read.
I will help if you get stuck.

goonix

[bokkoman]

I have on problem with vobblanker. When i replace the new menu cells and press process after setting everything correct, it starts processing but in the end it gives me an error:
"Can't move files".

Very strange, i dont know why.

***EDIT***

Well i did just as you stated on post #10 on how to edit a menu.
It just doesnt work for the menu i have.
But i really want to edit the menu, cause its for a scene release :p (Bleach Movie)
Wish you could do it :D

Anyway, thanks for the tut.

[goonix]

Hi bokkoman!

It works for every menu...

If you like, you can blank all movies of this DVD with PgcEdit. The remaining rest (menus) should be small enough to send it via Rapidshare or similar.

Then send the link via PM and I will take a closer look.

goonix

[bokkoman]

Hi bokkoman!

It works for every menu...

If you like, you can blank all movies of this DVD with PgcEdit. The remaining rest (menus) should be small enough to send it via Rapidshare or similar.

Then send the link via PM and I will take a closer look.

goonix


Ok thanks man!
You're the best. ill upload it.
I don't know how big you want it, but smallest i can go to make sure you have the whole menu is 85mb (rarred).
Thanks for helping man.

[goonix]

This menu has 2 parts with a slightly different background image.
Each part has an animated intro cell and a static menu cell.
Since there is a soft blending from the animated to the static background already in cell 1 of each menu, we have to modify both cells of both parts.

This is the workflow:

1. Modify both background images of the static cells.
2. Create the widescreen subpictures from background images.
- remove all unnecessary content (pictures, logos etc.) and leave only the highlight text.
- reduce the color count (I use only 2 this time - quick and dirty).
3. Create the letterbox subpictures by resizing.
4. Save the background pictures (for both menus) and 2 subpictures (for widescreen and letterbox).
5. Extract the 2 menu movies (2 cells each) using PgcDemux (by VOB ID)
- We need video, audio and celltimes
- We get videos spanning both cells of each menu.
6. Overlay the second half of the original menu movies with the modified background of the static cell in Abobe Premiere.
7. Export as mpeg.
8. Load new video, audio, WS subpic, LB subpic and celltimes into Muxman
9. Save the project file and edit the start time of both subpic streams (WS and LB) to 10:01 (because cell 2 is starting at 10 sec).
10. Load the modified mxp file and mux.
11. Open the muxed menus with VobBlanker and export both cells (ExtAll Mult).
12. Open the original DVD with PgcEdit and save the buttons.
13. Open the original DVD with VobBlanker and replace all 4 menu cells.
14. Open the DVD with PgcEdit, load the saved buttons, correct them and add the 2 new buttons.
15. Do the same for the second part of the menu.
16. Set the seamless joint flags for the second menu cells (as in original).
17. Save your work and enjoy.

The link of the modified menu is sent via PM.

goonix

[Divertissement]

Hello,
I went through your guide and it is really great.
The only problem I have is I'm unable to make the Pan & Scan "option" work in my new menu.

Here are the steps I took:
(I'll spare the standard steps for the movie and the rest of the DVD content, like PGCDemux, Muxman, VOBblanker and PGCedit steps since those steps are working well)
I demuxed the m2v file for the menu I want from the original DVD. This video is tagged Pan & Scan.
Since I added an audio stream, I needed to add a "button" with the text into the video file. So I used many programs I have, beginning with Pinnacle Studio 9, and many other free programs to create a DVD. I compiled the new video file into DVD format then demuxed the new m2v video from it.
Then I use Muxman and I can't choose "Only Pan & Scan". I used Restream to change the Sequence diisplay extention to 540 then reload it in muxman. Then I could select Pan & Scan.
I went through all the muxing process and everything is working great EXCEPT that the new video does not "Pan & Scan". It is only squeezed on the screen and the P/S buttons highlights are as if the menu was in P/S mode. My highlights (subpics) are working well. I have one for wide and one for pan & scan.
So I decide to go through the whole muxing process with the new higlights and new buttons in PGCDemux BUT using the original video (m2v) file extracted in the beginning.
To find out that the P/S IS WORKING with that video file !
The problem seems to be in the new video file I created.
Restream is able to fool Muxman and the rest of the programs but not my home DVD player.
I searched A LOT to fin a program that is able to write a real Pan & Scan movie file and found nothing so far. I must have tried at least a dozen of them and looked at many others to find noting is working.
Do you have any idea what is wrong wih the new file ?
Do you know how to create it so it has the same attributes as the old one ?
Thanks a lot.

[blutach]

Try changing the attributes in the IFO of the relevant domain to 16:9 auto P&S. You can do this easily with PgcEdit (http://www.videohelp.com/~r0lZ/pgcedit/index.html).

Regards

[r0lZ]

Have you tried DVDPatcher (http://www.wincesoft.de/html/dvdpatcher.html)?

Normally, the 16:9 P&S info in the IFO file takes precedence over the VOB, but some players use the info from the VOB. With DVDPatcher, you can change the 4:3 attribute to 16:9 in the whole VOB file. As far as I know, the P&S attribute is present only in the IFO.

[goonix]

Hi Divertissement!

blutach and r0lZ are right.

1. Create the background video as 16:9 widescreen (not pan&scan).
2. The pan&scan info for muxman is needed to flag the subpictures correctly. This has nothing to do with the video. It has to be 16:9.
3. Set the domain stream attributes of the menu to 16:9 and automatic pan&scan with PgcEdit.

Let me know, if it works.

goonix

[Mtz]

I think is more easy to use DVDSubedit and PGCedit to create a new button.
Example: in the saved subpicture bmp from DVDSubedit you can copy some button from there and paste it into a new position using paint. Then create in that position a new button with Pgcedit.

enjoy,
Mtz

[blutach]

That is true Mtz but his highlights are OK, he says. It's the aspect ratio of the video that he has problems with.

Regards

[Divertissement]

Hello everyone,
Thanks for the fast replies.
Originally Posted by blutach:
Try changing the attributes in the IFO of the relevant domain to 16:9 auto P&S. You can do this easily with PgcEdit.
The domain stream attributes for the relevant menuare already 16:9 auto P&S.

Originally Posted by r0lZ:
Have you tried DVDPatcher?

Normally, the 16:9 P&S info in the IFO file takes precedence over the VOB, but some players use the info from the VOB. With DVDPatcher, you can change the 4:3 attribute to 16:9 in the whole VOB file. As far as I know, the P&S attribute is present only in the IFO.
Since it is already at 16:9, I don't think I can do more with DVDPatcher. Do you ? By the way, DVD patcher cannot set a P&S attribute to a stream.

Originally Posted by goonix:
Hi Divertissement!

blutach and r0lZ are right.

1. Create the background video as 16:9 widescreen (not pan&scan).
2. The pan&scan info for muxman is needed to flag the subpictures correctly. This has nothing to do with the video. It has to be 16:9.
3. Set the domain stream attributes of the menu to 16:9 and automatic pan&scan with PgcEdit.

Let me know, if it works.
When I load then original video menu (m2v file only) in Restream AND in GSpot, then video is 4:3, although it is displayed in 16:9 when watching and in PGCEdit. I have no trouble flaggin the subpictures in Muxman but to do that I need to load the video in Restream and change the "Sequence Display Extention" to 540.


Originally Posted by Mtz:
I think is more easy to use DVDSubedit and PGCedit to create a new button.
Example: in the saved subpicture bmp from DVDSubedit you can copy some button from there and paste it into a new position using paint. Then create in that position a new button with Pgcedit.
Originally Posted by blutach:
That is true Mtz but his highlights are OK, he says. It's the aspect ratio of the video that he has problems with.
blutach is right Mtz. But let's not forget that the video displays correctly as 16:9 on a 16:9 TV. But when displayed on a 4:3 TV, I don't have the "zoom effect" of the pan & scan. The image is squeezed.

Just to specify that in PGCEdit, when editing the menu buttons, switching from group 1 (wide) to group 2 (P&S) displays the menu as it should be for each mode. BTW, I'm really looking for a DVD media player that can set the display to 4:3 so I can test it on my computer instead of burning the DVD on a RW each time.

And from what I found out so far, after a few hours of google search, information on P&S video may need to be encoded in the video itself, not only in the header, since the P&S "zone" may not always be centered in a movie. It seems like DVD encoding programs don't really encode the P&S in the main video as I tried to do. But I think they will do it if I create a project with a dummy movie and my video file as the menu to this movie. Commercial DVDs usually come with a widescreen AND a fullscreen movie, but menus are P&S. Then I'll only need to take back the video from the menu and mux it back to my movie. I'll work on this and come back later.
Thanks a lot everyone.
Meanwhile if anyone of you find something else, your comments are appreciated.
Regards.

[Mtz]

If you'll use the things I said before and modify the menu background for adding the new name for your audio stream and replace it in vobblanker I think the PS information will be not lost/altered.
Short:
- modify the audio background menu and replace it in vobblanker using still. save the dvd
- add new highlight using dvdsubedit. you can copy & paste in paint the other audio highlight. save
- add new button using pgcedit. save

enjoy,
Mtz

[Divertissement]

Hello Mtz,
I am already using VOBBlanker to replace the menu with the new one. Information on P&S is all there but the menu video doesn't P&S on the TV.

[blutach]

I don't suppose the standalone/TV setup has been changed to letterbox?

Regards

[r0lZ]

Just to specify that in PGCEdit, when editing the menu buttons, switching from group 1 (wide) to group 2 (P&S) displays the menu as it should be for each mode.
PgcEdit uses and trusts the stream attributes of the IFOs only. It doesn't check the information in the VOBs. So, it's not surprising that it displays the menus as you want them.

BTW, I'm really looking for a DVD media player that can set the display to 4:3 so I can test it on my computer instead of burning the DVD on a RW each time.
Me too! That would be very useful!

And from what I found out so far, after a few hours of google search, information on P&S video may need to be encoded in the video itself, not only in the header, since the P&S "zone" may not always be centered in a movie. It seems like DVD encoding programs don't really encode the P&S in the main video as I tried to do.
That's right, but IMO that P&S information should be set by default to a centered image. I doubt that you have to specifically encode something here. But I'm not a specialist! I have just noticed that changing the 4:3 AR to 16:9 P&S in the IFO is sufficient to force almost all players to display the stream is centered P&S (with wrong aspect ratio and highlights, but that's not the point.) But as I said before, some players ignore the IFO. Have you tried to display the menu in another standalone?

[Divertissement]

I don't suppose the standalone/TV setup has been changed to letterbox?

I set the player to 16:9 to test the widescreen and then to 4:3 Pan and Scan to test the 4:3 display. Not letterbox.

Have you tried to display the menu in another standalone?

No I have not. I should try this. Mine is Panasonic DVD-CV52. I have a portable DVD player but I have to retry to set it up properly.

Only program I found so far is from pixeltools: MpegRepairHD $$$$$. I also found a program to use instead of ReStream: Fix12c.exe, a Mpeg SDE patch. Maybe it will work. I also found BBVinfo, a command line program to analyse Mpeg streams in details and see what comes out of it.

Thanks again.

[Divertissement]

Hello, I'm back

Have you tried DVDPatcher?

Normally, the 16:9 P&S info in the IFO file takes precedence over the VOB, but some players use the info from the VOB. With DVDPatcher, you can change the 4:3 attribute to 16:9 in the whole VOB file. As far as I know, the P&S attribute is present only in the IFO.

Hi Divertissement!

blutach and r0lZ are right.

1. Create the background video as 16:9 widescreen (not pan&scan).
2. The pan&scan info for muxman is needed to flag the subpictures correctly. This has nothing to do with the video. It has to be 16:9.
3. Set the domain stream attributes of the menu to 16:9 and automatic pan&scan with PgcEdit.

Let me know, if it works.

goonix

I had the solution right in front of me but I could not see it. I did not read carefully your comments and was putting too much energy on the P&S info.
When encoding (in DVD format) the video file for the menu, I was working in 4:3 mode, then I was trying to add the P&S attribute to the m2v file created. Muxman was seeing at 16:9 but it was not really one. So I went back to my good old Pinnacle Studio 9 with a 16:9 project. Then I only had to change the SDE to 540 (yeah like I did before but this time the video is really 16:9) in Restream. What was misleading me was the fact that Restream says that the original video file is 4:3. So I did not pay enough attention to the fact that I may need to encode the DVD files for the menu at 16:9. Now the new one is 16:9 in Restream.

Well I must thank you all for your comments.

And I must point out that it was clearly written in goonix workflow.

Here:

...
PART 1: HOW TO CREATE A NEW 16:9 MENU
...
Step B (Mux the menu pictures):
...
- Now load your background picture BG.BMP as video into MuxMan or load a 16:9 mpv video file if you want to have a motion menu.
...

And here:
PART 2: HOW TO EDIT A 16:9 MENU
...
To change a button text of the background video of a motion menu, have a look here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=711093#post711093).
Then mux the modified background video as described in Step E below.
...
Step E (Mux the menu pictures):
...
- Now load your background picture BG.BMP as video into MuxMan, use the modified background video or use your own 16:9 video file for the background of a motion menu.
...
goonix



Regards.

[*711]

Hi there.

I tryed following the tutorial step by step but my outcome is messed up, I have no idea what I am missing!

Everything seems all right, BUT no matter how much I try the outcome is messed up, the button positions are left unaltered. I mean, I edit their position in PgcEdit to reflect the new bitmap I created, but even if they "appear to work" (it does what it is supposed to do on the new spot I choose) but the feedback I should get (the button highlight) does not appear OR simply appear on the wrong place.

I mean, I modify the BG and the SUBpic, mux them all and change the button position but when I process everything in vobblanker the button does work, but the "feedback" it should have on the screen is not where it was suposed to be. I thought that changing that was the subpic's job, but no matter how much I modify that it won't cut.

Hope you guys can understand what I mean, and If this sounds too abstract I will try to illustrate with some shots:

.These are the original ones ::: [1] (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bg_original.jpg) [2] (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sub_original.jpg)

. These are the edited ones ::: [1] (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bg_edited.jpg) [2] (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sub_edited.jpg)

. This is the feedback the original give me ::: [1] (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=menu_original.jpg)

Hope anyone can give me a hand.

Thanks.

[r0lZ]

Have you modified the color scheme number in PgcEdit? When you create a new button, it assigns the default color scheme # 0. Usually, you should change it to 1. (BTW, verify also that the adjacent links are set correctly, to be able to select all buttons with the arrow buttons of the remote, or the cursor keys in PgcEdit. Do not use the mouse to test them!)

Also, if the menu is in 16:9, you have to modify at least two subpic streams: one for each display mode.

[goonix]

Hi *711

If you follow r0lZ advice, the menu should work.

I took your imageshack pictures and got a working menu.
You can download it HERE (http://www.goonix.biz/download/misc/TEST.rar) (92K)

The only changes I had to do, was converting the BG to a standard BMP and the SUB to a 4-bit BMP.

goonix

[ankurs]

2. Now you have to create the menu PGC.
- If you want to make a new VMGM menu, then select the "First-Play PGC", click the right mouse button and choose "New Menu" to get a VMGM dummy PGC.
- If you want to make a new VT

cannot figure out on how to do this =S , any visual help please ?

[wencaS]

Here's videotutorial with my procedure, how to I do that, with DVDSubEdit and XnView (both free) .

here’s dodwnload (http://www.wencas.cz/vid/edit_tlac_dvdsubedit.rar)

[blutach]

@wencaS

Welcome to Doom9 old friend!

Your technique is one of the very handy things that can be done with DVDSubEdit. I use it all the time for this sort of stuff. Thank you for posting it. One thing - you do not need to change the transparency. DVDSE can work quite well without that.

Also, XnView users should change their preferences from saving BMP in OS2 format to RLE as DVDSubEdit does not support OS2 BMPs (F12 in XnView -> Read/Write --> Write --> Windows BMP --> RLE Compression --> OK).

Anyway, thanks again and very nice to see you here.

Regards

[r0lZ]

Hi wencaS!
Thanks to blu, I realize now that it's your first post at D9. Welcome, then!
(BTW, your incredible avatar is missing. You know, the skeleton!)

[wencaS]

Thanks for your welcoming friends.


@blutach
Note: I change transparency only for see where's needed change. I change transparency back to starting value before saving DVDSE.
Also thanks for specification format saving BMP.

@r0lZ
My skeleton is back. :)

[r0lZ]

@r0lZ
My skeleton is back. :)Everything's fine now! ;)

[backstar]

Good stuff, Goonix.

Here's my own tutorial on the subject (complete with screenshots):

http://backstar.com/blog/2009/09/22/create-new-menu-for-existing-dvd/

Please shoot any feedback and clarifications questions my way:
ben@backstar.com

[r0lZ]

Nice guide, backstar! :)

But if you create a still frame menu, you don't need to convert it to VOB with muxman before importing it in VobBlanker. You can import the BMP directly in VobBlanker, and it will be automatically converted to VOB (by muxman, called by VobBlanker). So, you can remove several steps in your method.
Of course, muxman is still used indirectly, by VobBlanker, and must therefore be installed. Also, its path must be specified in the VobBlanker options.

[backstar]

Very true. When I do this process I just import into VobBlanker, which then automatically calls MuxMan. For the tutorial wanted to avoid explaining how to set up the path in VobBlanker, but now that I think about it the process is super easy so I might go back and change that after all.

Thanks for the feedback!

[r0lZ]

BTW, I agree also with the remark in the other thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1327988#post1327988) about the necessity to define a subpicture. PgcEdit defines a subpicture stream for the menu when the first button is created, but it defines it in the IFO only. There is no subpic stream in the VOB. With that trick, the menu buttons can be operated, but unfortunately, it's not sufficient to display the highlights. Even the simple translucent rectangles are invisible on most players if there is no subpic stream in the VOB, and if the menu has several buttons, the user cannot know which button is currently selected.

I suppose it is possible to add the subpic with muxman, and to modify it if necessary later with DVDSubEdit. But I'm not sure VobBlanker keeps the original subpic, or takes it from the imported VOB. In the first case, I may need to add a default subpic in the blank cells created by PgcEdit. In the second case, you will need to keep the explanation about muxman, and expand it a bit.

[goonix]

If there is only one title on your DVD, you may want to use e.g. the DVD cover as a start screen.
All what you need is a big invisible button that covers the whole screen.
Now you can simply press the enter/play key on your remote
or click somewhere on the screen with the mouse to start the movie.

You don't need a visible button.
You don't need to know which button is selected (there is only one).
You don't need a changing color.
Even in this case you need a subpicture stream.

Some standalone players will accept the pressed button without a (even invisible) subpicture, but some do not.

For compatibility reasons, a subpicture stream within the VOB is required.

goonix

[M_Knox]

Some standalone players will accept the pressed button without a (even invisible) subpicture, but some do not.

For compatibility reasons, a subpicture stream within the VOB is required.

LOL, I learnt it the hard way yesterday :)

[r0lZ]

I suspected that as well.

When I begun to do simple still menus with invisible buttons, I had only a Sony player that accepted them, even without subpic in the VOB and in the IFOs. All software players I have tried so far are also happy without any reference to subpic stream.
But later, I bought another standalone players, and my old menus did not work any more. I had to add the reference in the IFO (only), and they worked again.
I have never had problems because there are no subpic in the VOB, but I'm almost sure some players are picky enough to need them. Anyway, if the user wants to see a translucent rectangle over the button (and obviously that's necessary when there are several buttons), the subpic must be present in the VOB (but it can contain just a blank image.)

I think I will add an "empty" subpic stream in the tiny black cells PgcEdit can generate. It will be possible to use them easier as a basis to build a simple still menu.

[EDIT] Done. See this post (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1331969#post1331969) for more info.

[blutach]

Yes, you must have (even a blank) subpic. Most players will not accept the button without it.

Regards

[backstar]

Alright, agreed. I am working on an additional section regarding subpictures.

I'll post back when it's been updated.

[Alex_ander]

What about invisible BOV's in this aspect? Do those titles need a subpicture stream and should it be turned on (like subtitles) to make buttons work, or is it just enough to define a dummy subpicture stream for VTS titles?

[r0lZ]

What is necessary for the standard menu buttons is also necessary for the BOVs, so yes, the subpic stream must exists (in the IFO AND the VOBs), unless you want to use your DVD only with one of the few players that are happy without the subpic stream.

[backstar]

The tutorial has been updated to include a section on editing subpics with DVDSubEdit.

http://backstar.com/blog/2009/09/22/create-new-menu-for-existing-dvd/

Thanks for all the feedback!

[loekverhees]

I am trying to mux the BG.BMP and the SUB.SST with MuxMan, but MuxMan is not doing it correctly. Here is the logfile from MuxMan:

MuxMan version 0.15R
Accepted image C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\TESTMM\BG.BMP
Opened sub 1 file C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\TESTMM\SUB.SST.
unable to open C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\TESTMM\ \SUB.bmp, file skipped.

16:15:39 Begin multiplex VTS01.
Title Segment List
Segment_1
Encoded stream 20 is script stream 1.
Maximum audio duration 0 fields.
new graphics buffer size 1244160.
Starting scene Segment_1_scn1 at 00:00:00:00
SeqEnd at 15D8E.
Bytes remaining in buffer = 0.
Bitrate - avg: 1505822, min: 1505822 (lba 0), max: 1505822 (lba 0).
Shortest GOP has 2 fields, longest GOP has 2 fields.
Fields: 30, Still fields: 28, VOBU: 1, Sectors: 46.

16:15:39 Begin multiplex VMG.
16:15:39 End multiplex.

And here is my SST file:

st_format 2
Display_Start forced
TV_Type NTSC
Tape_Type NON_DROP
Pixel_Area (2 479)
Display_Area (0 2 719 479)
E2 (255 255 255 = = =)
E1 (0 0 255 = = =)
PA (0 0 0 = = =)
BG (255 0 0 = = =)
Directory .
Color (1 1 1 1)
Contrast (0 0 0 0)
1 00:00:00:00 00:00:00:00 SUB.bmp
#
It looks like something is wrong with the SUB.BMP. What should I do in order to fix this?

[goonix]

5. Create a highlight picture SUB.BMP (720X576 PAL)(720x480 NTSC) 4 Bit/16 colors.

- If you use PhotoShop then save the subpicture BMP in OS/2 format and not in windows format.
It should work if you follow this advice.

goonix

[loekverhees]

I copied the code for the SST file once again from your tutorial and changed SUB.BMP to WS.BMP (and also changed the name of the bmp image itself to WS.BMP of course). Then, I tried again and this time it worked. I have no idea why, but it worked :). I did not create the BMP in Photoshop but used SubRip to create the BMP.

[r0lZ]

unable to open C:\Users\xxxxx\Desktop\TESTMM\ \SUB.bmp, file skipped.
Seems muxman interprets a TAB character as a part of the path. Maybe you should use only spaces in the SUP file, and especially in the line containing the BMP file name?

[goonix]

I had copied the quoted sst file from loekverhees for my test, because the empty part of the path was suspect for me too. But it had worked without problems.

The main point is that loekverhees got it working!

goonix

[broxburn]

I guess I'm just not getting it.
In step 5, creating sub.bmp for a motion menu, I use the suggested colors (I think).
MuxMan processes without error (per log) and I use VobBlanker to replace the original menu with the new one.
But the new menu does not appear over the video -the text box is missing.
Opening it in PgcEdit to add the highlight - it also does not show up.
http://i27.tinypic.com/33le33a.jpg

[goonix]

Hi broxburn,

it seems your subpicture is ok, if MuxMan has no errors in its log.
You can verify if the subpicture is part of the muxed stream with DVDSubEdit.

PGCEdit is not able to display the subpicture. The menu editor is needed to define the hotspot rectangle and the colors and opacity of the highlights.

In a normal case, the buttons are "burned in" to the movie (in your case the text "MOVIE"). The highlight is used to show which button is selected, e.g. by showing a frame around the text, by overlaying the text with an other color or both if you want. And if the non-highlighted button is "burned in" to the background movie, it is easy to draw the hotspot rectangle with PGCEdit.

In your case there is probably only one button to start the movie. Here you can set the hotspot rectangle around the whole frame. After setting the colors and opacity of highlights, it should be visible in your software player or in your desktop player, but unfortunately not in PGCEdit.

goonix

[broxburn]

Thank you for your reply.
As suggested, I set the highlight for the whole frame and the text became visible on playback - except the motion clip which is B&W now took on the colour cast of the highlight.
If there is more than one button to highlight in a motion menu, does it mean that you can only take a guess as to where the text would be on the frame?
Can the button subpics be moved around to the correct placement using a different program?

[goonix]

You should set the opacity of the background to zero. Then only the button itself is visible and the backround movie stays B&W.

Normally the "non-highlighted" buttons are "burned in" to the background movie (using a NLE) as I have explained in my previous post. Then you can see them easily when setting the hotspot rectangle with PGCEdit and don't have to guess.

DVDSubEdit is the best program to modify the subpictures. After cropping the subpic background, you can really move around your button. If you have more than one button, you only can move them all together. If you need to move a button independently, then you have to export the subpicture, change the button position with a graphic editor and import it back.

goonix

[broxburn]

Much obliged.
Thank you for your helpful responses.

[david42]

Since the post I'm replying to is from 2005 would it be possible to instead get a freeware referral to a menu editor I can use directly on a DVD VIDEO_TS folder already on hard disk?

I've spent hours trolling 2Cool sheets and searching the forums but there's just too much for my pain to type/click through so you (or the any other elder of the forums) help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking to fix an animated menu button's selection problem in the movie The Matrix which I've stripped down with PgcEdit to make a backup. The purchased DVD had issues I had to clean up using VobEdit mock-strip and they are fixed (thanks 2Cool cheat-sheets!). The issue that remains is the resulting DVD, in a DVD player attached to a WD TV Live media box, starts up playing BUT the Root (Main) menu play/chapters/language/special_features BUTTON ONLY flashes the highlight dot (for me to press play) every 2.5 minutes due to the 2 cells (3 cells the 1st play of the DVD) in the menu being animated and not showing me movements the remote should cause with up/down arrow key presses.

I'd like to replace the Root Menu PCG 3 cells with a still menu picture so I can rewrite the PCG commands to highlight and detect what button the viewer presses. I can handle the PCG commands recoding but am disabled and long searches in forums are literally painfull. Can someone help by providing a simple procedure to :
1. save the cell video from PgcEdit 9.3.
2. capture a frame of the cell to use for the still menu and save it to a file as bmp (or jpg)
(I'd edit it using IrFanView to get a still .bmp file).
3. how do I swap the animated cell in PgcEdit with the new still .bmp

I have minor familiarity with VobEdit and IfoEdit so I can follow a procedure.

Please email me directly if possible.

THANX

[r0lZ]

You can use VobBlanker or MenuShrink to convert the animated menu to still.

If your menu has at least one part that is working correctly, I suggest to use MenuShrink, easier than VobBlanker. Just be sure to open the "Advanced options" window, and tick the "preview all cells" option, to process only the menu cell you need to convert, as otherwise, all menu cells are converted to still, and you cannot select the background image with the "Frame select" slider. Leave the other options ticked. Of course, if there is a part of the cell that is working correctly in the original menu, you should select an image into that part with the slider. With some luck, your still menu will be working correctly immediately.

If, for any reason, you need to replace the menu background with an edited picture, you can export a BMP from the original animated menu with the PgcEdit preview. Then, use VobBlanker to convert the menu cell to still and replace the background with the edited BMP.

To edit the button highlights, if that's necessary, you have to export the subpic of the cell as a BMP with DVDSubEdit (menu File -> Save current subpic as a bitmap), then edit it with a paint program, and import it back (menu File -> Replace current subpic with .BMP file). Note that you have to do it for the 2 or 3 subtitle streams if the menu is a 16:9 menu.

Finally, you can change the button commands and other parameters with PgcEdit.

[david42]

Thanks for the referral to use MenuShrink.

It took me a few tries but DID FIX THE ANIMATED MENUs by making the 1 (Root) Menu still.
Strange that I've backed up and reauthor for so long now and didn't have to do this until I reached back to THE MATRIX and SHEENA. It's a good thing you told me about MenuShrink for THE MATRIX because I had to also use it on SHEENA.

Thanks so much for the response r0lZ !!