Creation of motion menus

Used freeware:
VirtualDub
Link: http://www.virtualdub.org/index
Cuttermaran
Link: http://cuttermaran.movie2digital.de/cuttermaran_d/index.htm
TmpgEnc 12.a
Link: http://www.chip.de/downloads/c_downloads_8832974.html

Used payware:
Ulead Cool 3.0

Introduction
I describe here a way to the production of a (short) DVD with different possibilities of animated menu styles.
Preparation of starting material
The File used here is the MASH-serie from 26.07.2004 on german television Kabel1. The intro has been saved seperate from the main movie.
The File was captured with DvbDream and demultiplexed with ProjektX. The demultiplexed files were cut with the actual version of  Cuttermaran. The output from Cuttermaran was saved as multiplexed and demultiplexed files.
(picture 01)
As Muxer the mplex program within the dvdauthor directory has been used. In addition to the main movie a short (20 sec) part has been saved to be used as an animation file for the menu. In order to achive a correct loop of the motion menu, all motion parts should have exactly the same number of frames. The background animation is a 4 second AVI loop. Such loops can be found on the mainconcept page: www.mainconcept.de. Other links for background pictures and videos can be found here: Video Resources

Since the background avi has only 4 sec., is it extended with VirtualDub, i.e. it is put 5 times into the time border (Append AVI segment) and saved as „direct stream copy“.
Using Cool3D (Ulead) a border with a slight color change was created and saved (32bit uncompressed) (picture 02).

If you export transparent elements, make sure that you really use the 32 bit format. (picture 03)

It is quiet useful to put all parts of a menu in one single directory.

Picture 01

Picture 02
 

Picture 03

In this picture you can see the color change of the border frame (something has to change, otherwise it is not possible to export the file as avi).

Creation of the menu
The first important task is to set the correct settings within the Def. Settings dialog of GUI for dvdauthor. 

Set the 'Default Button type' to 'Text' and the 'Seconds' to '20' and make sure the tag for Animated menus is set. Click OK. In the (empty) menu window call the  'Background properties' dialog with a right click anywhere on the background.
Set the path and filename of the background avi in the line 'Animation'. Optionally you can also use background music for the menu, if you have an appropriate audiofile (correct duration and type).

Go on with OK.
Now drag the first videofile with the left mouse buttom on the menu background:

The tag for 'Animated Button' is already set. Accept with OK. Back on the main screen right click on the dummy picture and change the size to 250x200 ändern. Click OK.

Move the picture and the titlestring to the left half of the menu window. Place the next movie in the right half. Within the 'Video + Audio Files' dialog unmark the 'Animated Button' tag.

If desired, chapter marks may be edited.
Now pull 'Add Anim.' on the menu background and select the prepared 20 second clip. Right click and resize to 250x200. OK.

You can have a first look at the preliminary result by setting the tag on 'AVS Previev' click on 'Previev'. In this example a text button and an animated button is used. In order to have nice 3D text, the prepared graphics are added to the menu with the 'Add Image' button. Resize the images to the appropriate 'custom size' with right mouse clicks.
The menu looks like this now:

Unmark 'Use Raster'.
The image 'VORSPANN' will now be set up as menu button. Richt click on the yellow text string 'MASH VORSPANN', clear the text in the upper part of the window and enter the same size as for the image 'VORSPANN'. Set the marks at  'Fixed Size' and 'Normal Visible'. As result we have a thin black frame, which can be placed exactly on the 'VORSPANN' image. Repeat these steps for the dummy image, but use 200x250 as size and pull the this black frame on the dummy image. Have a look to the result with AVS Preview:
(Don't forget to save your work!!!)

That looks quiet nice already.
To get rid of the black borders we overlay the videos with the transparent borders created by Cool3D. This is also done with
'Add Anim'. The size has to be around 270x220. Place the dummy images centered on the underlying dummy images. For this purpose a 'grid' background is helpful. The result can be reviewed again in the AVS Preview:

Save everything and click on 'Create DVD'. Do not disturb the encoding process and the word has hopefully a new DVD created with freeware!
Gruß, Rainer

The original guide (in german) was made by Rainer (Pinnacle Fan Board member)
Thanks to Rainer for this guide!