Is there any explanition to why, when i create a DVD all the video look crisp and perfect, but the menus are so graining and horrible looking?  I've used other DVD programs before and the menu quality has never been an issue, but the first DVD i created with about 2 hrs worth of video on it, the menu quality suffered greatly.  I was unable to read the text under the chapters images, and the images on the menus looked horrible.. How do i fix this issue? Is it because i had too much video? I only had 2 hrs, and the DVDs are suspose to fit 2 hrs worth.  Someone HELP!

 

Thanks

Bill

In the recent Beta, there has been some acknowledgment by Pinnacle that DVD Menu quality isn't optimal, and there is supposedly a "fix" for this in the most recent Studio 12 Beta version.

See this old thread for lots more discussion on this topic.

bittmann:

In the recent Beta, there has been some acknowledgment by Pinnacle that DVD Menu quality isn't optimal, and there is supposedly a "fix" for this in the most recent Studio 12 Beta version.

See this old thread for lots more discussion on this topic.

Like what Bittman said, it is mentioned in the beta patch that this problem was fixed. See more details here.

Wow.  I guess we can't have it all.   :)

So I've been on the phone with Pinnacle support.   I discovered I needed to update my graphics card driver (nvidia GeForce 6200) - which I did, but I don't think that made a difference.

He provided some other suggestions as well - like using HD project format, etc.  (My project in question is a basic NTSC Standard - 4:3 format).   But that's confusing to me because all the HD choices are 16:9 - and I don't want 16:9 for this project.

I can't believe I can't create a simple menu in standard format!  Isn't this the most basic of functions?  Sorry to vent.

Is there a way to create HD in 4:3 format?

Thanks much

BSN321

HD format would cure the blurry text only if you burn to HD disc, which evidently does not suit your needs, unless the grandparents have a Blu-ray player.  Your video card should not be the problem, either, if the project is SD, but an HD project might require a more advanced card.

Did you already verify whether the last Studio 12.1 patch helped at all?

Try tugging a blank title frame accoss the overlay track below the menu on the primary track.  Some report this helps clarity in other sections of SD projects.  I've not done it myself.

Alternatively,you could increase the size of the menu font or pick another font style.  Or you could design a title in a still photo editor and import the JPG or GIF into Studio.  Just a thought.

I do note that text titles in SD menus do look a bit blurry.  But might you be seeing something far worse? 

I've seen the blank title remedy to work in a few cases, it does make things a bit clearer.

Originally I thought it was just the text in my menu - but really it's the entire menu that is horrendous quality.  Very VERY pixelated.  We're talking Atari 2600.  :)

I did read about a patch - but never installed one because I was confused on the latest patches and didn't want to install and go backwards if I didn't need it.  Which actually brings up another question which I'll post in a separate thread (but I'll also ask here:)

My version is 12.1.3.6605 - installed from a copy I just purchased 2 months ago.  Is there a patch from which I could benefit?  Where do I find it?  I DID go to Pinnacle downloads and search for patches - but the only ones I could find were to update v12.0 (which I obviously don't need).  In short - any advice on patches for my version is greatly appreciated.

Also - I tried the blank title overlay - nothing - no improvement.

This is severely disappointing.  Everything is so awesome in my experience with S12 - but what good is it if I can't render menus???  I would almost just be satisfied with menus that render with even reasonable quality - but this is really bad.

I'll keep my eyes open for any advice.

PS - the slideshow for grandparents 65th anniversary was a HUGE hit - like I said the show itself renders beautifully.  Just trouble with the menu.

Thanks much -

bsn321

bsn321:

Originally I thought it was just the text in my menu - but really it's the entire menu that is horrendous quality.  Very VERY pixelated.  We're talking Atari 2600.  :)

That exceeds any blurriness I've seen.  Something else may be afoot.  Meanwhile, you could use a photo editor to create a JPG with clear text and import that into your project.

Also, how about using the sample footage and with a standard menu while project settings was set to Set from first clip?

I appreciated all the suggestions - collectively - it has helped in the effort - but still no ultimate diagnosis or resolution.

However - more info.  This thread got a bit disconnected as it was spread across a few separate threads - so just to refresh memories:

- running S12.1.3.6605 PLUS on Windows XP Home.

- created a 4:3 NTSC project - a simple slideshow of family photos

- 1 main menu in the front.

- Rendering was all excellent - EXCEPT for the menu - horrible.  Not just text, but entire menu was bad.

On my system - I created a new project that was set to HD 1440 x 1080 / 50i.  This is 16.9, not 4:3 (as all my HD choices are "16:9").  The project was the same, 1 menu (newly created), and a few photos with transitions.  It rendered beautifully - including menu.

SO - it would appear my S12 WILL NOT render a menu in NTSC Standard.  I've tried everything I can think of - including uninstall/reinstall...

Now I know I may be living in the past with NTSC 4:3 Standard, but that's not the point.  I know of many in the family that are not on HDTV Widescreen - so I thought I was doing them a favor by creating 4:3.

Do I understand correctly that S12 cannot make 4:3 in HD?  Any suggestions as to how I might "trick" the system?

I've also tried creating a new project in HD 16:9 - and tried to copy my 4:3 standard slideshow into the new project (just select all and paste) - but it doesn't seem to accept this (the paste just doesn't do anything.)  I assume it cannot translate 4:3 project into 16:9...

*sigh*

bsn321:

Now I know I may be living in the past with NTSC 4:3 Standard, but that's not the point.  I know of many in the family that are not on HDTV Widescreen - so I thought I was doing them a favor by creating 4:3.

It depends on what they will use to play the rendered project. On normal DVD players, It will only play back at a maximum of 720x480 (NTSC) and 720x576 (PAL). Beyond this the player may not play the video correctly. However on newer media players (such as a hard drive player) You could trick the system by making high resolution Mpeg files. But what is confusing for me is that, what is there to achieve if their screen is not HD?

Marc P.:

bsn321:

Now I know I may be living in the past with NTSC 4:3 Standard, but that's not the point.  I know of many in the family that are not on HDTV Widescreen - so I thought I was doing them a favor by creating 4:3.

But what is confusing for me is that, what is there to achieve if their screen is not HD?

Thanks Marc P.

I'm saying that it would appear I can only render my menu properly while in HD.  If I'm in NTSC the menu is horrible.  If I'm in HD the menu is fine.   It would appear I'm not the only one to suffer from this - but I don't know if everyone does - they just don't realize it because they may never use NTSC.   I realize viewers in my family may not have HD screens, but rendering in HD seems to be the only way I can get a satisfactory final menu, even if viewed on standard TV.

BUT - I'd still like 4:3 - which I what I'm confirming:  it does not appear possible to render in 4:3 HD.  Am I correct?

I see what you mean. Thanks for clearing it up. If you could somehow render the project to be anamorphic, It maybe possible to render an HD project to a 4:3 DVD.

Marc P.:

I see what you mean. Thanks for clearing it up. If you could somehow render the project to be anamorphic, It maybe possible to render an HD project to a 4:3 DVD.

 Is that wishful thinking?  Or do you suspect there is a way to render to be anamorphic?  Given I barely understand the term (I think something to do with translating between 16:9 and 4:3, etc.) - I will assume this is not an option I will pursue.

Marc P - given I've just realized you are with Pinnacle Support (yes I'm relatively new to the Forum and didn't even notice.  DUH!) - have you heard of others having problems with menu renders in NTSC standard?  I guess what I'm asking is:  there are two options:

1)  I cannot render menus in NTSC Standard - and it is somehow a function of some combination of variables on my system - aka unique to me.   (e.g., perhaps due to the fact that I upgraded from S10, perhaps a combination of other applications I have installed on my machine, who knows what, etc...)

 or

2)  the poor quality in menu render (NTSC standard) can be observed on all installations of S12.   AKA - can you replicate poor render quality on your end?   A simple test:  create a NTSC Standard project with 1 simple Menu - use some sort of fancy script font (which is what I'm using) - and a few photos.  Does the menu render with poor quality?

I don't mind continuing to try and resolve this if I know it might be some setting or some other unique issue I might have - but if I know this is just how S12 is - I can put an end to the misery, and hope that a patch may be in the works sometime in the future.

I have read of others having the same issue, as is the case with the first post in this thread.  Perhaps this one could be "escalated", too?!  :)

Many thanks!

 

You aren't alone. I, too, have experienced a significant drop in the quality of menus in S12. I "upgraded" from S9 and bought a new computer with a faster processor and better graphics card specifically to work with video. It's a surprise and disappointment to see the drop off in menu quality. Everything else looks fine, however.

I've tried different menus (standard and animated), different video clips, updated the video driver, added the S12 patch, and read all the related threads here for advice. No go. All the menus have pictures and text in lower resolution than what I had in S9.

Just wanted to add another vote for someone at Pinnacle to look into this issue. Thanks.

Michael

 

My system configuration:

Dell XPS 360i, 3GB RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo (3GHz)
Windows Vista 32-bit Home Premium
nVidia GeForce 9800 GT, 512 RAM
Pinnacle Studio 12 (version 12.1.3.6605)

From the information I have, engineering is aware of this issue. Like you guys, I'm also waiting for developments.

Just wanted to add another vote for someone at Pinnacle to look into this issue. Thanks.

I already cast my vote too.

 

I get perfect text by adding videoeffect Imagin and set the Imagine size to zero. That is moving to top slide all the way to the left.

Raff_Uy:

From the information I have, engineering is aware of this issue. Like you guys, I'm also waiting for developments.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help (e.g., send video/menu clip). Thanks!

Thanks for all the follow-up posts and discussion.  It is absurd we need to be discussing this still.

Having said that -  

Bjohannesen - your workaround - is this a videoeffect that is placed over the menu itself?  Could you please elaborate a bit more for us relative newbies..

Thanks!

 

 

I believe that what Bjohannesen is to add a zoom video effect on the menu.

I have hit this problem also not just the menu but the video also. I noticed that when the title effect was complete, suddenly my video quality dropped off. The title was overlayed and everything look great then it was like going from digital to analog quality when the scene no longer had the effect. On this project I went ahead and added the blank title effect across everything and it did noticeably increase the video quality. I tried this same "technique" on the next project and it made no difference at all :(

I have been toying with the idea of going to S14 to see if there are improvements there but don't want to spend the $'s on the upgrade to end up right where I am now. I am happy with S12 otherwise.

Hi what I do is the following.

Click on the part with text in the Timelins: Menu or Title. (Menu is also a Title, but with active buttons)

Add video effects: Studio Plus RTFX, Magnify.

Move the top slider alle the way to the left. Or type in Zero instead of the default 20.

This is resulting in a magnify size zero, which is no effect.

However, this makes all text perfekt, both on DVD and files like MPEG 2 or Windows Media File (I do not use AVI as I am not pleased with the quality compared to the size of the file).

I found this trick in this forum. Just add a video effect and alter the settings, so it has no effect. It should work with other video effects as well, but Magnify is easy to set to zero.

 

Thanks for the update.

Bjohannesen,

Thanks for the suggestion. However, when I select the Menu at the start of the video track and open Add Video Effects, all the selections are "grayed out"--that is, I can't select them. I can do it for a video clip, but not for a menu.

 How are you able to make the options in Add Video Effects available when selecting the Menu in the video track? What am I doing wrong?

 Kind regards,

 Michael

Hi Michael, my workflow is:

I make alle the titles and all the titles to become a menu. I set alle buttons in the Menu to "No button". Then the "Menu" is a normal Title.

I then Add Videoeffect to all the text.

The very last thing I do is to change the buttons to "Normal Button" and then add the links in the Menu. Then I make make the DVD.

I do not use Menu Templates. I always build them myself.

I don not use backgound image in Menu or Title. I add the image og video in the overlay area.

Hope this helps.