[Trevor Stapleton]

Hi Wriglians
I have a motion background created in after effects that runs for 30 seconds, I have set encore to loop back to the 10second and one frame point. my problem is how do I get the buttons on screen after the first 10 seconds, the first 10 seconds has some dialog that I only want to be played once when the dvd is started, anyone help please.

regards

Trevor

[Ann]

You make your buttons in the motion background in AE and make them appear at 10 seconds . In Encore you make the same buttons over the motion background but set them to invisible expect for the highlights. The looppoint is set at say 12 seconds.

[JohnR]

Trevor,
I think the only way to do that is with two menus(actually copy your menu for the second).
Then as Ann said, in Encore, you would select the first menu and select menu- make composition in AE and save it. Then go into AE (I never got the hang of shifting back and forth between programs ) and open that comp and select the buttons (the're comps), and precomp them. Then in the pre comp set up your motion and and shorten the precomp (Rclick and use "set comp to work area").
Then drag the precomp with the button motion into the menu comp and set it up at the appropriate spot.
Render that out as the "long menu".
Then set the work area so you cut out the audio and probably the part where the buttons move and render that out as the "short menu".
Then in Encore you replace the background of one menu with the "long menu" and use
that for the first time through the DVD, but when you want to come back to the main menu, instead of coming back to the menu with the longmenu background, bring them back to the second menu with the "short menu" background menu.
I hope that's helpful, but you probably already knew that stuff.
Please let me know.
John

[Doogs]

have you checked out Adam's tut on how this is done... http://www.wrigleyvideo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13770

[Trevor Stapleton]

Hi Ann, Jhon and Dave
thanks for the heads up guys, i am trying out the ideas floated by you good people and will report back the results, can I ask do any of you know of a good tutorial (preferably video) on constructing a complete menu with buttons in After effects ( the night school has cs3), I would appreciate you letting me know if you do,

Regards

Trevor

[JohnR]

Trevor,

As Dave mentioned Adam Kampia's tutorial to which he gave you a direct link covers the putting together of the basic motion menu, but doesn't go into the second part. I'll try to put together a brief tutorial on it, unless Dave wants to do it.
John

[Ann]

Constucting a complet menu with buttons is more a thing for Photoshop.
AE is for animating things like buttons and background.

[Doogs]

I'll try to put together a brief tutorial on it, unless Dave wants to do it.
John

fire away John, you have CS3 I don't

[Ann]

Nor i have CS3, but is CS3 that different from Encore 2 besides BR and a making it into a flash movie.

[JohnR]

Well, Dave, I have CS3, but I'm afraid to put Camtasia on that computer so I did this in Encore 2.0, PS CS2, and AE 6.5. I doubt it is that much different since it's pretty simple. http://www.jmrser.com/Tutorials.html (at the bottom of the list).
Simple Motion Menu.

Also, there are some neat motion menu presets (or whatever you call them) in the AE versions after 7.O which are worth trying.
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mylenium/presets.php

I hope Trevor gets a chance to check this out.
John

[Trevor Stapleton]

Hi Guys
I thought you were still on holiday Dave. anyway back to the question in hand, I have a fair amount of experience in After Effects but have never tried to tie AE output to encore, don't know why but there you go I am pretty sure I can design the look I want, however I am not sure how to output AE to be compatible with Encore, some research coming on I feel, I am also puzzled by how a button made in after effects will function in encore, more research I feel, I would like to thank you all for your help.

Dave, how is the family? I have managed to stay out of hospital for most of this year no further ticker problems ( touch wood, (old british saying)).

John, believe it or not but I had downloaded the file you mention from Creativecow but had not got around to viewing it yet, felt a little tiered at the time.

Ann, may I ask what part of Holland you are from, I have been to your country quite a few times and have always been astonished by just how many folk speak english, in fact its quite hard to find someone who is not bilingual, do you know Flaardigen ( ignore the spelling please) or Delft.

Regards

Trevor

[Ann]

Hi Trevor.
Born in London, spend childhood in Amsterdam and have been living in Den Helder (Navy Town, in the North West) for the last 30 years.
Delft is a very nice town, as for Vlaardingen i do not like big Dutch city's anymore.

[JohnR]

Trevor,
I was wondering if the tutorial I put together for you was helpful, or merely covered old material for you?

John

[Trevor Stapleton]

Hi John I have to say a ginormouse thank you for the tutorial, i have known about a number of things you use like markers but have never bother to use them, watching you i realised just how much extra work i was creating for myself, for that I thank you.

I have learned a terrific amount from your video, i have watched it 4 times, so far i tend
to take longer to learn stuff these days. I can see a number of areas where i have been
going wrong.
I love your idea of holding up a video untill you are ready for it to start, such a simple
idea but so brilliant, but then the best ideas often are, I will get back in touch when i have
my menu sorted thanks one again John

regards from a very greatfulll

Trevor

[JohnR]

Thanks. I got all the ideas from Adam Kampia, Dave Garrett, and Total training.

John