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1. Re: button layer?
Ann Bens Jan 25, 2012 2:46 PM (in response to robirdman1)You will find predesigned menu's and buttons in Encore's library.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/encore/cs/using/WSbaf9cd7d26a2eabfe807401038582db29-7f73a.html
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2. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 25, 2012 3:27 PM (in response to Ann Bens)Actually by going to the next lesson, somewhat backwardsly, it tells how he created the photoshop layers in groups with (*) in front.
So I imported my picture with the layers and found how by clicking on them, they are now highlighted and can be linked.
So, going back two tutorials, then I tried to continue on with the tutorial and it says to go to properties, basic and then link. Only link is not one of the choices.
Possibly because the link for Encore CS5 help takes one to CS4 tutorials as Adobe just doesn't bother to have organized manual and expects others to figure out everything and provide help for them. It really shouldn't take a full day to accomplish a few things but that is the way it is with Adobe with info scattered all around in a disorganized manner.
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3. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 25, 2012 6:38 PM (in response to robirdman1)You may be underestimating how much of a learning curve there is.
You may need to read the background info, then do the tutorials, being sure to pause to do each step correctly, then repeat.
This help page is useful:
CS5 "Using Photoshop to create menus"
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/encore/cs/using/WS2C3F3ABD-6457-4ca0-898F-720B7E3D0C10.html
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4. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 25, 2012 7:05 PM (in response to Stan Jones)I figured it out how to create the button layers. Then I had trouble not seeing the link tab.
then a helpful Indian technician called me back to check on a previous problem with Premiere Pro. I told him the problems I was having making a DVD and trying to go back and forth with tutorials that didn't present things in order. He had me create a test project and preset menu and walked through the whole process making a test DVD after downloading a program which would play it. It was so clearly explained, just the basic procedure. I don't know why it couldn't be done like that, as it used to be in paper manuals.
After that I was left to do my own project which was more complex. Iaccidentally found I didn't have the link tab because I needed to click just before each layer to get an activating solid dot, that wasn't mentioned in the tutorials. Then I was able to link everything in the flow chart. I corrected a couple of errors in the test and then went to burn the test DVD to a desktop folder, as with the previous test. It proceeded and then said one video had a problem and couldn't be processed. I reexported from PP and imported into Encore. No errors were shown in the test, so I went ahead with the build. I got "general error" with no more information so I have no idea what is wrong. I was so close before except for the one bad file.
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5. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 25, 2012 9:02 PM (in response to robirdman1)I'm glad you've made progress. If you're project is small (not a lot of rendering, etc), that's good. If not, or if the menus and numerous or complex, you might use simpler/shorter projects until you get the workflow down. But use your assets/menus.
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6. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 2:52 AM (in response to Stan Jones)I am at a dead loss why the build didn't complete and gave the message "general error" with no explanation, unlike giving specific errors in the check project, where there were none. After spending all day, in the end I had no DVD.
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7. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 26, 2012 6:40 AM (in response to robirdman1)Encore is built on the Sonic authorcore (same thing that scenarist uses), and error messages is not its strength. We never quite know whether to blame Sonic, Adobe, or the pickiness of the DVD/Bluray specs. Also, some errors are simply not picked up by the "check project" process.
Also, Encore is not very robust, meaning that the more changes and undos etc in an Encore project, the more likely it will get corrupted. The ultimate workaround: start the project anew. When restarting a project, I have not found issues with importing the old menu, except where the problem was with the structure of the menu itself.
The "general error" can be due, I believe, to a variety of causes. Jeff Bellune's advice (posted here from an issue with CS3, but still good advice) is to trash the media cache and reset preferences.
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/145/861324
In your case, I would first start a new project and use only short assets to test the work flow.
I would not move on to the following yet, but the links may be useful. And #12 in the first link explains resetting the Encore prferences. I think there is shortcut version, but I don't see the command.
Troubleshoot damaged projects in Encore on Windows (Written for CS4, but I think still applicable.)
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/406/kb406006.html
CS5 Known issues and bugs (I believe this is CS5.0; unsure what applies to CS5.1)
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8. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 8:34 AM (in response to Stan Jones)I started a new project and imported everything back in. Everything went smoothly, and I made a test onto a desktop folder and tried it with VLC media player. The video played fine, the buttons to choose slide show, and the songs. Only there is no audio. A previous response said the software couldn't play these m2v files, created by choosing MPEG DVD in Premiere Pro, so I went ahead and burned a DVD. Still no audio. Put the disk in my TV DVD player. No audio and I can't navigate the menu. It looks like it just plays the same soundless file when I click arrows on the remote.
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9. Re: button layer?
Bill Hunt Jan 26, 2012 8:55 AM (in response to robirdman1)OK, regarding the Audio, how did you get the files from PrPro to Encore, i.e. ADL (Adobe Dynamic Link) and did you push from PrPro, or pull from Encore, or did you Export from PrPro and then Import into Encore?
If the latter, what were the Export settings, and did you Export a muxed file (contains both Audio & Video Streams), or did you Export a separate file for Audio and one for Video? If the latter, what was the format of the Audio?
Good luck, and let us know a bit more, please,
Hunt
PS - Ann's suggestion to study one of the Encore Library Menu, is a great way to get a handle on the necessary structure of a PSD Menu.
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10. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 9:40 AM (in response to Bill Hunt)I exported the format from PP as:
MPEG-DVD
Preset custom,
Export video export audio
Output NTSC, 720x480, 23.976 fps, Quality 4.1, Progressive PCM, 48 khz, 16 bit stereo
Codec MainConept MPEG Video
TVStandard Automatic (Based on Source) Perhaps should be set to NTSC?
Maximum Render Quality
Frame Rate, Field Order and Fixed Aspect Ratio were all Automatic (based on source)
Audio
PCM audio
The resulting file has the ending .m2v
I just discovered multiplexing was set to none. This should be DVD I bet. Is that the problem?
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11. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 26, 2012 9:47 AM (in response to robirdman1)The resulting file has the ending .m2v
I just discovered multiplexing was set to none. This should be DVD I bet. Is that the problem?
No, the preference is to not to multiplex. It created an m2v and a wav file. If you didn't import the wav with the m2v, that's your problem. Just import the wav to the Encore project, add to the timeline with the m2v. Keep the disk setting for dolby, and it will transcode the audio.
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12. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 10:19 AM (in response to Stan Jones)I guess I should have waited, When I tried changing the setting,and the resulting .mpg played video and audio, I queued all the rest to export that way and they are presently doing so. I didn't see the wave files because I set Bridge to filter out all but m2v files and not show all the bmps, jpgs, etc.
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13. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 10:44 AM (in response to Stan Jones)I added the .wav files to the timeline and did a test build to a desktop folder and it worked great. All the navigation buttons worked.
Thanks so much for this solution.
Now before I burn to a DVD though, I am wondering if there is something else I need to know to be able to navigate on a TV DVD with a remote.
With the soundless version I wasn't able to and only having added the audio is different.
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14. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 26, 2012 11:02 AM (in response to robirdman1)Success if so lovely!
No sound should not affect navigation. So you are correct to be cautious.
Some of the software players do not track navigation correctly, particularly for slideshows. And I'm not sure any of them do a great job emulating a remote.
I use a rewriteable disk for testing.
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15. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 4:17 PM (in response to Stan Jones)I figured out how to get the remote to play the various songs. The problem I realized is that the buttons I created have no highlights, so when they are clicked you don't notice. By counting up or down I can choose the video/song.
So I went to read about highlighting buttons in Encore and this is they typical type of problem encountered with these help files.
It says to go to the general menu andafter selecting 4x3 blank choose pastry button. OK done, except there was no 4x3, so I just substituted blank. Then choose the turquoise facet button, but this is not there, so I choose red facet button as a substitute.
Then I go to the Menu color set. For the pastry button there is only 1 highlight not 2, and then the colors are different for the other. It is already confusing enough to follow without these extra problems in trying to do so.
Really it would be so much easier to learn this stuff if every step of the way, I didn't have to make some kind of guess as to what to do instead of what is directed.
I got to page 2 and opening the menu layer in Photoshop. Then I chose custom shape tool and the wave one selected, but I don't know where the next step item "Create New Shape Layer button" ,is to be found.
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16. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 26, 2012 4:25 PM (in response to robirdman1)You may not be noticing which library set you are in (General, Weddings, etc).
MIssing a step in a tutorial can be very confusing, whether it is the author not instructing well, the student overlooking something, or a weakness in the program.
Encore creates an automatic color set based on what you use in Photoshop. It can be maddening to sort out. But my point is that changing color sets may not be necessary. To the extent that you are just working through a tutorial, provide a link, and perhaps someone can check the instruction.
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17. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 26, 2012 5:27 PM (in response to Stan Jones)Stuck here "make sure that the Create New Shape Layer button is selected and No Style is set for Style."
in http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/encore/articles/enc15subpic_02.html
No style is selected, but I don't find that button to select.
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18. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 5:33 AM (in response to robirdman1)OK, I've spent about 8 hours every day for 4 days, trying to finish creating a DVD.
I started again today. Gave up on trying to get my menu to display with buttons.
I selected the red facets button in Encore, as it looked like it would go well with the brick wall background of my photoshop image.
I edited in Photoshop and got rid of the arrow and replaced it with a musical note. Then back in Encore, I duplicated enough for all the songs and started changing the text to reflect song names. I thought, this is really going to work, I'll bring back my orignal image without my text layers and relink everything.
But then when I typed in "Fly Me to the Moon", it didn't include the last word. Nor when I typed the person's name, did it have room for the last name. I tried stretching but it made no difference. Then I tried to open the object in Photoshop again to see if I could modify there.
But when I open any of the buttons that were copied and the text changed, only the one with the first text opens.
I am again clueless and as far from ever as finishing the DVD with working buttons. Unbelievable.
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20. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 27, 2012 6:48 AM (in response to Ann Bens)If Ann's image doesn't do it, select the shape tool (probably default "rectangle" or "ellipse" on left side of screen), then look for the custom shape tool where her image shows. FYI, I don't find the wave in my options (CS5).
Re you message about Fly Me to the Moon, it makes a difference how you select some boxes.
See this thread. The most detailed info is the last post.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4075031#4075031
If you don't find success shortly, keep your project as is, create a new project, bring in the Blue Notes menu (General library set). Replace the background with your background. See if that will work.
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21. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 7:39 AM (in response to Stan Jones)This is so crazy.
I had stretched the box in Photoshop and stretched it more in Encore. I tried different things with the blue and green boxes.
I Can type Fly Me to the Mo and it will appear, If I add one more letter Moo, then that last word will disappear. both boxes are easily long enought to accomodate.
Next I had the text somehow curving downward and gave up and started over.
Finally I somehow got the text all in the box but too high and trying to figure how to lower it. Went to Photoshop to do so.
Unfortuately now I see that none of these buttons have highlight. How they lost them I don't know, but that was why I gave up on trying to use my own menu.
So back to square one again.
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22. Re: button layer?
Ann Bens Jan 27, 2012 10:17 AM (in response to robirdman1)Start with an exciting menu in Encore with buttons you like.
Edit this in Photoshop.
Chuck everything you do no like out and replace it with your own stuff.
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23. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 11:57 AM (in response to Ann Bens)I am closer. I worked with the red facet button.
I duplicated, stretched an manipulated wherenecessary to get my text on.
Then I went back to reading the tutorial about creating highlights.
Instead of using the wave (which is in the nature folder) I used a musical note.
So I have the button, note and text to the left.
I copied one of the original red facet menus so I could see how their highlights were, and finished the tutorial, modifying the colors and transparencies. I duplicated and copied all to each of my menu item group layers.
I got it so that the normal state and selected states don't show the note, and the activated state shows the note, not in blue like originally, but yellow. and the text changes to yellow also.
I can't figure out why I don't have the blue note first or why nothing changes in the second state. Everything looks arranged the same as the red facet button group. I thought maybe it had something to do with the first state being red like the button, and changed colors. The changes seem to affect the red facet button but not mine.
What could be the problem?
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24. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 1:36 PM (in response to robirdman1)Through trial and error, after many hours of effort, I finally got each button to react the desired way in the 3 states. Then I was ready to check project and I found out what those big red rectangles are that made no sense before. Overlapping buttons created when trying to stretch out buttons in a way that would accomodate the longer text that they were originally incapable of.
So here is the result. Now is there any possible way at all that I don't have to start over with those 3 menus, figure again how to stretch the box and not the text, fit in, edit in Photoshop to add all the layers and highlights etc. I am betting that with this program that frequently stops working and has to close there probably isn't and more hours of time ahead to waste.
But if anyone thinks otherwise and has a solution, I would be so relieved and grateful.

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25. Re: button layer?
Stan Jones Jan 27, 2012 2:09 PM (in response to robirdman1)All you have to do is to unstretch some of those rectangles to get them within the bounds they needed.
From post 20, the last post in the thread I linked describes the different boxes that are involved.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/4092604#4092604
Yes, you might just start over with the menu process. As you get better, it goes more quickly.
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26. Re: button layer?
Bill Hunt Jan 27, 2012 4:52 PM (in response to robirdman1)Buttons may not overlap. The "size" of a Button is defined as a rectangle that includes all elements (everything in a Button's Layer Set) in that Button.
Overlaps will cause Buttons to not work.
Looking at several of those, you must have some very large elements, but their visibility must be turned OFF, as for some, all I see are the Bounding Boxes, showing the "size" of the Button.
Unfortunately, PS does not give you a quick way to see those Bounding Boxes, but in Encore, you can Select All (Ctrl+A) in the Menu Editing Panel, and you will see them. Back in PS, you have to rather eyeball the Buttons.
Good luck,
Hunt
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27. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 4:56 PM (in response to Stan Jones)Unfortunately, stretching those big boxes shrank the text down to nothing. I had to create new boxes. Strangely, I noticed before doing so that some of the menus that were woking perfectly before the check, now weren't repsonding to the different activation states. After recreating the 3 problem menus and replacing the overlapping ones, I found that none of the highligting worked at all, so that wasted the rest of the day. I think I'm back to where I was about 8am, 10 hours ago.
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28. Re: button layer?
Bill Hunt Jan 27, 2012 5:32 PM (in response to robirdman1)Well, it is not the Bounding Boxes, that you need to shrink, but the size of the elements in the Buttons' Layer Sets. What do you have, that is so very large, in those Button Layer Sets? That is the problem.
Good luck,
Hunt
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29. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 27, 2012 6:08 PM (in response to Bill Hunt)I found out where the huge bounding boxes came from.
When I tried to adapt the tutorail to my menu, I added the pastry button. I copied the highlight layers from in to mine.
After starting over, recreating the problem menus, with no success in getting back the perfectly working structure I had before, I again added the pastry menu to see what was different. They were missing the 1 and 2 highlight layers. I dragged and dropped into one of my menus and saved and went back to Encore. Now I saw a huge red bounding box, as before. So that is where they came from.
Now the tutorial doesn't say how to make your own. I see that they have an fx at the right, while if I just create a layer it is transparent and I can't add color.
Neither can I seem to change the color of a text layer as it directs.
I just can't proceed any further. Is somewhere that has the procedure.
Before I had it so that the colors are as on the image included. the select state would change the blue note to yellow and the active would change the text also to yellow.
Here is a shot of what I have. The recipe (pastry) was just being used to see how it works. Before I went ahead and made the water for state 3, and I used my musical notes for that. When I move the red and/or yellow layer from the recipe to one of mine, I was able to have things work as described, but that is what creates the huge bound boxes and ruins it for proceeding any further.
Now I am totally clueless. Printscreen is no longer working. It only remembers the previous one I sent and refuses to print a new screen, no matter how many times I go to the one I want to send.
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30. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 28, 2012 4:40 AM (in response to robirdman1)I fumbled around as before and through trial and error finally got the buttons to work almost as before. One menu turned blue in an activation state where all the others were yellow, and I could see no difference at all in the layer settings, but this didn't bother me. I did a project check and no problems, preview also no problems and then wrote to a folder on the desktop and ran it in a media player and everything worked. then I set it to burn a test DVD RW. I left the room to attend to some other things and when I came back it said there were over 5 hours to go and nothing was proceeding. So I pressed cancel but it wouldn't, so after some time I used C-A-D to end Encore. I pressed the CD eject button but it wouldn't come out. No lights were on, so I got a pin like tool to press in the hole to manually open the door. then to my horror, I saw a red light and noises of spinning activity. I couldn't believe this was happening after finally achieving success. I felt cursed, and thought maybe the drive was now ruined.
I turned off the machine and rebooted and tried again with a different DVD RW. This time it finished quickly and the result worked fine with all the buttons functioning in a TV DVD player. What a relief to be done after about the most frustrating week ever.
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32. Re: button layer?
robirdman1 Jan 28, 2012 6:35 AM (in response to Stan Jones)Thanks for all your efforts to help.




