About printing direct to DVD

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

I use an epson R800 to print DVDs. It came with DVDprint software
that has some good features. It can do anything I need at present
however it isn't a very sophisticated piece of software. Doesn't make
reediting or the like as easy as it would be in a more sophisticated
app.

Googling around for DVD print software I noticed there isn't a lot of
it out there.

Can anyone here give suggestions on DVD printing software they have
used or know about?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> writes:

>>Can anyone here give suggestions on DVD printing software they have
>>used or know about?
> I use the Epson r200, and the DVD label printing program is actually the only
> reason I ever boot in windows...
> I have made some neat things with it, but do some pre-processing in Linux,
> for example to take screenshots from a movie and use that in the layout.
> Some time ago I did read that the latest version of Gimp was going to
> support this type of layouts too.
> As I now have a rather large database of layouts, I am not that much in a
> hurry to move to different soft.
> Although Epson service is non-existemt here, the layouts are pretty sharp,
> and you can get good colors.. So why move.

Well, as explained in my post. I too have been able to do anything I
needed so far in DVDprint. However it really isn't designed as a pro
tool. Its somewhat clunky to use and takes more time than a pro tool
would.

I can live with it, yes. But asked here if there is better stuff out
there.

I've been a linux addict since 1996 so quite familiar with it. I had
hoped though that Adobe would have some entry in the DVD print tool
market.

Gimp is nice yes, but when compared to say Photoshop it pales
significantly.

I understand one can accomplish DVD print setup in Photoshop fairly
easily but in my experience with that .. Although Photoshop has many
more powerfull tools available it lacks things like an easy way to
arch relocate/rearch etc text, and again, is just somewhat clunky to
use since DVD label design is not its primary activity.

I had hopes of hearing about a semi-pro tool designed specifically to
design for print to DVD use.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Harry Putnam" wrote ...
> Can anyone here give suggestions on DVD printing software
> they have used or know about?

I use MS PowerPoint.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Giving you tips in that area depends on the programs you have available.
Vector art programs such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw are good for
creating text effects. The final product can be output to a bitmap file in
JPG, etc. format. I just uninstalled Photoshop 7 in favor of Photoshop CS,
which does very nice text on a path operations. I believe I remember
Photoshop 7 having a text on an arc function which allowed you to change the
arc only. I can't remember exactly, it was somewhere in the buttons and I
think it was a "T" with an arc through it.

I seldom work with text in Photoshop, even now in CS. I prefer to create 3D
text in appropriate programs, output them as 32bit targa files with
transparent backgrounds for overlay on other graphics. In each case I have a
template of sorts to place in the background to act as a guide, which I
remove before final output. One of the 3D programs I use on a regular basis
is Asymetrix Web 3D 2.0. It still works just fine in Windows XP even though
it is an outdated program. It's really easy to use. It's quick and gives me
good metalic effects and reflections. The logo on my website was created
using Web 3D and the gold bevels and sides are very nice.

In short I do not depend on any single program to do all the types of
effects I dream up. Actually I do expect there would be a single program
which could encompass all the ideas anyone could dream up. I guess some
could argue there are programs capable of anything and everything, but I
doubt if they exist either you nor I could afford them. So, my question
would be - "what have you got available to work with?"
--
Larry Johnson
Digital Video Solutions
webmaster@digitalvideosolutions.com
http://www.digitalvideosolutions.com
877-227-6281 Toll Free Sales Assistance
386-672-1941 Customer Service
386-672-1907 Technical Support
386-676-1515 Fax

"Harry Putnam" <reader@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:m3zmzkxdy9.fsf@newsguy.com...
> "Digital Video Solutions" <video@digitalvideosolutions.com> writes:
>
> > In Photoshop I place a layer over that and leave it empty for filling
later
> > with a picture, etc. On top of that I place a layer for my lettering for
the
> > disc title, etc. Once done I then create a JPG at the same resolution
then
> > import it into the Epson print software. Works pretty good.
>
> Have you figured out cool and handy ways to handle the lettering.
> Arching it etc?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Harry Putnam wrote:
> "Digital Video Solutions" <video@digitalvideosolutions.com> writes:
>
> > In Photoshop I place a layer over that and leave it empty for
filling later
> > with a picture, etc. On top of that I place a layer for my
lettering for the
> > disc title, etc. Once done I then create a JPG at the same
resolution then
> > import it into the Epson print software. Works pretty good.
>
> Have you figured out cool and handy ways to handle the lettering.
> Arching it etc?

There are a number of CD label maker software available, you can do
some good layouts just using Microsoft Word or Publisher. Photoshop
should do anything you want but has a very steep learning curve.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Digital Video Solutions" <video@digitalvideosolutions.com> writes:

> So, my question
> would be - "what have you got available to work with?"

Thanks for the input..

We were sort of talking about photoshop-cs being used in place of the
DVDprint tools that come with epson. So I was talking about
photoshop-cs which I have. I have the trial download of Illustrator
too so guess I will toy with it.

I mentioned text in the context of a stand in for DVD print which does
have some sort of nice text handling for dvd use.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Laurence Payne <l@laurenceDELETEpayne.freeserve.co.uk> writes:

> On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 07:11:58 -0600, Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Have you figured out cool and handy ways to handle the lettering.
>>Arching it etc?
>
> Looking at a random dozen of the commercial CDs here, none have arched
> lettering.

I'm not sure what your point is... I want arched lettering, not
really concerned with what you see in random commercial cds.
The DVDprint software that comes with r800 does arched lettering. I
was hoping to find something that did arched lettering better or
easier and does a number of other things better and easier.

My hole question has been that I've seen DVDprint... its ok. I can
do what I need with it. However is there something out there dedicated
to DVD printing that is better...

Thats it nothing else.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Harry, the type to path in Photoshop CS is pretty fluid. Maybe you should
play with it a bit to see if it does what you want. Otherwise I would
suggest you use a vector art program like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. In
CorelDraw the "text to path" is simple to use. I use the "snap to
guidelines" method. For instance, I create a page with is 12x12 inches and
place a guideline at 0.0 & 12.0 both horizontally and vertically. I then use
the oval/circle tool to draw my circle to represent the disc. I place
another set of guidelines at 4.5 & 7.5 inches both horizontally and
vertically, then place another circle inside that to represent the inner
non-printable area. Using "snap" keeps these both in complete circles and
not random ovals.

I then decide how large my lettering should be and place guidelines inside
the outside circle and then draw another circle inside them. For instance, a
new guideline at 2 & 10 inches both horizontally and vertically then another
circle inside of them. I then use the text tool and place it at 6 inches
just above that last circle I made, and type in my words. I then edit the
text and choose to have it centered at the 6 inch mark. I then select the
text and the circle just beneath it, then use the 'text to path" tool and
apply it to these, and the text wraps to the circle. I then separate the
circle and the text, delete the circle and lock the layer in place.

There are literally hundreds of options. Creating this in vector using
multiple layers, placing graphics/pictures in one layer and text on another.
Then export the finished product to a JPG that is at least 1500x1500 (I use
300dpi) and then import that to the Disc Print program.

I don't think there are any programs that are any more intuitive than the
one which comes with the Epson printer. The Maxell label program is even
worse - actually I don't think it is actually made by Maxell. Media Face is
the name I believe, and then there's another by Neato that is a little
better. These are label programs and none of them will print directly to
your disc. There aren't that many print to disc printers out for there to be
a market for that type of software, yet. You will have to settle for
whatever you can do in other graphic programs.

My best tip in using these other graphic/photo programs is something I have
noted in this post, and at least one other - whatever result you come up
with has to be at least 1200x1200 pixels or it won't cover the entire area
offered by the Epson disc print program. I generally use a 1500x1500 and
have found the output to be very, very nice.
--
Larry Johnson
Digital Video Solutions
webmaster@digitalvideosolutions.com
http://www.digitalvideosolutions.com
877-227-6281 Toll Free Sales Assistance
386-672-1941 Customer Service
386-672-1907 Technical Support
386-676-1515 Fax

"Harry Putnam" <reader@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:m3vfa46aip.fsf@newsguy.com...
> Laurence Payne <l@laurenceDELETEpayne.freeserve.co.uk> writes:
>
> > On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 07:11:58 -0600, Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Have you figured out cool and handy ways to handle the lettering.
> >>Arching it etc?
> >
> > Looking at a random dozen of the commercial CDs here, none have arched
> > lettering.
>
> I'm not sure what your point is... I want arched lettering, not
> really concerned with what you see in random commercial cds.
> The DVDprint software that comes with r800 does arched lettering. I
> was hoping to find something that did arched lettering better or
> easier and does a number of other things better and easier.
>
> My hole question has been that I've seen DVDprint... its ok. I can
> do what I need with it. However is there something out there dedicated
> to DVD printing that is better...
>
> Thats it nothing else.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Digital Video Solutions" <video@digitalvideosolutions.com> writes:

> Harry, the type to path in Photoshop CS is pretty fluid. Maybe you should
> play with it a bit to see if it does what you want. Otherwise I would
> suggest you use a vector art program like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. In
> CorelDraw the "text to path" is simple to use.

Thanks for your detailed help. I `discovered' the type to path thing
yesterday. It looks like a usefull tool. Today I'm working with
Adobe Illustrator... downloaded the trial. It too has a feature like
that and looks to have all kinds of nifty stuff that will do DVDlayout.