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Agenda
- Reality check
- View 16 x 9 projects
- Finish up subtitles
- Class Evaluation
- Scripts & script tutorial
Reality Check
NOTE: The Spring 2006 Final Exam is scheduled for 8-10
am Thursday, May 4. We won't take the quiz then but view our final projects.
Final quiz is next Thursday (4/27), during our regular class time.
Subtitles
- Up to 32 subtitle streams per track
- You should set the Subtitle Text Settings in the Preferences before adding
or creating a lot of subtitles.
- Also consider using an outline. Using an outline can prevent bad
subtitle experiences- such as white subtitles disappearing
into a white blouse. To set an outline, use the Inspector or the Preferences
- under the Colors category.
- You can position subtitles manually or with the Inspector
- You can also import simple greyscale graphics (bugs, company logos,
etc.). PICTS are recommended. White will become transparent and black
will be visible.
- Don't forget to remember the safe text area!
- Can also fade in and out. (This can also be set in the Preferences)
- Can force the display of subtitles (General tab -> check the "force
display" checkbox) This will force display of the topmost subtitle
track.
- Can import text files from 3rd party applications. This is very useful
for professional, multi-lingual projects.
- Closed-caption info is designed for
the hearing-impaired and is a separate DVD element from subtitles.
To use, first import or generate the cc file and place it into
your media folder. Then select the track and open up the Inspector.
You can then select the file from within the Inspector.
Scripting
Scripting is essential in order to embed more advanced functionality
into DVDs. Scripts allow the developer to let the DVD interact with the
DVD player. This opens the door for advanced interactivity.
When developing scripts you can work with two kinds of registers- both
contain 16-bit values:
- SPRMS (system parameter registers) hold info about
the status of the DVD and player. (last track played, current angle,
menu language, aspect ratio, parental code, etc.) You can only write
to a few SPRMs but you can read most of them. There are 24 different
16-bit SPRMs.
- GPRMS (general parameter registers) are like variables.
You can read and write to them. There are 16 unique registers
available. You can store data in them in either register mode or counter
mode. In register mode they are simply storage bins for 16-bit data.
In counter mode the GRPM will increase its value by 1 every second.
What can scripts do?
Imagine you wanted a way for users to go back to the point on the DVD
where they left off- after going to the setup menu to turn on subtitles,
or whatever. Just pressing play would restart the video from the beginning.
However you could create a script to "resume" if a track had
already been started.
Check out the resume
tutorial at the editor's bin.
Or what if you wanted to create a section of the DVD that required the
user to enter a certain key code.
Here's a code
lock tutorial from the editor's bin that shows how to do this.
Developing scripts with DVDSP
For those with any programming experience, scripting will come relatively
easily.
In DVDSP you can select the "add script" button to add a script.
Then use the script editor to add commands.
As mentioned in Sitter, it's a good idea to have an escape command at
the end of complex scripts. An example would be the last line saying
"Jump Main Menu." This way if something prevents the script commands
from being carried out the way that they were intended, it will at least
eject the user into a safe, or known area of the DVD.
The best thing to do to learn scripting is to take a look at a few simple
scripts (randomPlay for example) and then try a few on your own. Once
you begin working with them you'll find that they aren't that difficult
to understand and use.
In-class Scripting tutorial
Additional scripting resources & readings:
SPRM overview: http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/sprm.php
GPRM overview: http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/gprm.php
David Nagel's GPRM overview article:
Part 1: http://www.dvdcreation.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33569
Part 2: http://www.dvdcreation.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33709
Don't forget:
- Final Project Portfolio Review will take place during our final exam
time.
- Turn in your final DVD & project self-critique.
- Your project will be graded on its aesthetic design, creativity,
complexity & functionality.
- Critique - Be sure that you indentify the
location of your essential elements: layer menu, slide show,
alternate tracks, easter egg (if any) etc. Your critique should
also address the process, your learning experience and offer
your own evaluation of your success.
Homework:
- Remeber: No class on Tuesday 4/25!
- Study for the final next Thursday
- Work on perfecting your DVD projects
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