Simple DVD Menu Example

Background Layer

Subpicture Layer

Both Layers Overlayed

The subpicture layer is mapped to any desired color when a button is highlighted.

Complex DVD Menu Example

Background Layer

Subpicture Layer

Both Layers Overlayed

The subpicture layer is mapped to any desired color when a button is highlighted.

This example provided courtesy of The Weightman Group.

Notice how the subpicture in this example needs to be knocked out to allow the background text to show through.  This is because the button background is changing color, but the text is not.  In a DVD menu, the button is on top of the text.  This is very different from creating graphics for the Web for other multimedia applications where the text is on top of the button.

Image Size Details.

The final image size of the menu is 720 x 480 pixels. The dpi is not relevant. If you create the image at 720 x 480 it will exhibit a slight vertical distortion (9%) when displayed on an NTSC monitor. This is due to the fact that computers use square pixels and video does not. In order for your menus to have the correct aspect ratio, you need to create the image at 720 x 540 pixels. Then resize it to 720 x 480. It will look squished on your computer screen, but will appear correct on the DVD.

Safe area template (70k) Adobe Photoshop file
Example files and safe area template (1.0M - Stuffed) Mac
Example files and safe area template (1.3M - Zipped) Windows