At the most basic, a theme is simply a static image that is the menu's background. Each menu can include up to six buttons.Įach menu also has a theme that determines how the menu looks and sounds. When viewing a DVD, you click a button to view the content or menu with which it is associated. Buttons represent each project that has been placed on the DVD, or they can lead to another menu. When you are in the Design or Preview mode, the Contents pane shows a menu of buttons on the DVD. What you see and do in this area depends on the mode in which iDVD is operating (you'll learn more about these modes in the next section). The top and largest pane of the window is the Contents pane. Don't let the simple appearance of the iDVD mislead you iDVD is a powerful application. If you haven't used iDVD before, you can create a new project. Similar to iMovie, iDVD automatically opens the last project on which you worked. When you launch iDVD, you see the iDVD window (see Figure 18.6). What follows is a brief overview of the application so you have a general idea of how it works.
Fortunately, this package sells for only $49 (iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie are included as well).īecause iDVD is not part of the standard Mac OS X installation (and because if this book gets any bigger, it might be dangerous to lift), I don't have room to provide detailed instructions for working with iDVD. It is included on all new Macs that have the SuperDrive otherwise, you have to purchase a copy as part of the iLife package Apple sells. Unfortunately, iDVD is not part of the standard Mac OS X installation.
In addition to being able to place this content on DVDs, with iDVD you can create motion menus and buttons that enable you to showcase your content from the DVD's main menu these menus work just like the menus on commercially produced DVDs. Slideshows made up of images from iPhoto or other sources Movies you have created with iMovie or QuickTime movies you have created or obtained from other sources You can place the following two general types of content on DVD: But even better, you can play the DVDs you create on most standard DVD players, such as the DVD player connected to your TV. You can view these DVDs on your Mac using the DVD Player application. With a Mac equipped with a DVD-R drive, such as an Apple SuperDrive, and Mac OS X, you can use the iDVD application to put your own content on DVD. Watching DVDs others create is fun, but because you use a Mac, you aren't limited to taking what others give.