Thanks for your response,

But I'd like to know if it's possible for the button to have exactly the same properties as the copied button.

So, when the video is selected from the DVD menu - both buttons are highlighed together - one either side of the title of the clip.

ie,
Button - title - Button (all highlighted toether)

Thanks
Paige

I would make a button graphic with two button images and the title in between and use that in place of the original button image.

To clarify a bit, what you're trying to do is actually quite different from copying a DVD-A button. You can't simultaneously select two buttons, so you need to make a single button do what you want!

TOG62's suggestion requires that you create an image in a graphics application, save it as an image file, and then use that image as the button's thumbnail media in DVD-A. This will give you the desired effect.

I've knocked together a simple example to show you what it might look like. Of course, you can get as fancy as you like!

Click Here

If you created an image similar to the one above, you would set the button style to Image Only. An option would be to omit the text from your design and set the button style to Text and Image. You could then use text generated in DVD Architect to fill out the title text between the two arrows.

Thanks so much for you help.

That's a great solutuion, but there are 3 titles on the menu page, and as you scroll the list, the buttons 'move' showing the highlighed titles.
That would mean I would need to make the buttons transparent until selected. Maybe it's possible if my graphic designs skills were better.

The menu page I'm trying to replicate made in DVD Studio Pro must be an existing template that comes with that product. I'm sure no one would go to all that trouble just for the fun of it!

Thanks again
Paige

"I'm sure no one would go to all that trouble just for the fun of it!"

You'd probably be surprised. For one thing, you're at the difficult stage, apparently having little experience with menus in DVD-A. So it seems arcane, difficult, challenging -- you pick the word. Creative menu design does take some headscratching at times, but it's rewarding. And, yes -- fun.

If you could post a screenshot of the menu you're trying to mimic, perhaps I, or someone else, could give you enough information to help you pull it off.

Thanks cb
Yes I have a screen shot of the original DVD menu - but I don't know how to attached this file to my post.
I know it's difficult to explain how the final product should look without seeing it.
Your help is most appreciated!
Thanks
Paige

This "Sticky" contains the information on how to attach an image to your post.

If you don't understand these instructions, you can click on my ID and go to my profile page, where you can send a private message to my email account. I will reply, and, if you know how to attach an image to an email, you can send it to me and I'll post it here in the forum for us all to see.

And then we can work on a solution!

Thankyou!

I don't quite understand the instructions - but I have taken a grab of the original DVD menu and uploaded to this link:

http://i50.tinypic.com/16h5ilh.jpg

If this doesn't work - I'l send you an email as suggested.

Got it -- thanks.



What it appears you want to do is have the purple squiggles move to indicate which of the three menu choices you've selected, and that there won't be a highlight of any kind over the text. Is this correct?

Is the menu background white, as is suggested by the image?

Paging Rob (bStro) -- this is right up your alley!

Edit: I originally misremembered Bob (farss) as the one who was expert in this area, and apologize for any confusion...

Yes, that's correct!

And the background can stay white.

I wouldn't normally bother anyone with how to do this, but when asked if I could replicate the original DVD - I said 'Yes', now I'd wished I'd said 'No'

I'm almost tempted to see if there's a trial version of the Studio Pro software to download which might have a template that does this automatically.

But if it's possible in DVDA - I'd love to know.

btw - I know how to do this if it was just one button - by using the 'pan / crop' option - but it's the 2 buttons that stump me!

Thanks again
Paige

If Rob doesn't check in on this, I'll have a go at it myself, in the morning.

Meanwhile, here's a link to his excellent tutorial on using images in menu selection situations.

Your scenario adds the complication of having the squiggly on both sides of the titles, but I'm thinking that the shape of a custom highlight mask can overcome it.

Thanks cb
I'll have a look at the tutorial.
I dont have to use the same squigglies - happy to use anything similar. There's a similar button in DVDA - I think it's the wedding template - that might do.

Interestingly, Rob's tutorial uses one of the wedding templates to illustrate his technique...

Thanks for the plug (and heads up), Chuck!

Since the example Paige gives uses a simple shape for the "buttons," personally, I'd go with a custom highlight mask instead. The Full Color Highlight tutorial is mostly for when you want to use an image and need a highlight to hide it. (Besides, the longer that tut is up, the more "bugs" I discover in the process.)

The "button on either side" could be accomplished with a background image that contains the titles, a custom highlight mask with all of the "buttons," and long rectangular empty buttons, one for each menu item (that encloses the entire line).

Rob