I want buttons transparent when inactive - how??

JRK1 wrote on 4/15/2010, 4:40 AM

In a project I'm working on, I'd like the graphical buttons on my menu to be completely transparent (invisible) when inactive; visible just as they look in my PNG file when selected; and either either highlighted replaced with a different PNG file when activated. But the most important parts is the transparent with inactive and normal when active.

I can't figure out two to do this in DVD Architect 4.5. Can anyone tell me how, or provide a sample project that demonstrated this?

Thanks!

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 4/15/2010, 5:41 AM

Well, making the buttons invisible is easy. You can set the button to Text Only and then erase the text (or type text and make it transparent).

But you can't make a PNG appear as your highlight. At least not with DVD Architect Studio, since the program uses overlays rather than objects as button highlights.

You CAN make the shape of PNG appear as your overlay, however. Select the button and, in Button Properties, set Highlight/Style to Custom browse to your custom shape.

bStro wrote on 4/17/2010, 6:36 PM

As Steve points out, the actual buttons on a DVD menu are color overlays, not images. The images you see on a DVD menu are simply part of single-layered still image or video -- you can't individually turn "on" and "off" parts of it. This isn't specific to DVD Architect -- it's simply how DVDs are.

I've written a tutorial on a way to fake it, but it's not a perfect solution. First, your menu needs a solid background (at least the area directly behind the "buttons." Second, on most DVD players, all positions of your "moving" image will be visible for a brief moment after the viewer selects and item. You can read the tutorial and give it a shot, though:

Full Color DVD Highlights

Rob

JRK1 wrote on 4/20/2010, 5:39 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.