How Do I Make a Looping Video with iMovie & iDVD?

Question

How Do I Make a Looping Video with iMovie & iDVD?

(I hope I don't get in trouble for cross-posting this to both the iMovie and iDVD forums, but... the question does involve both programs, so....)

I need to create an "infinitely looping" slide show and put it on a DVD.

Can I do that with iMovie and/or iDVD?

The presentation is a series of slides that will be assembled mostly using the "Ken Burns" pan-and-scan effect, and will last about 5 minutes. But I need for it to repeat itself endlessly, and I need to burn it to a DVD to play on the TeeVee at a party in a couple of weeks.

Can anybody tell me how to get execute such a scenario with my Mac programs?

Thanks,

--PS

Message was edited by: driver49

MacBook 2.16-GHz, 2GB-RAM; MacPro 2x3.0GHz Dual Core; iPods, iPhones, Apple TV, Mac OS X (10.5), After 28 years of DOS and Windows... I've come into the light...

Posted on Sep 13, 2008 6:16 AM

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Answer 1

Glo H

Level 4

1,541 points

Sep 13, 2008 7:50 AM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

From iDVD Help

*Setting movies and slideshows to loop*

You can set slideshows, autoplay movies (which start to play immediately when a DVD is inserted into a player, before the DVD menu appears), and movies to repeat continuously, or “loop.” This means they begin replaying immediately after they end. If they include audio, the audio also loops.

Looping an autoplay movie is especially useful for creating self-playing presentations, such as those used in tradeshow kiosks.

In map view you can see at a glance which slideshows and movies are set to loop. A circular arrow symbol appears in the bottom-right corner of the icon.

Here are ways to turn looping on or off:

◼
Double-click a slideshow button on the DVD menu to open the slideshow editor. Click the Settings button (shown below) and select the “Loop slideshow” checkbox.

◼
Select a slideshow icon in map view, and then press Command-I to open the Slideshow Info window. Select the “Loop Slideshow” checkbox, and then close the window.

◼
Click a movie or slideshow button on the DVD menu, or a movie, slideshow, or autoplay movie icon in map view, to select it, and then choose Advanced > Loop Movie or Loop Slideshow.

When looping is turned on, a checkmark appears next to the command in the menu. To turn off looping, select it again to remove the checkmark.

◼
To turn looping off for a background movie on a menu, open the Menu Info window. With your pointer over the menu (but with no buttons or text items selected), press Command-I. Move the Loop Duration slider to zero.

When you’re viewing the burned DVD, you can press the Menu button on the DVD remote control to exit from looping.

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Answer 2

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,595 points

Sep 13, 2008 7:58 AM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

But I need for it to repeat itself endlessly, and I need to burn it to a DVD to play on the TeeVee at a party in a couple of weeks.

Suggestion: Make a QT movie of your slideshow. You can use iMovie, iPhoto, etc. But once within iDvd you will need to open map view and drag the movie to the top box where it says "drag content here" so it will autostart and you can also check the loop function in iDvd itself.

Just type "loop" into the iDvd help menu for specific directions:

You can set slideshows, autoplay movies (which start to play immediately when a DVD is inserted into a player, before the DVD menu appears), and movies to repeat continuously, or “loop.” This means they begin replaying immediately after they end. If they include audio, the audio also loops.
Looping an autoplay movie is especially useful for creating self-playing presentations, such as those used in tradeshow kiosks.

User uploaded file

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

217,782 points

Sep 13, 2008 3:36 PM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

These illustrate what Glo H and SDMacuser are referring to:

Drag the movie into the blue bin to auto play:

User uploaded file

Select the movie and use the Advanced menu to set it to loop.

User uploaded file

OT

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Answer 4

Oct 14, 2008 9:34 AM in response to Old Toad

My thanks to all of you who directed me to the solution I need here re: a continuously looping video.

The project is due Thursday night, I think I still have sufficient time to engineer it. At least with the tips here I know where to look for the solution. Should be pretty easy.

I have one more question regarding screen formats. The photos in my slide show are all formated for "HDTV," i.e. 16:9. However, the TeeVee it will be displayed on is conventional 4:3 display.

If I make the DVD using an iMovie produce in 16:9 format, will the resulting DVD presentation automatically "letter-box" itself? Or will that have something to do with how the homeowner who's TV and DVD player we'll be using has it set up?

All I need to know is how I format the DVD so that it will display letter-boxed assuming the DVD player is properly set up.

Thanks,

--PS

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Answer 5

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,595 points

Oct 14, 2008 9:49 AM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

Normally it will letterbox unless your dvd player / set top is unable to read the 16:9 flag which tells it to do this. If at all possible, I would test beforehand just to make certain (especially if it involves showing to an audience).

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Answer 6

Oct 14, 2008 10:31 AM in response to SDMacuser

I just did a "test" version of what I intend to do on a slightly larger scale (more slides) for Thursday night, and it all went very smoothly. Looping, letter-boxed display on a 4:3 screen.... iMovie and iDVD made it all very simple.

Thanks,

--PS

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Answer 7

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,595 points

Oct 14, 2008 10:46 AM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

You are most welcome. Good luck!

🙂

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Answer 8

Nov 8, 2008 8:19 AM in response to Paul Schatzkin1

iMovie and iDVD make it all pretty easy.

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