best way to import fotomagico show to iDVD (iLife 09)

Agree on the excel list - may do that as I have way too many files! Agree re no one has mapped and no one at FM will help - claim you need to talk to Apple, Apple says you need to to talk to FM. Had an 1hr creative genius apt yesterday just to go through everything. (And the guy was good - but couldnt help with FM or any menus that came up - YUCK - think stronger epitaph here!)

Okay gonna list out in detail what I 've done and maybe that will help you and others from going through this stuff. At least it starts a map if you may!

Basics - Have 500+ pics in iphoto that were dragged into FM for slideshow. Using FM 3.05 PRO. Single audio track with 16 songs. All test were done using the first 30 pics(slides) and 1 song. Pics were actual res files from multiple cameras(8-12g).

TVS/Sources: Panny Plasma 58", Panny PLasma 46", Panny PLasma ED 42", Westy 1080p LCD/XBOX 360, PS3, Panny BR 60 model, Denon DVD, Apple TV, MAC Mini 2.6

iDVD Pref - Pro Quality, Single Layer, NTSC, 2x Burn

Key scenes for test: waving flag from ship, rows of balconies on cruise ship, lines of trees/water, lines of rocks, pans, scenery where mtns, trees and water layer each other

1. FM>DVD>iDVD: Share to DVD, burn with idvd, ntsc, 16:9, motion blur checked, idvd opens up automatically when done, burned - results: plays well, lots of artifacts, ship moves, lines move, water moves and one gets sea sick
2. FM>HD 720p>iDVD: Share to HD DVD, drop down 720p, checked motion blur, framerate 30, dragged in idvd, burned - results: plays well, soft very few artifacts - one does not get motion sickness watching this
3. FM>DVD>imovie>iDVD: Share to DVD, burn with none, ntsc, 16:9, motion blur checked, saves file, dragged into imovie, share from imovie to idvd, burned – results:plays well, very soft, a few artifacts – result is so soft that the artifacts are pretty much alleviated
4. FM>QT>iDVD> Used HDV presets– all results garbage – no video
5. FM>QT>iDVD: Used defaults from FM FAQ’s (854 *480)etc, dragged into iDVD, burned results: worst yet – sea sickness immediately ensues
6. FM>QT>iDVD: several settings were used – animation, 1920 * 1080 from first screen size, custom settings were 1920 * 1080, 30Frames, motion checked, quality best – HUGE FILES (5gb) - did the same with 720. In each case the pixel aspect ratio was left from the FM defaults – these produced no errors - results – much cleaner video, full of artifacts – unwatchable due to seasickness

Did the above with #6 with apple lossless, same settings same results – although files were much smaller.

AM trying other QT settings…

The question arises that even AFTER you have done custom you are still presented with the first screen that FM shows which asks for size, pixel aspect ratio, motion blur & frame rate – what you fill in here appears to make a difference however – upon inspection difficult to determine. If you put anything other than 854*480 for size in – even if you have filled out the custom you receive an error from FM stating that you are using an inconsistent fr or size – even if identical to what you have put n the custom settings.

SO here I am – still trying. I think if someone could simply tell me what qt settings to use - I would be fine. But either we all have different screens or people are not getting screen number 2 that I have posted that comes up no matter what you do in custom. (See link) http://gallery.me.com/wpwj40e#100212

PS I know it states 854*480 there - really doesnt matter what you stick there - you still get the error. More important to view the pic to the right that will show what happens.

Message was edited by: ThereseF

The link you included does not open. Are you asking how I got "none"? That is an option for burning from the dvd drop down when you share to dvd. This creates a .dv file you can then drag into whatever. Just tried cause ...well...I had tried everything else!

Your last wrokflow - FM>HD MOVIE 720/1080p>iDVD is my #2 - those indeed are my best results. FOllowed by the same only brought into iMOvie and then exported via QT - guess I forgot to include that workflow. Did a few iMovie ones and then to QT and then to iDVD. While not as bad in artifacts - very, very soft.

So right now my best workflow is #2. You can see how this one works as I put it on my gallery...Soft - but very few artifacts....

http://gallery.me.com/wpwj40e#100197

See what you mean re #2. Not sure that buys you anything other than re encoding it twice. Unless of course there were features in iMovie that you wanted to use to author before submitting the final project.

I just finished with the QT settings provided on the Dp photo forum. The missing factor is the "pixel apsect ratio" - regardless of what you set in custom - you MUST fill in the top screen and that does dictate what happens. Even though I had a weird aspect ratio played back - the artifacting was still obvious.

Think I am gonna live with the HD movie and just go with it. Still want to try the blu ray option - but cant get toast to work. Will try again another day as I've had enough today. Will be interested in what you find out when your done with the 9 hours. You have more patience than me - my longest workflow has been about 3 hours.

Agree that the regular DVD burn using toast/idvd probably does not make a difference. Would still like to see for myself - but am resigned that given the small amount of info available and the limitations of DVD - maybe this is as good as it gets...

therese, mike

EXCELLENCE!
I do know, how much endurance and discipline is necessary to perform such a bunch of tests... (me and some friends actually work on a 'better output' of video from iM09.. I'm the lazy one, who make the final website.. ).

honestly: I'm lost in your conversation - any chance to summarize, perhaps in some chart?

a view remarks:
• never judge DV on a computer (=codec is optimized for TV-playback)
• never judge DV nor DVD on a computer fullscreen (=both meant for NTSC/PAL res only)
• use dvd-rw for tests on standalone-players+TVs (=burn, test, erase, burn ...)
• 'none' on export dialogs usually means, the codec-in-use internally is used; if FM uses internally 'Animation', export is Animation etc.
• for checking the 'real' output, use the free tool MediaInfo http://mediainfo.massanti.com/
drag resulting files as .mov into it, you get a long list, incl. codecs, bitrates - and you can easiely save a text-file for later comparision

keep testing, keep posting! VERY interesting stuff, you do..

WHEW! Way to go Mike!
YEa..should have dropped my 30 odd slides down to do this much quicker.

Okay got toast working. There is no discernible difference and I have burned about 5 "flavors". SO do not believe Toast is the variable here.

Still lost for the QT "pixel aspect ratio". What have you been using for that for your QT burns? If you set up custom FM throws an error window - how are you getting around that.

Now trying several br burns to see if that improves anything. Can only use for some folks as DVD will still be what I need to produce for most. But may have an option there if the BR burn finally works.

Agree re audio - have left it alone. At least that one I know just about whatever I need to do!

Also do not try animation unless you want to be up the rest of the evening:)

The preset under QT for HDV do not work in idvd etc. Must use other when setting custom.

Okay here's to seeing what happens with the BR burn!

Thanks for input re mediainfo. Have so many files now that even my arcane naming conventions are getting meaningless. WIll use this to examine all and maybe come up with a better result than "makes me seasick":)!!

Well the 1:1 seemed so obvious and it was still throwing up the errors - however...I did do the last few tests with that for the burn to BR. 🙂 Your answer helps as the next few test the aspect should not be off. DOnt know why I didnt try that first!

So if all goes well will see what that yields in about 10 minutes as ...knock on wood...but toast is now working for both dvd and BR.....

We have a winner! :):):)

Finally got the br burn to work. Toast is very funny about exactly what kind of qt file and settings etc it wants. Anyways, here goes...
FM>QT 1920*1080, AIC, Motion blur checked, 1:1 pixel ratio, audio defaults from FM>TOAST BR (burned on a dvd -r disc)

Absolutely brilliant - not as good as my MAC - but VERY, VERY good. NO artifacts (that weren't there in the originals). Can actually no see all my Mom's wrinkes (she will definitely want the soft DVD version!) Audio fine and in sync, colors true, black levels good (still a tad dark - but shadow detail is holding up). I am happy! Or lowered my standards!

Tomorrow gonna take the same file and run through iDVD, toast and the imovie passes to see if this is better than the HD 720p/1080p versions.

But I finally have a disc that is close to the "real" thing. Those that dont have a br player or ps3 will have to suffer with the DVD version!!! WIll report more tomorrow on the final versions (my deadline is Sunday - so have a few more days than you!) Now have to figure out how Im gonna get this huge slide show on 1-2 discs.....But thats a different problem and one that is much easier to deal with!

Need DVD too. But about half of my family friends have blu ray - so wanted to check that out.

My workflow went from FM....then used the QT export(share), which created the file. Then dragged that file directly into toast and encoded/burned the blu ray from toast. Yep that worked.
My exact settings:
After "sharing" to QT first screen hit customize, then clicked "settings", used AIC, for frame used "current" and used "other", left interlace unchecked.. The remaining options were grayed out once I did this. Did not touch filter. Went to size and selected HD 1920*1080 16:9. (did not check any of the other options on this screen - left blank or unchecked) Checked okay which then brought back to the first screen. Settings were at "custom", I had to fill in size 1920*1080 pixels, 1:! aspect, fr 29.97 and checked motion blur.

Then dragged into BR under toast(10.2) menu and used automatic and hit burn(slowed down to 2 x burn).

This file plays well under QT and well on the br on dvd-r in my br players.

TOmorrow - gonna play with moving it into iDVD, imovie etc to see if I can get this file workable using idvd or toast on a reg dvd version. If that works - then will use this image for the 500+ slide show and go from there.

Message was edited by: ThereseF