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

Will be curious to see what you end up with. I set up various workflows this am where I have the FM>QT 1090p output file>straifght to toast dvd, straight to idvd, straight to imovie

Then testing from imovie the various export options - to toast, to idvd etc.

Have not worked and setup all the permetuations yet - will then burn the disk.

Finally had to reduce my test file as well. 30 slides as a test took too long. Down to 12(the ones that will let me see the majority of issues across the 500)and will redo the base image using the fm>qt workflow I identified last nite and go from there.

And when all this is done we need to document and post somewhere - cause darn if this doenst get asked and often with no responses. I know those with pro apps - fe etc and those that spend their days doing this probably figured it out - however with apps like FM/idvd etc - there is a need for the advanced user to be able to do this and have instructions. It really is amazing how little information is available regarding the use of these products in these types of workflows!

Have you tried going straight into toast with it? Assuming you dont need the menus/themes that idvd offers....take the FM>QT 1080p or FM>HD 1080movie and pick it up in toast. Honestly - for DVD files I do not think you will see any more degredation than you did in iDVD. It might be a smidgen better as the file sizes tend to be a bit larger.

You will be limited to the toast themes/menus - but just try a trial burn. Mine looked pretty good. But now I loaded up so many variables and so many "short" movies I am hours into it before it stops encoding/burning.

Try about 10-12 slides(for me thats about 90 seconds) - anything less and I do not get a good feel for file size etc. Also need certain types of slides to check for pq(pic quality).

This should give you a pretty good feel.

Both of your macs not working under iDVD?

Oh - I see you have 12 30 secs on one dvd you are trying to get encoded and burned. That would take about 1 hour or so on my system - so guess 304 hours given the tiems your have been getting seems right. BTW - Toast for me was about half the time...

Mike, Hmmm...I tried that codec and thought is was too many artifacts. But that was the one where I had the aspect ratios wrong. Could you please detail all the settings you used for the export to QT from FM.

So if I get the workflow correct - you then imported into imovie and exported using the same codec....could you also identify which settings you used there for the export?

Did you also try this without theimport intoo iMovie? If you did - was it better/worse/same after going to imovie instead of directly to iDVD? Did you try this workflow bypassing iDVD and going to toast? Was there any difference if you did?

Not asking that you do all these tests:) - Just wanted the info if you did.

Anyways - if you coul ddetail the FM/iMOVIE QT settings used (all the parmenters checked, unchecke detc) that would be brilliant. I want to try and replicate. Pretty much your findings echo mine - so feel we are on the right track and that codec if I have the correct QT parameters might be the ticket for the dvd encode/burn.

Thanks and COngrats!!!!!! Finally!!!!

Your scaring me:) My FM project will be about 48 minutes...I may have to let it run the weekend!

Thanks for the settings. Did you check deinterlace? (This was under settings)And when you picked the size on the size tab - did you pick 1920 * 1080 HD or the HD 1920 *1080 16:9? Did you leave the rest of the values blank on that tab?

You and I had the same findings for the HD720/HD1080p.....Hence why I still am working is. So gonna try the h.264 settings and running trough imovie and will go from there. The test I ran using the aic from the file i created last nite had too much artifacting in anything but blu ray. So they are a no go for standard dvd. Same findings as you...So figure I am gonna skip any more testing and just follow what you have done:)

Seriously - someone else has to have gone through all this. I have scoured the net and the lack of info is astonishing and I am not all that happy with FM for not providing any info - well just had to get that off my chest.

Back to encoding and burning. Then I have to fininsh the slideshow. Just was so despondent when I got to 40 minutes and it finally dawned on me that no one outside of myself would see what I am seeing!- that I had had to go and see if I could make this mess worth even viewing.

Interesting re the imovie re encoding - gonna try that one too:) Why not - have come this far!!!

mikeypas,

would you like to send me a PM (mail down below in the green)?
I need 3 files from your tests and I assume, I can improve your exports a few % .. 😉

thanks
Karsten

Karsten, Not to be a stick in the mud - but I will take the improvements as well:)

Not taking motion blur in is a mistake - so you are fine. My tests without it were really horrible. Its now taking 1.26 hours per FM encode and 36 minutes for idid for 3.16 minutes. So I am running horribly slower. Have now split the work between my two macs just to improve speed. I agree so far h.264 is pretty good. The re encoding from imovie is interesting. I am having other folks over to view cause I think I may be jaded. To date all re encoding from imovie - either aic or h.264 is being viewed positively from the idvd only.

Blu ray wins hands down but thats to be expected. The unfortunate part is the blu ray raw file from FM is a great file - but just stinks when re encoded via any source (idvd, imovie, toast) for dvd.

Agree re the hd 720 - too soft. Sinks up with my initial burns and results. Same with hd 1080 - too many artifacts - awaiting the final burns (wish it didnt take as long) for the last results - but ultimately think its the same as you have found. There are too many artifacts to my way of thinking for even h.264 - but my audience is receiving them better than me. SO will probably opt fort these - unfortunately given the burn times I am still a good 8 hours away from all the burns. Even with only 3 minutes - these are taking awhile!!!

BY tomorrow - will have the final results. Just wish it didnt take almost a day to get there!

Message was edited by: ThereseF

Mike - So what do we do about all the poor souls asking about the cr**ppy quality. I now begin to understand why they never get an answer! Its almost too long and without the pain - not sure they would even understand the !