Q: What should I use as a replacement for iDVD?

IMO there is no iDVD authoring application out there that can hold a candle to iDVD.  If you don't have an older Mac that came with iDVD that you can transfer or use the disks that came with it to install iDVD. 

You can still get iDVD by purchasing iLife 09.

If iDVD was not preinstalled on your Mac you'll have to obtain it by purchasing a copy of the iLife 09 disk from a 3rd party retailier like Amazon.com: ilife 09: Software or eBay.com.  Why, because iDVD (and iWeb) was discontinued by Apple over a year ago. 

Why iLife 09 instead of 11?

If you have to purchase an iLife disc in order to obtain the iDVD application remember that the iLife 11 disc only provides  themes from iDVD 5-7.  The Software Update no longer installs the earlier themes when starting from the iLIfe 11 disk nor do any of the iDVD 7 updaters available from the Apple Downloads website contain them. 

Currently the only sure fire way to get all themes is to start with the iLife 09 disc:

This shows the iDVD contents in the iLife 09 disc via Pacifist:

You then can upgrade from iDVD 7.0.3 to iDVD 7.1.2 via the updaters at the Apple Downloads webpage.

Export the slideshow out of iPhoto as a QT movie file via the Export button in the lower toolbar.  Select Size = Medium or Large.

Open iDVD, select a theme and drag the exported QT movie file into the open iDVD window being careful to avoid any drop zones.

Follow this workflow to help assure the best qualty video DVD:

Once you have the project as you want it save it as a disk image via the File ➙ Save as Disk Image  menu option. This will separate the encoding process from the burn process. 

 

To check the encoding mount the disk image, launch DVD Player and play it.  If it plays OK with DVD Player the encoding is good.

 

Then burn to disk with Disk Utility or Toast at the slowest speed available (2x-4x) to assure the best burn quality.  Always use top quality media:  Verbatim, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R are the most recommended in these forums.

OT

If you haven't seen it yet, here's a discussion of the various alternatives, including OT's good suggestion:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3711

John

Karsten didn't mention the over 40 DVD creation apps listed in the Apple App Store.

I've been reading through the descriptions in the Store and didn't really see any that looked like I'd want to try.  Anybody here try any of them?

Hello Fred,

I still use a combination of iDVD and Roxio Toast for my burning needs.  Looking out to the future though, it would be useful to know if there are good competitors.

Nice to have you back.

John

Toast does not work in Mavericks (see my post in Discussions > Mavericks a few minutes ago "Roxio Toast does not work on Mavericks"

I am now running Mavericks (and have updated iMovie accordingly) -- if I buy a copy of iLife '09 to get iDVD, will it install to my 2011 MacBook Pro and work with the most recent iMovie?

Yes.  Be sure  you  only install iDVD and its themes via the Customize install option.  You don't want to install the older iPhoto and other apps.

With the recent iMovie you'll need to export the movie as a QT movie via the Export window at 480p and add the resulting Quicktime file to iDVD manually by dragging it into the iDVD menu window.

Thank you so much!

Karsten didn't mention the over 40 DVD creation apps listed in the Apple App Store.

 

I've been reading through the descriptions in the Store and didn't really see any that looked like I'd want to try.  Anybody here try any of them?

I have tried many, what is unique to iDVD is the ability to make menus and chapters.  Other DVD authoring programs will only burn a very simple and boring disc.  Continue to use iDVD.