Once you have transcoded all of your media, you are all set to finally build your DVD. As described in the previous chapter, you should save your project before building, and use the Check Project function to search for problems (Encore also helpfully will prompt you to do these before a build).
Encore provides several different options for building a DVD, under both the Disc tab, and under the File → Build DVD menu. Typically, I use the following routine.
Create a DVD folder. This option collects and builds the DVD data into a folder on hard disk. This is the same data that is burned to a DVD disc (under a VIDEO_TS folder), but can be played locally using DVD player software. This is a good way to test your project before burning to disc, and you can also share your productions in this format over a network.
Make a DVD image. Next, I create a single data file (.img) containing the “image” of the entire contents of a DVD disc. This saves a snapshot of the disc, and I can quickly and efficiently burn multiple copies of the disc from the Image file, using Encore or another burning application.
Burn one or more DVD discs. Alternatively, I will burn a recordable DVD disc (R or RW) on a DVD writer drive. I can then play the DVD disc on a computer, set-top player, or other DVD player device. I can also use Encore to burn DVD content to a recordable CD disc. This is a great way to distribute shorter productions at full DVD quality. (However, the resulting CD typically cannot be played on a set-top DVD player—only on a computer.)
Make a DVD master. Finally, after lots of testing of my recorded discs, I can write a DVD master to a digital linear tape (DLT) drive, if I want to send it to a mastering facility for mass replication.
Encore provides the Disc tab in the Project window to provide access to all the steps in burning your project DVD disc. The Disc tab is shown in Figure 8-19. You can also use the File menu to burn a disc, build a DVD folder or disc image, or write a DVD master to DLT tape.
Remember that the Properties palette also displays the disc properties, including the navigation options, as shown in Figure 8-20.
The top section of the Disc tab lists the project name and the target size, typically 4.7 GB for a single-sided recordable DVD disc. The disc size options are shown in Table 8-6. Note that double-sided discs are not offered, as you typically just build two single-sided discs and send both to a replication facility, which will combine them into a single disc while mass reproducing.
Table 8-6. Disc size options in Adobe Encore
|
Size |
Description |
|---|---|
|
650MB |
Original CD capacity |
|
700MB |
Extended CD capacity (for newer 80 min. discs) |
|
3.95GB |
Original DVD capacity for DVD-R Authoring (professional) media |
|
4.7GB |
Recordable DVD capacity for generally-available discs (R and RW, and replicated DVD-5) |
|
8.54GB |
Dual-layer DVD capacity (especially replicated DVD-9) |
|
Custom |
User-specified size |
The Disc tab displays the amount of available space actually used by the project, including the DVD content (as estimated before transcoding), and any additional DVD-ROM data content (as described in the next section). The disc graphic also shows the current space usage on the disc in pie chart form.
In addition to the DVD project, you also can use the middle DVD-ROM Content section of the Disc tab to add additional data files to your disc. Click the Browse button (or choose File → Select DVD-ROM Folder) to specify a folder to be added to the disc.
The contents of folder, including any nested folders, will then be burned to the root (top) directory of the disc. These files will be ignored by set-top players, but will be accessible like any other data files when the disc is read on a DVD-ROM.
The bottom Other Tasks section of the Disc tab provides one-click access to the final steps in burning a disc, such as setting mastering Project Settings, running the Check Project tool, and then actually using Build Project to burn the disc.
To set the general project settings, click the Project Settings button of the Disc tab to display the Project Settings dialog, which is shown in Figure 8-21.
Use the Disc Information section of the Project Settings dialog to specify the target disc size (as also displayed at the top of the Disc tab).
For projects destined for a replicated double-sided DVD disc, you also can specify whether the current project is to be used as Side One or Two. You then create each side as a different project, and provide each side to the replicator on two separate DLT tapes. Currently, double-sided discs can be manufactured only at professional replication facilities.
Use the Region Codes and Copy Protection sections of the Project Settings dialog to enable the DVD content protection mechanisms, as described in Chapter 2. These apply only to projects being mastered for replication, since content protection options can only be manufactured into discs in authorized professional replication facilities (if you and the factory have the appropriate licenses), and cannot be applied to recordable discs. Enabling these options only sets your preferences as information passed on to the replicator; it does not actually cause the data in your system to be encrypted or otherwise changed. These options also require that you (and the replicator) purchase the appropriate licenses to use the content protection technology on your discs.
Use the Region Codes section of the Project Settings dialog to enable the DVD regional management mechanism for content protection. This is intended to protect local sales and inhibit piracy by tagging DVDs with a region code that authorizes the disc for playback only within specific geographical regions of the world. For replicated discs, you can enable All Regions (the default), or specify a custom list of regions. See Chapter 2 for more information on region codes.
Use the Copy Protection section of the Project Settings dialog to enable the DVD copy protection mechanisms for replicated discs:
- Copy Generation Management System (CGMS)
CGMS limits copying of the digital data by specifying the number of permitted copies (No copies, One copy, or Unlimited copies). This is encoded into the DVD, and is respected by a number of camcorders and digital recorders.
- Content Scrambling System (CSS)
CSS encrypts the video content of the disc as digital data. In order to enable this on your discs, you need to obtain a license from the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) at dvdcca.org.
- Macrovision Analog Protection System (APS)
Macrovision APS adds distortions to the analog video output signal, which prevents VCRs from being able to record the signal. Macrovision is located at macrovision.com, and charges a per disc royalty of a several cents. There are three different types of Macrovision protection; see the web site for the technical details on how each type works.
You also can set defaults for these copy protection options in Encore. In order to do this, choose Edit → Preferences, then choose the Mastering option to display the options shown in Figure 8-22.
If desired, you can enable copy protection, and choose the default options for CSS, CGMS, and Macrovision that will apply to each of the discs created with Encore DVD.
