Phase 4: Burning Your DVD

Once your scene-selection screen is looking pretty good, you’re almost ready to burn the DVD. Before you go using up a blank disc, however, you should test it, using the virtual DVD player known as the Macintosh screen.

Previewing Your Project

iDVD’s Preview button lets you test your menu system to avoid unpleasant surprises. When you click it, iDVD enters Preview mode, which simulates how your DVD works on a standalone set-top DVD player. You even get a simulated remote control to help you navigate, as shown in Figure 20-11. To return to iDVD’s edit mode, click Exit, Stop (the filled square) or reclick Preview.

Tip

Instead of using the arrow buttons on the remote to highlight and “click” screen buttons, you can just use your mouse. You’ll find it not only less clumsy, but also a good indication of how your DVD will play back on Macs or PCs that can play DVDs.

Use iDVD’s simulated remote control to navigate through your DVD’s menus, movies, and so on. To “click” your buttons, for example, use the arrow buttons on the remote to highlight the one you want, and then click the Enter button in the middle.

Figure 20-11. Use iDVD’s simulated remote control to navigate through your DVD’s menus, movies, and so on. To “click” your buttons, for example, use the arrow buttons on the remote to highlight the one you want, and then click the Enter button in the middle.

Maximum DVD Playback Time

In iDVD 4, you no longer have to make the Hobson’s choice between 60 minutes of video at best quality and 90 minutes at lower quality. Apple has thoughtfully raided its own professional DVD creation software (DVD Studio Pro) to ...

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