iMovie '09 & iDVD: The Missing Manual

Phase 6: Burning Your DVD

You're almost ready to burn the DVD. Before you go using up a blank disc, however, test it to make sure that it works on the virtual DVD player known as the Macintosh.

Previewing Your Project

iDVD's Play button (►) lets you test your DVD to avoid unpleasant surprises. It 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 through your DVD's menus, movies, and so on, as shown in Figure 16-10. To return to iDVD's edit mode, click Exit or Stop (■).

Tip

Instead of using the arrow buttons on the remote to highlight and click screen buttons, just use your mouse. You'll find it's not only less clumsy, but also a decent indication of how your DVD will play back on computers that can play DVDs.

Figure 16-10. To "click" your onscreen buttons, use the arrows on the remote to high-light the one you want, and then click the Enter button in the middle of the remote. Click the or buttons to skip back or forward by one chapter, or hold them down to rewind or fast-forward.

Checking for Errors

A DVD is a complex beast. Behind the scenes, there's all kinds of programming and linking ...