Using video as Subtitle in DVDA at DVinfo.net

Garrett Low · March 5th, 2010, 12:29 PM

Is there a way in DVDA to use a movie file as a subtitle? I'd like to do a little "bouncing ball" subtitle effect?

Thanks,
Garrett

Mike Kujbida · March 5th, 2010, 02:10 PM

Maybe in Vegas but definitely not in DVDA as it's an authoring app, not a video editor and that's what you need.

Garrett Low · March 5th, 2010, 02:30 PM

I should have been clearer. As I understand it, subtitles are just additional video assets that can be displayed over a movie (they can be turned on or off). I would create a video of the "bouncing ball" subtitle in Vegas using only the lower portion of the the visible image, much like a lower thirds title. That way I could sink it it up to the speech.

That part is pretty easy. The problem I have is not being able to get it to come into Vegas as a subtitle. I could always have two versions of the movie, one with subtitles burned in the movie, and one without, but then it won't be able to be controlled by the Subtitle button.

Anyone have any ideas?

Garrett

Mike Kujbida · March 5th, 2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Low

As I understand it, subtitles are just additional video assets that can be displayed over a movie (they can be turned on or off).

Subtitles are exactly what they sound like, titles (i.e. text only).
Here's what the DVDA online help file says:

Subtitles display on-screen text during videos, picture compilations, and music/video compilations.
Subtitles are intended to be used as various text translations of audio dialogue.

What you want to do sounds like karaoke to me and I have no experience doing this.
Hopefully another forum member has and can offer some advice on how to do this.

Edward Troxel · March 5th, 2010, 06:29 PM

If you wanted to have two versions of the video: one with and one without the "bouncing ball", you could use it as an "alternate angle". But you would have to have the full video on there twice.

Garrett Low · March 5th, 2010, 06:32 PM

Thanks Ed, I was thinking that would be the only way to do it so it wouldn't actually be a subtitle.

Garrett

Edward Troxel · March 5th, 2010, 07:47 PM

Correct. It wouldn't actually be a sub-title but it would give you the net result you're looking for.

Gian Pablo Villamil · March 10th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Actually, what you want to do is possible, but it is a bit of a pain.

Basically, DVD subtitles are a bitmap that is overlaid on the video - it does not have to be text. It can be anything you want, anywhere on the screen. However, the color resolution is limited - I believe only 4 bits, which are used as an index into a small number of colors.

If you search the DVD Architect help for graphic subtitles, you'll get some of the info you need, esp. as regards the size and format of your visual subtitles.

(Exactly the same format is used to generate the masks for DVD menus)

In a nutshell, you want to:

1) make your movie
2) export it as an image sequence (formatted as per the instructions in the DVDA help)
3) import every frame individually as a graphic subtitle into DVDA

I haven't seen any way to do this automatically in DVDA. However, Adobe Encore has the ability to import Image Scripts as subtitles, that might be quicker.

The technique works well - I've seen it used very effectively in some video art DVDs, where the subtitle layer is used to add different graphical layers to the video, selectable by the user.

March 5th, 2010, 12:29 PM	#1
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Using video as Subtitle in DVDA Is there a way in DVDA to use a movie file as a subtitle? I'd like to do a little "bouncing ball" subtitle effect? Thanks, Garrett

March 5th, 2010, 06:29 PM	#5
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	If you wanted to have two versions of the video: one with and one without the "bouncing ball", you could use it as an "alternate angle". But you would have to have the full video on there twice. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

March 5th, 2010, 07:47 PM	#7
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Correct. It wouldn't actually be a sub-title but it would give you the net result you're looking for. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

March 5th, 2010, 02:10 PM	#2
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Maybe in Vegas but definitely not in DVDA as it's an authoring app, not a video editor and that's what you need.

March 5th, 2010, 02:30 PM	#3
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	I should have been clearer. As I understand it, subtitles are just additional video assets that can be displayed over a movie (they can be turned on or off). I would create a video of the "bouncing ball" subtitle in Vegas using only the lower portion of the the visible image, much like a lower thirds title. That way I could sink it it up to the speech. That part is pretty easy. The problem I have is not being able to get it to come into Vegas as a subtitle. I could always have two versions of the movie, one with subtitles burned in the movie, and one without, but then it won't be able to be controlled by the Subtitle button. Anyone have any ideas? Garrett

March 5th, 2010, 06:32 PM	#6
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Thanks Ed, I was thinking that would be the only way to do it so it wouldn't actually be a subtitle. Garrett

March 10th, 2010, 07:49 PM	#8
Gian Pablo Villamil Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 138	Actually, what you want to do is possible, but it is a bit of a pain. Basically, DVD subtitles are a bitmap that is overlaid on the video - it does not have to be text. It can be anything you want, anywhere on the screen. However, the color resolution is limited - I believe only 4 bits, which are used as an index into a small number of colors. If you search the DVD Architect help for graphic subtitles, you'll get some of the info you need, esp. as regards the size and format of your visual subtitles. (Exactly the same format is used to generate the masks for DVD menus) In a nutshell, you want to: 1) make your movie 2) export it as an image sequence (formatted as per the instructions in the DVDA help) 3) import every frame individually as a graphic subtitle into DVDA I haven't seen any way to do this automatically in DVDA. However, Adobe Encore has the ability to import Image Scripts as subtitles, that might be quicker. The technique works well - I've seen it used very effectively in some video art DVDs, where the subtitle layer is used to add different graphical layers to the video, selectable by the user.