Hi,

If I want the best result on DVD (from HDV), should I go progressive or interlaced? Is there a good reason to stay interlaced if the progressive DVD can play on a normal TV too (I'm assuming it does because almost every movies are progressive DVDs)And at what time is it best to de-interlace?

(if interlaced)
What field order should I put when exporting my project to DVD. Should I keep it upper field? Is a DVD always lower field first or it can be upper field first too?

DVD can be either, but it should always match the source video interlacing. In most cases, that is going to be lower, at least in NTSC. I am far from knowledgeable about PAL to be of much use there.

Basically, if your source is interlaced, so too should be your MPEG-2 encode.

The proper production chain is pretty simple - keep it the same all the way through. Don't de-interlace interlaced stuff, and keep the field order right. Don't introduce interlacing to progressive material, either.

Actually,

I've created my first progressive DVD for a client today and the results are amazing compared to the interlaced DVD. Heres the workflow i used.

Edit native HDV in premiere, export to mpeg2 25 mbps, CBR, de-interlace,progressive, 1920-1080 resolution.

Load video in Vegas , transcode to Architect widescreen template, with best result option. (still progressive)

Create DVD in architect.

This has given me far better quality both on my LCD 32 inch and normal TV.