Contents

Getting Started
- Contents
- Welcome to iDVD
  - Using This Document
  - Whats New in iDVD 6
  - Anatomy of a DVD
    - Menus
    - Navigation
    - Themes
    - Did You Know?Quickly Creating a DVD
  - Finding Out More
- iDVD Tutorial
  - What Youll Learn
  - Before You Begin
    - What You Need
    - Undoing Changes
  - Step One:Locate the Movies, Photos, and Audio Files to Use in the Tutorial
    - Did You Know?Adding Other Movie Folders to the Media Pane
  - Step Two:Create a New Project
    - Set the Encoding Quality
    - Did You Know?Starting a Project
  - Step Three:Choose a Theme for Your DVD
  - Step Four:Add a Movie and Scene Selection Menu
  - Step Five:Add a Slideshow
    - Did You Know?Adding Photos and Files That Viewers Can Copy
  - Step Six:Change the Look of Text on Menus
    - Did You Know?Making Sure Text Can Be Seen on a TV
  - Step Seven:Customize the Main Menu
    - Add Images to the Background
    - Add Transitions
  - Step Eight:Change the Look of Buttons
    - Did You Know?Creating Custom Themes
  - Step Nine:Organize Your Project in Map View
    - Add an Autoplay Movie
    - Did You Know?Editing in the DVD Map
  - Step Ten:Burn Your DVD
    - Check the Project Info Window
    - Check Project Files
    - Check Your Project for Errors
    - Burn Your DVD
    - Did You Know?Saving Your Finished Project
- iDVD at a Glance
  - iDVD Window
  - Themes Pane
  - Menu Pane
  - Buttons Pane
  - Media Pane
    - Audio
    - Photos
    - Movies
  - Project Info Window
  - Drop Zone Editor
  - Slideshow Editor
  - Map View

Apple iDVD Getting Started Manual

Pages 48

Year 2011

Language(s)

of 48

Apple iDVD Specification

Apple iDVD is a software application designed for authoring and burning DVDs. It was part of the iLife suite and was widely used for creating professional-quality DVDs with customized menus, slideshows, and videos. The software required a Mac with a PowerPC G4 processor or later, running at least Mac OS X version 10.4.3. It supported a minimum of 256 MB of RAM, although 512 MB was recommended for optimal performance. A display with at least 1024 x 768 resolution was also necessary.

iDVD featured an intuitive user interface that made it accessible for both novice and experienced users. It included a variety of themed templates for creating interactive DVD menus, which could be customized with personal photos, music, and text. The application supported video input from iMovie, allowing users to seamlessly integrate their video projects into the DVD creation process. Users could also import slideshows directly from iPhoto.

The software supported the burning of DVDs using Apple's SuperDrive, which was capable of writing to both single-layer and dual-layer discs. iDVD allowed for the creation of slideshows with customizable transitions and background music, and it could handle a variety of video and audio formats compatible with QuickTime.

Encoding quality options enabled users to balance video quality and disc space, with settings for professional, high-quality, and best performance. Additionally, the OneStep DVD feature provided a straightforward method for burning video content directly from a camcorder to a DVD without additional editing. Although Apple discontinued iDVD in 2011, it remains a notable tool for those interested in media authoring on older Mac systems.

Apple iDVD F.A.Q.

How can I burn a DVD using iDVD?

To burn a DVD with iDVD, launch the application, select 'Create a New Project', import your video files, customize your menu theme, and click on the 'Burn' button. Insert a blank DVD when prompted.

What should I do if iDVD keeps crashing on launch?

Try resetting iDVD by deleting its preferences file located at ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iDVD.plist. If the issue persists, reinstall iDVD from the original media or through the Mac App Store if available.

How can I add custom themes to iDVD?

While you cannot directly add custom themes to iDVD, you can create personalized themes by modifying existing ones. Open a theme, make your changes, and save the project as a new template.

Why is my DVD not playing on a standard DVD player?

Ensure that you finalized the DVD when burning. Also, confirm that the DVD format is compatible with your player, as some players do not support DVD-RW or DVD+R formats.

How do I troubleshoot audio sync issues in iDVD?

Check the original video file for sync issues before importing. In iDVD, avoid heavy multitasking during encoding, and ensure all software updates are installed. If issues persist, try re-encoding the video file using another application before importing to iDVD.

Can I use iDVD to create a Blu-ray disc?

iDVD does not support Blu-ray disc creation. For Blu-ray projects, consider using third-party applications like Adobe Encore or Roxio Toast.

How can I improve the video quality of DVDs burned with iDVD?

Select 'Professional Quality' in the Project Info settings under the 'Project' menu for the best encoding quality, though this will increase encoding time. Ensure your source video is of high quality before importing.

What formats are compatible with iDVD?

iDVD supports QuickTime-compatible formats such as MOV, MP4, and MPEG. Ensure your video files are in these formats for smooth importing and processing.

How do I resolve 'Not enough free space' errors in iDVD?

Check the available space on your hard drive and ensure there is sufficient free space. Reduce the size of your project by lowering video quality or removing unnecessary content. Deleting temporary files and clearing cache can also help.

Can I use iDVD on macOS Catalina or later?

iDVD is not officially supported on macOS Catalina or later as it is a 32-bit application. Consider using alternative software for DVD authoring on these systems.