DVD authoring guides
These guides teach you how to create a DVD from scratch. Most were initially written to create miniDVDs - DVD content on a CD - they can be used to create real DVD with virtually no changes. If you need any help picking a suitable program I have compiled a feature matrix listing the most important features a DVD authoring program can offer.
Basic guides - 1 audio track, static menus
- DVDit PE - last updated
9/30/00
- IfoEdit - last updated
11/01/02
- SpruceUp - last updated 04/06/02
- TMPG DVD Author -
last updated 4/12/2004
Medium complexity guides - multiple audio tracks, animated menus
- DVD-lab - last updated 4/11/2004
Professional level guides - multiple audio tracks, subtitles, animated menus, multiangles, etc.
- Scenarist NT - last updated 10/14/00
- DVDMaestro - last updated 09/07/02
Other useful guides
Guide to using Photoshop to create DVD menus -
last updated 07/21/02
How to create still menus for DVDs in Photoshop, written by Trilight
Authoring program feature matrix
| Program / Feature | #subtitle tracks | #audio tracks | 5.1 AC3 | DTS | animated menus | DVD-9/DLT | Multiangles | Active * |
| DVDit PE | 0 | 1 | no | no | no | yes | no | yes |
| DVD Lab | 0 | 1 | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes |
| DVDMaestro | 32 | 8 | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Scenarist NT | 32 | 8 | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| SpruceUP | 0 | 1 | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
(*) Is the program still being developed/sold
This document was last updated on August 9, 2005