Best TPMGEnc settings for VCD slideshow presentation

[Wyntha]

I recently bought a Pioneer 636D DVD player and for last few days have been experimenting with TPMGEnc 12e, Photoshop and Nero to create best possible VCD slideshow for viewing on that device. Essentially I have followed process provided by Vitualis at web address
http://www.vcdhelp.com/phpBB/viewtop...38352&forum=1. Some findings:-

The device can't handle SVCD nor XVCD formats. However I have managed to produce viewable slideshows in both 352*288 and 704*576 at CBR 1150kbs and PAL. The files that come out of TMPGEnc 12e end up being the same size(?) but 704*576 version had slightly(marginal) clearer picture. Both files suffered from very slight TV screen flimmer.

So the questions:-

1, How come the files end up being same size?
2. What could be causes of the flimmering and is there something I can do to reduce it?
3. I was surprised how little improvement in picture quality I got with 704*576 version. Why is that?
4. Are there more things I can do to try and get better quality into the slideshow file? (At any point in the process using any of the tools employed. Original size of digital photos were 640*480. I can go higher if that will help).

[Debbie]

Hi,

Try experimenting with the picture bit rate.
I normaly set the bit rate at 1400 but make
sure your DVD player is "happy".

Make sure to set TMPGEnc to non standard and
burn in Nero.

[Debbie]

P.S.

Always save pictures as BMP, since this is a non compressed type.

Nero v.5.5 takes picture files directly and
you can also control viewing time of each slide. This version will be out soon.

[Phil Pugh]

Wyntha

They are displayed the same size 'cos your DVD player has to stretch them to 'fill the screen'. The smaller images will look worse than your larger images because of this stretching. Try using images that are at least the same size as you want - 704*576 min. If your camera can take 800*600 or higher - use it, it will give better results.

I use WinOnCD for creating VCD slide shows for my Philips DV711. I am impressed by how good they display on a normal TV system - much better than using the camera's built in TV-out capability. The camera has pronounced shimmering - but the DVD is very stable.

WinOnCD will automatically resize the images (origs are 1600*1200 usually) and has a very simple to use menu creation system.

[This message has been edited by Phil Pugh (edited 19 April 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Phil Pugh (edited 19 April 2001).]