[D of Dallas]

I just upgraded to Creator 8. MyDVD now won't let me change the foreground of text for titles and labels. When I change color, both foreground and background are the same, black on black, white on white, teal on teal. The text is always unreadable because of this. There is only one color setting, so it doesn't seem that I can set foreground and background separately. I never had this problem with MyDVD 7, so it's very frustrating. I cannot author a DVD. Please help! Do I need to trash version 8, reinstall, etc.? I opened a support ticket a couple weeks ago and even included a screen shot, but I've heard nothing from Roxio.

[sknis]

D of Dallas, on Jul 11 2006, 09:11 PM, said:

I just upgraded to Creator 8. MyDVD now won't let me change the foreground of text for titles and labels. When I change color, both foreground and background are the same, black on black, white on white, teal on teal. The text is always unreadable because of this. There is only one color setting, so it doesn't seem that I can set foreground and background separately. I never had this problem with MyDVD 7, so it's very frustrating. I cannot author a DVD. Please help! Do I need to trash version 8, reinstall, etc.? I opened a support ticket a couple weeks ago and even included a screen shot, but I've heard nothing from Roxio.

I'm confused; what has authorizing a DVD to do with Labels? Are you talking about Label Creator or are you talking about the Title appearance in The Menu screen for MyDVD? Are you using a standard menubackground or are you doing something special? A little more information please.

Please post your computer specs, especially your video device. What version of EMC * do you have (essentials, suite or deluxe)?

[D of Dallas]

D of Dallas, on Jul 11 2006, 06:11 PM, said:

I just upgraded to Creator 8. MyDVD now won't let me change the foreground of text for titles and labels. When I change color, both foreground and background are the same, black on black, white on white, teal on teal. The text is always unreadable because of this. There is only one color setting, so it doesn't seem that I can set foreground and background separately. I never had this problem with MyDVD 7, so it's very frustrating. I cannot author a DVD. Please help! Do I need to trash version 8, reinstall, etc.? I opened a support ticket a couple weeks ago and even included a screen shot, but I've heard nothing from Roxio.

I'm talking about the main DVD screen that you create in MyDVD. The "labels" I refer to are the text that go underneath each movie you've added to your MyDVD project (not Label Maker). I'm sure it's not my video device because I went ahead and fully authored a DVD+RW and played it in my home DVD player. It works, but the Title at the top of the screen and the text under each movie cannot be seen because the foreground color is the same as the background. Here are my computer specs:
I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with 1Gb of RAM, 2.4Ghz Pentium 4, NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 420 video adapter, display driver version 6.14.10.5216, bios 4.17.00.45.AF. Easy Media Creator 8 Suite. I've checked for updates and there are none. I'm not sure what you mean by EMC, but I never had this problem with Media Creator 7.5.

This post has been edited by D of Dallas: 12 July 2006 - 05:33 PM

[sknis]

EMC is Easy Media Creator. That's in small print on the box so that phrase may be phased out.

Looks like Dell does not have an update for that card. Since it was nVidia, I looked at the nVidia site and found that their driver for that card should be 91.31 dated June 2006. If you decide to update, make sure that you follow the instructions exactly. If you have a question about applicability, just look at the applicability page to confirm your card. You can roll back the driver if it doesn't work. Also make sure you have the most recent version of DirectX 9© from Microsoft.

Do you see anything else that may look "off"? Which one of the menu backgrounds are you trying to use? Does this happen on all of them? Since you did not have the problem with V7; it strongly points to your video set up. I know, we always say that but it is true that V8 requires much more from the video card since it does a lot of the encoding. You card has only 64Mb memory; a reasonable card today has either 128 or 256 Mb and are not very expensive.

One more thing, open VideoWave or MyDVD and go tot tools/options. You will see a "dot" next to either hardware or software. Run the test, the only result you'll get is where the "dot" ends up. It may stay in the same place or move to the other option. If it is at software and stays at software, then you are missing out on a lot of extra transitions and effects (a good reason to upgrade). If it is at hardware and stays at hardware, click on software and see if you can change the color of the fonts.

Please post back with your results.

D of Dallas, on Jul 12 2006, 08:25 PM, said:

I'm talking about the main DVD screen that you create in MyDVD. The "labels" I refer to are the text that go underneath each movie you've added to your MyDVD project (not Label Maker). I'm sure it's not my video device because I went ahead and fully authored a DVD+RW and played it in my home DVD player. It works, but the Title at the top of the screen and the text under each movie cannot be seen because the foreground color is the same as the background. Here are my computer specs:
I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with 1Gb of RAM, 2.4Ghz Pentium 4, NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 420 video adapter, display driver version 6.14.10.5216, bios 4.17.00.45.AF. Easy Media Creator 8 Suite. I've checked for updates and there are none. I'm not sure what you mean by EMC, but I never had this problem with Media Creator 7.5.

[D of Dallas]

It floors me to think that it could be the performance of my video card affecting the colors of static fonts on an edit window. I mean we're not talking about rocket-science putting a black font on a transparent or colored backgound. I did find a couple of the standard style templates that did not exibit the problem. They seemed to be the ones that didn't include the motion video button for the movies.

I will perform the test you recommended this evening and let you know what happens. Thanks for your assistance with this problem.

- D

sknis, on Jul 13 2006, 04:11 AM, said:

EMC is Easy Media Creator. That's in small print on the box so that phrase may be phased out.

Looks like Dell does not have an update for that card. Since it was nVidia, I looked at the nVidia site and found that their driver for that card should be 91.31 dated June 2006. If you decide to update, make sure that you follow the instructions exactly. If you have a question about applicability, just look at the applicability page to confirm your card. You can roll back the driver if it doesn't work. Also make sure you have the most recent version of DirectX 9© from Microsoft.

Do you see anything else that may look "off"? Which one of the menu backgrounds are you trying to use? Does this happen on all of them? Since you did not have the problem with V7; it strongly points to your video set up. I know, we always say that but it is true that V8 requires much more from the video card since it does a lot of the encoding. You card has only 64Mb memory; a reasonable card today has either 128 or 256 Mb and are not very expensive.

One more thing, open VideoWave or MyDVD and go tot tools/options. You will see a "dot" next to either hardware or software. Run the test, the only result you'll get is where the "dot" ends up. It may stay in the same place or move to the other option. If it is at software and stays at software, then you are missing out on a lot of extra transitions and effects (a good reason to upgrade). If it is at hardware and stays at hardware, click on software and see if you can change the color of the fonts.

Please post back with your results.

[D of Dallas]

I did the graphics test as you suggested. It started at "Hardware" and stayed on "Hardware". So I moved it to "Software" as you suggested. That made no difference. I still just get a block of color and no text (block is filled with the color I choose). I tried all different fonts, colors, transparencies and styles. I chose "Happy Birthday" style once and could see a few of the letters, then as I typed more they disappeared like all the others and I could never get them back.

Do you have any more suggestions?

- D

D of Dallas, on Jul 13 2006, 05:00 AM, said:

It floors me to think that it could be the performance of my video card affecting the colors of static fonts on an edit window. I mean we're not talking about rocket-science putting a black font on a transparent or colored backgound. I did find a couple of the standard style templates that did not exibit the problem. They seemed to be the ones that didn't include the motion video button for the movies.

I will perform the test you recommended this evening and let you know what happens. Thanks for your assistance with this problem.

- D

[sknis]

D of Dallas, on Jul 13 2006, 07:51 PM, said:

I did the graphics test as you suggested. It started at "Hardware" and stayed on "Hardware". So I moved it to "Software" as you suggested. That made no difference. I still just get a block of color and no text (block is filled with the color I choose). I tried all different fonts, colors, transparencies and styles. I chose "Happy Birthday" style once and could see a few of the letters, then as I typed more they disappeared like all the others and I could never get them back.
Do you have any more suggestions?
- D

I'm out of suggestions; if no one else has any (wait a day or so), then call Roxio. They may ask for a credit card number, listen to you issue and then tell you if the reply will free or not. You can decline if they want you to pay.

Just to check, you are changing both the text background and the text color at the same time to the same color are you? I opened Happy Birthday and no movie title shows up - apparently it is designed that way.

[D of Dallas]

sknis, on Jul 14 2006, 06:10 AM, said:

I'm out of suggestions; if no one else has any (wait a day or so), then call Roxio. They may ask for a credit card number, listen to you issue and then tell you if the reply will free or not. You can decline if they want you to pay.

Just to check, you are changing both the text background and the text color at the same time to the same color are you? I opened Happy Birthday and no movie title shows up - apparently it is designed that way.

The user interface on this version of MyDVD is very rudementary. There is only ONE color option to change. And, unfortunately, in most cases it changes both the foreground and background colors. I feel I have very little control of it. I don't know if Roxio has a more full fledged version of MyDVD, but this one is really pretty basic (sad really).

When get a chance I'll try uninstalling and reinstalling. If that doesn't work, I think I'll be looking to change product brands. Perhaps something from Sony's Vegas product line.

[ggrussell]

Unless you purchase the full Sony Architect version, you will get a limited version of the DVD authoring app that is included in Vegas Studio + DVD. I own that, too, but removed it.

You didn't mention which version of 'Creator 8' you purchased. There were 3: Easy Media Creator 8 Essentials, Standard and Deluxe. However, I don' think you should be having the color problem in any of the versions.

[D of Dallas]

ggrussell, on Jul 14 2006, 09:26 AM, said:

Unless you purchase the full Sony Architect version, you will get a limited version of the DVD authoring app that is included in Vegas Studio + DVD. I own that, too, but removed it.

You didn't mention which version of 'Creator 8' you purchased. There were 3: Easy Media Creator 8 Essentials, Standard and Deluxe. However, I don' think you should be having the color problem in any of the versions.

I mentioned the version in an earlier post, but this thread is getting a bit long . I'll have to look more closely, but the only thing I noticed on the box says, "Easy Media Creator Suite 8". So I'm not sure if that's Essentials, Standard or Deluxe. The MyDVD component certainly seems "Essentials" or less. The only other "Creator" product I see on their web site is the "Deluxe Suite", but it has a "Dazzle" device that I don't want. MyDVD is sold separately in two versions, but I'd be scared to try them because of the bad experience I'm having with it now.

[ggrussell]

Sounds like you have the standard version - mostly blue on the box? Although I didn't need the Dazzle device, the Deluxe version is the ONLY version that has all features enabled. A total of 32 tracks for video editing plus twice as many DVD menus. But I'm off the subject... The way I understand it, MyDVD 8 Premier is the same version that is in EMC8 Standard version.

You shouldn't be having trouble with the text colors.

[D of Dallas]

ggrussell, on Jul 14 2006, 01:54 PM, said:

Sounds like you have the standard version - mostly blue on the box? Although I didn't need the Dazzle device, the Deluxe version is the ONLY version that has all features enabled. A total of 32 tracks for video editing plus twice as many DVD menus. But I'm off the subject... The way I understand it, MyDVD 8 Premier is the same version that is in EMC8 Standard version.

You shouldn't be having trouble with the text colors.

I don't think they use the terms "standard" or "deluxe" any more. The box is bright orange around the sides and has a big orange CD with a blue and white background on the front. To see it, just go to roxio.com. Today (Saturday) it's right on the home page on sale. The cover brags about the 25+ included products and the glossy pages behind the cover promise "professional" "Hollywood-style" DVD's. A real crock. On my machine I found an ancient (2002) crippled (non-deluxe) version of Dazzle's DVD Complete authoring tool that actually works better than this new MyDVD 8 product. I'm using that for now until I can get MyDVD working (if ever). <sigh> I'm glad Roxio doesn't write software for the space program.

[myguggi]

D of Dallas, on Jul 15 2006, 04:05 PM, said:

I don't think they use the terms "standard" or "deluxe" any more. The box is bright orange around the sides and has a big orange CD with a blue and white background on the front. To see it, just go to roxio.com. Today (Saturday) it's right on the home page on sale. The cover brags about the 25+ included products and the glossy pages behind the cover promise "professional" "Hollywood-style" DVD's. A real crock. On my machine I found an ancient (2002) crippled (non-deluxe) version of Dazzle's DVD Complete authoring tool that actually works better than this new MyDVD 8 product. I'm using that for now until I can get MyDVD working (if ever). <sigh> I'm glad Roxio doesn't write software for the space program.

Roxio sells 2 versions of EMC 8: Easy Media Creator 8 Suite and Easy Media Creator 8 Deluxe Suite as shown in the following link

http://www.roxio.com...dvdburning.html

If you are only talking about myDVD 8 then there are also 2 version: MyDVD 8 Essentials and MyDVD 8 Premier

This post has been edited by myguggi: 15 July 2006 - 12:43 PM

[ggrussell]

D of Dallas, on Jul 15 2006, 04:05 PM, said:

the glossy pages behind the cover promise "professional" "Hollywood-style" DVD's. A real crock.

If you learn how to use the application and with a little artistic ability, your DVD menus can look very nice. Of course this would need some effort on your part. Here are two menus I created for my nephew's family videos. One is totally custom and one uses a menu style tha came with the deluxe version. Both use motion menus with appropriate background music.

Attached image(s)

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This post has been edited by ggrussell: 15 July 2006 - 02:18 PM

[D of Dallas]

ggrussell, on Jul 15 2006, 02:17 PM, said:

If you learn how to use the application and with a little artistic ability, your DVD menus can look very nice. Of course this would need some effort on your part. Here are two menus I created for my nephew's family videos. One is totally custom and one uses a menu style tha came with the deluxe version. Both use motion menus with appropriate background music.

Well, here's a little snip of what my beautiful DVD screen looks like. I'm using the default template that first comes up. Impressive, isn't it. Also, the alignment tool is always grayed out, so it's more difficult to line up the movie buttons. So it's going to take a lot more than artisitc ability to render something acceptable.

[myguggi]

D of Dallas, on Jul 15 2006, 11:23 PM, said:

Well, here's a little snip of what my beautiful DVD screen looks like. I'm using the default template that first comes up. Impressive, isn't it. Also, the alignment tool is always grayed out, so it's more difficult to line up the movie buttons. So it's going to take a lot more than artisitc ability to render something acceptable.

You have a 4 year old video card with only 64MB of memory. That is most likely were your problem lies.

[grandpabruce]

D of Dallas, on Jul 15 2006, 10:23 PM, said:

Well, here's a little snip of what my beautiful DVD screen looks like. I'm using the default template that first comes up. Impressive, isn't it. Also, the alignment tool is always grayed out, so it's more difficult to line up the movie buttons. So it's going to take a lot more than artisitc ability to render something acceptable.

Walt (myguggi) has your answer, and you proved it by your picture. Good grief!

[sknis]

Did you ever update your video drivers as I suggested several posts back? I just realized that you never responded to that suggestion other than a mild rant about how simple video should be.

D of Dallas, on Jul 15 2006, 10:23 PM, said:

Well, here's a little snip of what my beautiful DVD screen looks like. I'm using the default template that first comes up. Impressive, isn't it. Also, the alignment tool is always grayed out, so it's more difficult to line up the movie buttons. So it's going to take a lot more than artisitc ability to render something acceptable.

[D of Dallas]

myguggi, on Jul 15 2006, 08:34 PM, said:

You have a 4 year old video card with only 64MB of memory. That is most likely were your problem lies.

Not that I don't appreciate your suggestions, but come on! This isn't even an animated view! What does the video card need to do? Word and Power Point are more intense than this! We're just talking about colored text with a shadow on a transparent background - NOT MOVING. For heaven sakes it renders the motion video menu buttons that I'm pretty sure require more video power than the text. If Roxio software is that inefficient they need to publish that in their system requirements. Currently it states "1024x768, 16-bit color graphics card. 24-bit or 32-bit true color recommended", which my video card more than supports. I can edit, author, render and watch DVD video, use competing authoring tools, edit 6 megapixel photos using multiple layers in Photoshop, listen to iTunes, basically do anything ELSE without difficulty. Next time I power up my Cray, perhaps I'll give MyDVD another try.

[ggrussell]

It's apparent you don't WANT help. Just to whine. WE are users like yourself. We didn't write the software. YOU HAVE AN OLD VIDEO CARD that does not fully support DirectX 9. Sonic/Roxio dev team made that decission to require better hardware. Got news for you , but Word, PowerPoint and competing video editors do NOT use the video card like Videowave/MyDVD. EMC8 requires updated video drivers and the latest DirectX 9. If you're not willing to do that, then we can't help you.