Igor

Dimitri, Thank you for your suggestions! In v5.00 we use lossless re-compression of PNG and BMP because in our format re-packed PNG images load in two times faster that really necessary for slide show. Please use PNG or BMP format if you need to have lossless quality of images. Other lossless formats like Jpeg 2000 takes a lot of CPU time to load such image that not acceptable for slide show purpose. I did many test and found that better compression in Jpeg2000 required more CPU resources. Previous v4.48 supports WMA format. Current v5.00 beta temporarily doesn't support but will do it in nearest beta versions.

Rainer, 1280x720 is not DVD-Video. So we don't suggest this resolution in this version. When war between HD-DVD vs. Blue-Ray will be finished, we'll add support of HD video (1280x720, 1920x1080) in DVD Builder. In AVI video output we support all HD resolutions in v5.00 beta

We just found old DVD player where reproduced one problem because of menu.

I exactly know there is some real problem in our VOB files but we're still trying to find DVD player where we will able to reproduce this problem. Today we visited five shops. We tested: Sony, Samsung, BBK, Pioneer, LG, Sharp, Toshiba, Akai, ZZX, Scott, Rolsen, Panasonic, Atlanta, JVC, Huynday, Vitek and several noname players. and all worked fine.

In the next beta #8 slide show use on 5-25% lesser volume of video memory. My colleague Akeksey finished works on more smart usage of memory.

Type mpeg4x.zip in Google and you'll find MPEG4 encoder. It's only 130 KB. Quality is very good and file size is small. Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista can natively play .avi with MPEG4 codec. No additional software or decoders are not required. Unfortunately Microsoft stoped distribution of this encoder and went to own WMV format.

The code of slide show viewer same in beta #7 as in previous beta #6 p.s. The next beta #8 will be soon and slide shows will work even on very old video cards like v4.48 So slide show with simple effects (Fade in/out and no animation) will have same quality and speed as in previous v4.48

The only cost of this improved quality - on 60% more long time of encoding (for more precisious rendering and post-filters)

Thank you all for the help! It seems that problem in VOB/IFO files in VIDEO_TS folder. So please temporarily don't use Create DVD folders, Create ISO image, and Burn DVD-Video disc options. We're working on solution now. If you wish you can use option Create MPEG2 files.

Robert, Thank you for testing! 1) If you take DVD folders created by DVD Builder and burn at in Nero (File | New | DVD | DVD-Video) will it play on your DVD player? 2) Can you take VIDEO_TS folder from some another successfully burned DVD disc which plays fine, copy files to hard drive and burn again in our DVDTest.exe utility? Will this disc work now? For example this DVD folder: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/Another_DVDFolder.zip (3 MB) 3) What DVD-RW drive you have and what DVD player?

Tom, Please download this utility and try to add DVD folder (you already created): http://www.wnsoft.com/test/DVDTest.zip (670 KB) Will recorded disc in this utility plays now?

I've attached two screenshots. It's a good example of advantage quality of video that renders beta #7 for AVI and DVD. New beta doesn't produce jaggies on sharp details of an image. The original image was 1280x1024 with strong unsharp filter and it very good illustrates case of hard task for rendering of video. Usually difference not so noticeable.

Den, Is it possible that where was not enough space on a disc where located temp folder? It means that one or two MPEG2 file couldn't be created. We'll add more informative text messages to prevent this situations. Jeff, Don't worry about it, my colleague Aleksey works on synchronization of music for PTE. DVD Builder didn't delay it even on one day. I almost finished my part of code and I'm waiting when Aleksey will finish works on music synchronization and when Artem finish works on second graphical engine.

Jean-Pierre, I think it's mistake, our MPEG2 files definitely have 4:3 aspect ratio or 16:9 as you set. All MPEG2 utilities confirm this value.

See PicturesToExe Deluxe beta on main forum.

Jean-Pierre, Send me please screenshot where you seen aspect ratio as 0.8 It's impossible. Media Player Classic, Media Player 10, special MPEG2 tools shows 4:3 as expected. Try other MPEG2 files created in another program. p.s. long time because as I said we use high quality rendering to prevent appearing of jaggies on a picture. But you can disable this parameter if you wish: sav_hiqualityvideo in apr.ini file.

I self-confidently has expected that it will be enough simple task, because another person worked on code of DVD Builder. But it required more testing and my participation. My mistake.

Dave, The advantage of our solution that PicturesToExe Deluxe do all work for creating DVD video and you can easily add several slide shows. Also we think that our DVD Builder has easy in use interface. Quality of video in AVI and in DVD Builder same. The only small nuance that DVD Builder renders video directly to 720x576 (if PAL), but not all programs can accept AVI with 720x576 (4:3) so by default we create 768x576 AVI file and these products should resize picture from 768x576 to 720x576. As I know only Adobe Encore can handle 720x576 AVIs and we suggest special option for it in Video window - "For Adobe Encore". Works on DVD Builder helped me to better understands need and problems of creating DVD-Video discs and reach maximal sharpness with no flickering. Andreas, I spent several days to find terrific way to completely eliminate problem if jaggies on details in beta #7 (for both - AVI and DVD Builder). It's know-how of PicturesToExe. But it's with help of image file you sent me.

Jeff, In every beta we can add new features and bug fixes to main PTE and to DVD Builder. But you're right, I'll call say beta #7A, beta #7B, etc for bugs fixes of DVD Builder. Dave, It's your choice DVD Builder or another DVD authoring product. I think we will have very competitive solution in final version. We set optimal parameters and bitrate, really no need to change audio or video bitrate.

Fred, Thanks! Jean-Pierre, How many minutes of your slide shows for this DVD? Speed of rendering depends on video card. Also we use series of post filters and algorithms to rich better sharpness and no flickering. On my Geforce 6800 60 seconds of slide show takes 90 seconds to encode to MPEG2. But I plan to vastly speed up rendering where static slides exists (no animation). Try to set second CPU based graphical engine maybe it will works faster in your case: Main menu | View | Advanced | Use hardware accelleration for video and editor

We just found and fixed problem with creating of ISO images. Now they are fully compliant with DVD-Video standard. Wait for beta #8 please.

As first test, who found problem with recognizing of recorded DVD discs in players and in PC. 1) Please let me know what DVD-RW drive you have and what DVD-/+R or RW discs you used and what speed you choosed? And version of Windows. 2) In DVD Builder please choose only "Create DVD folders" option. After DVD folders will be created, please download this DVDTest utility: http://www.wnsoft.com/test/DVDTest.zip (670 KB) And add created in DVD Builder files from VIDEO_TS folder to DVDTest utility. Try to burn disc. Will recorded disc plays now? 3) If DVDTest utility was not able to successfully create DVD-Video discs start Nero and choose DVD -> DVD-Video project. Add files from VIDEO_TS folder to Nero and record RW disc. Please note that it's nessary to choose "DVD-Video" preset in Nero 7, not "DVD-ROM(ISO)"! I've attached two screenshots.

Thank you all for testing first beta version of PicturesToExe Deluxe! We'll solve this problem, please a little patience. Today I'll prepare special test version which will help to determine exactly reason of the problem. I would be grateful if you will help me.

Dominique, Mainly I only tested quality of DVD Builder. My colleagues worked on it. Lin, Try again please, with another DVD-R disc. If it will not help, try to create ISO image and burn it in Nero or in another program. Al, Or just double-click to show Properties

Jeff, Beta #7 contains only those new things I described above. Full synchronization, sounds comments exist only in AVI and DVD video output. Also I forgot to say that we added second graphical engine to Visual editor and it can work witout modern video card. Also video rendering can work without video card. We work simultaneously on all parts of PicturesToExe and I can say exactly that all other missing features almost ready and will be inserted to the next betas soon.