is iDVD able to keep 16:9 menu and play 4:3 video?

[D311]

Is this possible? One of the apple techs told me no. I would have to change the menu to 4:3. I have 20 year old videos that I want to play in 4:3 because anytime it stretches the top gets cut down pretty bad. Yet I would love to keep the 16:9 menu screen (theme).

Another question what is best resolution to use when sending old movies (4:3 poor quality) from iMovie to iDVD? Medium? or Large?


What sucks is when I preview my video in iDVD everything looks right. Menu is 16:9 and when it plays the videos it's 4:3 ( for some reason with grey sidebars instead of black). It's just when I burn it to dvd and play on home widescreen tvs when the problems start. The menu is chopped off on a side and the videos are being stretched.

 

[uuaschbaer]

I can't strictly help you there as I don't have a mac. But perhaps alternatively you could render your 4:3 movies over a 16:9 black background in a movie editing program to gain the same effect. Giving them black sidebars, so to speak.

 

[D311]

thx for the suggestion. I'm sure there is a way without using outside programs. I wouldn't know how to go about your suggestion anyway. It sounds good if thats my last option. Only programs I have are the ones that came with this new iMAC 27' i7. Not sure if any can do what you suggested.

 

[D311]

one time bump

anyone that knows for sure please respond thx

 

[jfreas]

Yes, you can keep a 16:9 menu and play 4:3 video.

one time bump

anyone that knows for sure please respond thx

I know that this thread is pretty stale, but I thought I'd put in an answer as I have just done exactly this.

What you do is create the movie as a 4:3 Project in iMovie. When you export it to iDVD, go to the iDVD Project > Project Info screen and select 16:9 there. The settings on that screen apparently only affect iDVD's components and leave the content in 4:3 or whatever format you used to create it.

Pretty cool. Sorry it's so late 😉

 

[kimhill]

When you export it to iDVD, go to the iDVD Project > Project Info screen and select 16:9 there. The settings on that screen apparently only affect iDVD's components and leave the content in 4:3 or whatever format you used to create it.

That's the first thing I tried. For me, it still stretches.