How to Burn a DVD With a Menu

Burning a DVD with a menu requires more advanced DVD-burning software than the typical free burners. There are a number of reasonably priced DVD-burning software programs, many of which are free to download and to try for a trial period. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will use the Nero software suite. Please note that while Nero now offers a free "Lite" version, it does not include the tools required to build and to include menus.

Things You'll Need

• DVD-Video burning software that allows for menu creation, such as Nero or TMPG Authoring Works
• Pre-created video files, audio files and images

Instructions

1. Open "Nero Smart Start." Hover your mouse over the "Photo and Video" icon. Click on "Make Your Own DVD-Video."

2. Click on "Add Video Files" in the right menu. Browse to the directory that holds the video files you want to include, and select each file.

3. Click "Edit Chapters." Select "Automatically Configure" unless you wish to create your own chapters. Click on "Next" to return to the main creation window, then click "Next" again.

4. You are now at "Edit Menu" screen. Select "Title and Chapter Menus" or "Title Menus Only."

5. Select the layout. Choose a custom background, including digital photographs, graphics created in other programs, background audio or background video, if desired.

6. Click on "Buttons" to change the button borders, to enable animation and to determine what accompanies each chapter listing.

7. Customize your "Font" settings. If you want to give your menus a header and/or a footer, enter the text at "Header/Footer Text."

8. Further customize the window by adding a "Shadow," altering the highlight colors and specifying animation playing times. Click "Next."

9. Preview the file. Click on "Edit" if you need to alter any settings. Otherwise, click on "Next."

10. Click on "Burn" to create a DVD with a menu.

Tips & Warnings

• Regardless of the program you use to burn your DVD, the video file(s) you use for the DVD must be compatible with the burning software. You may have to re-encode video files to make them compatible with the DVD-burning software, although most commercial burning packages include software to automate the encoding process.

• Edit images, audio and video for menus using external editing software.

References

• ZeroPaid: DVD Authoring with Nero
• Nero: Knowledge Center
• PCWorld: Polish Your Videos with a DVD Menu

Resources

• Doom9: Create a DVD (with Simple Menus) with TMPG Author
• MyGuides: How to Create a Custom DVD with ConvertXtoDVD
• Nero: Disk Template Packs