MIDTERM: Students will create a simple interactive Standard or BlueRay DVD presenation created with iDVD or Encore to be delivered via a DVD (or BlueRay) that can play on all TV sets with a DVD/BlueRay player. The presenation must be designed and implemented to be pleasing and engaging to the end viewer with high quailty images, video(s), animations, text and sounds. DVD/BlueRay should include: Main Menu with Title, Play video, Chapters menu, Slide Show, and Credits screen.

FINAL: Students will upgrade their interactive DVD presentation incorporating DVD Studio Pro to be delivered via a professional DVD that can play on major TV sets with a DVD player. The presentation must be designed and implemented to be pleasing and engaging to the end viewer with a custom graphic interface, high quality images, video(s), animations, text and sounds. Sample01 : Sample02.

INSTRUCTOR:

• Jervis Thompson: st966rc2@drexel.edu

GRADING:

• Class attendance & participation
  • Late -1
  • 1st absence .. No penalty
  • 2nd absence .. -1 letter grade
  • 3rd absence .. “F”
• 40% Homework (functionality, content, creativity)
• 60% Final (functionality, content, creativity) [20, 20, 20]

EQUIPMENT:

• Many, many, many blank DVD-R diskettes (20 – 30)
• At least one form of media to to backup student work (i.e. CDROM, DVD, Flash drive, Firewire drive, etc.)
• Headphones (If you want to listen to music while you work!)

Academic Honesty Policy

Drexel University is committed to a learning environment that embraces academic honesty. Faculty, students, and administrators share responsibility for maintaining this environment of academic honesty and integrity, accepting individual responsibility for all actions, personal and academic. Each member of our community is expected to read, understand, and uphold the values identified and described in our “Academic Polices, Procedures and Regulations” as written in the official student handbook. Instances of academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, will be dealt with appropriately.

Americans with Disabilities Act

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and applicable federal and state laws, Drexel University ensures people with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to participate in its programs and activities. Members and guests of the Drexel community who have a disability need to register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), if requesting auxiliary aids, accommodations, and services to participate in Drexel University’s programs. All requests for reasonable and appropriate auxiliary aids, academic adjustments, and services will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in a timely fashion.

Office of Disability Services
3201 Arch Street, Suite 210
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215.895.1401
TTY: 215.895.2299 (Reserved for those who are deaf or hard of hearing)
Fax: 215.895.1402
E-mail: disability@drexel.edu

Acknowledging Conditions and Obligations in Syllabus

The student acknowledges receipt of this syllabus and the information herein contained by continuing to attend classes and turn in assignments. This syllabus is intended as a guideline. The instructor reserves the right to change from it in interest of responding to individual class need.

Lecture: “Welcome…”

Topics:

• Introductions
• Course Overview

Homework 01:

• Due at the start of next class:
  • Three of your favorite DVD’s

• Due midnight the night before next class – Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm641hwk01s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
  • URL to html page that list your DVD titles and answers the following questions for each title:
    • What is it about this DVD interface that you like so much?
    • What makes this DVD different from the others?
    • What is one item about this DVD that you would like to see better?

Lecture: iDVD -vs- Encore, DVD Studio Pro -vs- Sonic Scenarist

Topics:

• Rules of the DVD graphics road:
  • NTSC 4:3 – 720×534 72dpi 1.0 apr – scale down too 720×480 0.9 apr – TIFF
  • NTSC 16:9 – 864×480 72dpi 1.0 apr – scale down too 720×480 1.2 apr – TIFF
  • Christian Hahn 16×9 description
  • NOTE: DVD Studio Pro will auto scale down for you if you start with the correct dimensions, dpi, and apr
  • No super-saturated colors (especially yellow or blue)
  • DVD/Video black starts at 16 not computer 0
  • DVD/Video white ends at 235 not computer 255
  • No lines less than 4 pixels thick
  • No thin characters (i.e. very fine serifs)
  • No font sizes under 24 points
  • Use drop-shadows to make text more readable
• Tips for burning better DVDs:
  • Replicated DVDs – 99.8% compatible [submit via DLT or firewire HD]
  • Burned DVDs – 60% compatible
  • Burn DVD at the slowest rate your DVD-R spec (i.e. 8x – 52x, use 8x)
  • Use Toast [it lets adjust burn speed]
• DVD Studio Pro Interface overview
• Importing and Managing Assets
• Photoshop layered menu
• Simple – Complex Overlay menu

Lecture: DVD Studio Pro – Breakfast of Champions

Topics:

• DVD Studio Pro – Overview
• 4:3 Static Menus
• 16:9 Static Menus
• 4:3 Animtated Menus
• 16:9 Animtated Menus
• Audio Menus
• Overlay buttons
• Button TAB order
• Button default highlight

Homework 02:

• Due midnight the night before next class
• Submit via email to your instructor, subject: “digm641hwk02s###jwt23″ [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
• URL to your html page that contains all your menu interfaces [Main Menu, Chapters sub-menu, Slide Show, Credits, etc.
• JPGs, One of the Dimensions covered in class
• Bring *.psd (with layers) to class

Lecture: DVD Interface I

Topics:

• Tracks
  • Videos
  • Audio
• Slideshows

Lecture: DVD Interface II

Topics:

• Chapters
• Stories

Homework 03:

• Due at the start of next class
• Alpha DVD with functional menu navigiation

Lecture: Professional DVD authoring

Topics:

• Putting it all together
• Enhanced DVD features:
  • Linking to a web site
  • Adding computer files to DVD
  • Scripting Introduction

Homework 04:

• Due at the start of next class
• Beta DVD with:
  • Functional menu navigiation
  • Video tracks
  • Subchapter menu
  • Slide show
  • Sound

Lecture: Professional DVD authoring II

Topics:

• Launch web site
• DVD Scripting
  • DVD variables
    • GPRM – General Parameter Register Memory
      • Partition 1 …. 0-65,535
      • Partition 2 …. 0-255
      • Partition 4 …. 0-15
      • Partition 8 …. 0-3
      • Partition 16 .. 0-1
    • SPRM – System Parameter Register Memory (24 total)
      • SPRM 1 – Audio .. 0-7
      • SPRM 2 – Video angle .. 1-9
      • SPRM 3 – Subtitle streams (32) .. 0-95
        • 0-31 .. off flags
        • 64-95 .. on flags
  • Conditional statement
  • Random number generation
  • Track selection

Homework:

• Work on perfecting your Final Project DVD

Lecture: Putting it all together

Topics:

• Course Evaluations
• DVD Cleanup
• Fixes and Adjustments

Homework:

• Submit Alpha final project DVD-ROM

Lecture: Alpha review, Beta prep

Topics:

• Course Critiques
• Review Alpha final project DVD-ROMs
• Cleanup
• Fixes and Adjustments

Homework:

• Submit Beta final project DVD-ROM

Lecture: Beta review, Final prep

Topics:

• Review Beta final project DVD-ROMs
• Cleanup
• Fixes and Adjustments

Homework:

• Due the START (first 30 minutes) of next class:
  • Submit Final Project DVD-ROM
  • Make sure to include your full name, email prefix, “digm641_final_s001″, and “0906″ on your DVDROM