Q: What is Adobe Encore DVD 2.0?

A: Packed with a rich set of creative tools, Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 software helps you create striking DVD titles for film, business, training, events, and more. Encore DVD 2.0 is the only DVD-authoring software that creates and edits menus in native Adobe Photoshop® file format, complete with support for layers and layer styles. Encore DVD 2.0 offers a flexible and intelligent workflow that makes it the right choice for easy production of full-featured, menu-driven DVDs.

Q: What are the top new features in Encore DVD 2.0?

A: Slideshow Editor—Build and arrange slide shows with ease. Define shows as brows- able or auto play with optional narration or music. Set slide durations, add transi- tions, and apply pan-and-zoom effects.

Flowchart—Define and view your DVD's navigation by using a visual flowchart representation of all points and links.

Updated user interface with workspace panels that dock and group—Organize your desktop quickly with workspace panels that dock and group. Move divider lines between panels to adjust your layout quickly, with no need to resize multiple windows.

Adobe Bridge—Browse, organize, and preview content files, and then drag and drop what you need right from Adobe Bridge. Search by or edit XMP metadata such as keywords, language, and format.

Automated chapter menus—Create multipage menus automatically from chapters or slide shows in your project.

Chapter Playlists—Use Chapter Playlists to create different play orders without duplicating content. The disc space saved can enable the use of lower compression for higher quality video.

Royalty-free templates and menu art—Jump-start DVD menu creation using the many royalty-free templates, motion menus, and other included artwork files.

Multiple clips on a timeline—Save time with easy assembly of multiple video clips on a timeline. There's no need for a separate video-editing application to achieve seam- less playback of multiple clips.

XMP metadata support—Use XMP metadata to quickly identify assets or automate tasks. View and edit XMP metadata from within the project panel in Encore DVD, or use metadata keywords to search for files in Adobe Bridge.

DTS audio support—Increase your audio format options with support for DTS audio.

Q: How much does Encore DVD 2.0 cost? Where can I buy it?

A: In North America, Encore DVD 2.0 is available for an estimated street price (ESP) of US$349; upgrades from Encore DVD 1.5 are available for an ESP of US$149. Encore DVD 2.0 is available directly from the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/store/main.html or from Adobe authorized resellers. Please note that prices are approximate, subject to change, and do not include taxes, shipping, or other related expenses.
To purchase Encore DVD 2.0 outside North America, check with Adobe Customer Service: at www.adobe.com/ support/intlsupport.html.

Q: I have heard that Encore DVD 2.0 is part of the new Adobe Production Studio Pre- mium. What is Adobe Production Studio?

A: Encore DVD 2.0 is a core component of Adobe Production Studio Premium. In addition to Encore DVD 2.0, combines Adobe After Effects® 7.0 Professional, Adobe Premiere® Pro 2.0, Photoshop CS2, Adobe Audition® , and Adobe Illustrator® CS2 software with Adobe Dynamic Link and Adobe Bridge. For more information about Adobe Production Studio Premium, visit www.adobe.com/products/dvcoll/main.html.

Q: Can I try Encore DVD 2.0 before I purchase it?

A: A fully functional tryout version of Encore DVD 2.0, which expires 30 days after installa- tion, will be available from the Adobe shortly after the product starts shipping at www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp.

Q: I just recently bought a copy of Adobe Encore DVD 1.5. Can I exchange it for version 2.0?

A: Customers who purchased Encore 1.5 between January 17, 2006 (January 18, 2006, in Ja- pan), and April 17, 2006 (April 18, 2006, in Japan), are eligible for a free upgrade to Encore 2.0. Shipping charges may apply. This offer is available only through Adobe and applies to purchases made from Adobe or Adobe authorized resellers. You must provide a dated proof of purchase and your serial number when you place the order. Claims for this offer must be received by May 2, 2006 (May 3, 2006 in Japan). To qualify for upgrades, customers in the United States and Canada can call Adobe Customer Service at 800-833-6687. To contact Customer Service inother parts of the world, visit www.adobe.com/support/intlsupport.

Q: Is Encore DVD 2.0 available for Macintosh?

A: No, Encore DVD is only available for Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 2.

Q: What languages is Encore DVD 2.0 offered in?

A: Adobe Encore DVD is available in English, French, German, Italian (new!), Japanese, and Spanish (new!).

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 support Dolby® Digital 5.1?

A: Yes, Encore DVD allows you to create DVDs containing Dolby Digital 5.1 content. However, Dolby Digital 5.1 content must be created in another application. The integrated Dolby Digiin audio reproduction, Encore DVD 2.0 supports the DTS audio format, in addition to the Dolby Digital format supported in earlier versions. Now, regardless of which of these two popular formats you prefer, creating the final results you want is easy with Adobe Encore DVD 2.0.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 offer support for DLT output?

A: Yes, Encore DVD supports output to DLT tape. For final production, use professional master- ing tools to produce DLT tapes for reproduction with DVD-standard copy protection, region coding, and playback controls.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 integrate with Adobe Premiere Pro?

A: Yes, Encore integrates with Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 through two features. Encore DVD allows you to import AVI, QuickTime, and MPEG-2 files and markers from the Adobe Pre- miere Pro timeline and convert them to chapter points on your DVD. It also takes advan- tage of the Edit Original feature found in other Adobe products, enabling users to open the original project created in Adobe Premiere Pro, and upon output Encore DVD automatically updates the content within the DVD project.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 integrate with After Effects?

A: Yes, as with Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, Encore DVD can import clips exported from After Effects 6.5 and automatically create chapter points from the markers embedded in the file. Edit Original is also available for these files, enabling you to open the original project in After Effects, make changes and export a new file, and see the updates within Encore. Encore 2.0 can also send any DVD menu directly into After Effects, with all layers, layer effects and text intact. Once in After Effects, the menu can be animated. Export your ani- mation as a movie and add it to your Encore DVD menu background to create a stunning motion menu. If you purchase a license of Adobe Production Studio Premium, it includes the revolutionary Adobe Dynamic Link technology, which allows you to open After Effects compositions directly in the Encore DVD component of Production Studio, without render- ing. Dynamic Link eliminates the rendering step that is normally required, saving time and allowing you
to focus on creative design.

Q: Can I trim clips and audio with Encore DVD 2.0?

A: Yes, you can trim and assemble multiple video clips in the Encore DVD timeline and preview the results in the Monitor window. There's no need for a separate video-editingapplication to achieve seamless playback of multiple clips.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 include built-in MPEG-2 support? Will I need to use a more sophisticated product?

A: Encore DVD has very flexible MPEG-2 transcoding built in. Let Encore DVD 2.0 automati- cally convert source files to MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital audio, or manually adjust settings to optimize your DVD compression. This feature accommodates users at all levels of proficiency, from those who don't want to deal with transcoding parameters (all conversion is automatic, and the user does nothing), to those who want to tweak MPEG-2 conversion parameters in order to squeeze out the last drop of quality from the encoder (full access to the parameters, with save and recall of commonly used settings, is provided). You can also work with AVI and QuickTime source files to build your DVD project, and then encode them as MPEG-2 video assets when you are ready to burn your disc.

Q: Can I make hot buttons in different shapes?

A: The button images can be any shape you like. However, due to limitations in the DVD specifi- cation, the actual “click area” for the button must be a rectangle.

Q: Can I kern and align text?

A: Yes. Encore DVD has most of the same text formatting controls
as Photoshop software.

Q: Is there an education version of Encore DVD 2.0?

A: Yes, there is an education version available to qualifying customers. For more information, visit www.adobe.com/education.

Q: Will Adobe offer computer-based training for Encore DVD 2.0?

A: Encore DVD includes a Total TrainingTM DVD, with training on all of the Adobe video prod- ucts. Other sources of training are available, including books, DVDs and online guides.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 support Windows Media 9?

A: Since Encore DVD offers integrated transcoding of source files, Windows Media 9 files can be used in projects. These files are converted to the correct format before making the DVD. Encore makes DVD discs; it is not designed to output Windows Media content. However, it is possible to include Windows Media files in the DVD-ROM section of the DVD titles that you make with Encore. These files can be played
on Windows based computers.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 take advantage of transcoding/encoding acceleration with third-party hardware or software?

A: Encore DVD 2.0 can automatically convert source files to MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital audio, or manually adjust settings to optimize your DVD compression. There is no support for hardware accelerators in Encore DVD.

Q: Will the software encoding in Encore DVD 2.0 be robust enough for professional customers?

A: Yes. A few years ago, hardware acceleration was required because it wasn't possible to imple- ment an encoder in software that would run fast enough. Now, with today's CPUs, encod- ing speeds are faster than real time. Software encoders also have an advantage in that their algorithms can be modified and enhanced throughout their lifecycle. A hardware encoder's features are usually determined at the manufacturing stage and are difficult to update. En- core includes professional-quality encoding, and we expect to take advantage of advances in software encoding technology as they become available.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 offer a selection of I-frames?

A: The question refers to the placement of GOP header frames in an MPEG-2 video stream. If you want to place chapter points exactly in the right place, you need control over where the GOP headers go because the DVD specification only allows the placement of chapters at GOP headers. Encore DVD has full control over the placement of GOP headers and will automatically add them in the appropriate
location when you add chapters.

Q: Does Encore DVD 2.0 provide the ability to overlay tracks? Can users lower one track while raising another?

A: Currently, Encore DVD includes no audio level controls. However, an extensive range of audio tools can be found in Adobe Audition 2.0, which is included as a component of Adobe Production Studio Premium.

Q: Do I need to render footage to DV in Adobe Premiere Pro before outputting to MPEG-2?

A: Every conversion step can cause quality loss, so it's best to keep the number of renders to a minimum. When working with unrendered content in the Adobe Premiere Pro timeline, rendering directly to MPEG-2 will generate slightly higher quality output, because one render step is eliminated. However, when working with some video cards, it is necessary to render all content on the timeline before outputting to MPEG-2.

Q: What's the best way to get my 24P content onto DVD?

A: Both After Effects 7.0 and Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 can output NTSC 24P content to MPEG- for DVD, preserving the original 24P content. This is the same technique that is used on feature film DVDs. On playback, all DVD players can output 29.97fps content to a conven- tional interlaced TV. DVD players that have progressive output capability can also output a 24P signal to a progressive-capable TV.

Q: Does Encore DVD support the new dual-layer DVD burners?

A: Yes, Encore DVD 2.0 supports dual-layer burners directly and gives you control over the placement of the layer break, the transition between the first layer and the second layer.