iMovie resolution

poppi · May 21, 2015

I am creating a DVD with a combination of still photos (slide show) and videos. I am at the point of having created a disc image prior to burning the DVD but have noticed the following problem.

In viewing the disc image in the DVD player I note that the resolution of the still photos is rather poor. The originals in iPhoto are crystal clear and when viewed in the iMovie project they are also quite good. It is only after creating the disc image that the resolution is deteriorated. Two questions

1) Is there a setting I have incorrectly programmed?

2) If I burn the DVD will the photos still have poor resolution when viewed on a TV?

Thank you

poppi

MightyGem · May 21, 2015

It's not iMovie's resolution that's the problem, but the resolution of the finished dvd. Standard dvd resolution is only 720x576(480), so it's always going to look worse than the original.
DVD-Video - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So:
1) No
2) Yes

poppi · May 21, 2015

MightyGem said:
It's not iMovie's resolution that's the problem, but the resolution of the finished dvd. Standard dvd resolution is only 720x576(480), so it's always going to look worse than the original.
DVD-Video - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So:
1) No
2) Yes

What you say makes sense but I am a bit confused. I have not yet burned the DVD. The "loss of resolution" occurred when I "burned" and viewed the disk image. Do disk images on the Mac suffer the same limitations on resolution?

By the way I have been using Verbatim Digital Movie DVD-R disks for projects to date as I have read they are quite reliable. What do you think of them?

Thank you for your reply

poppi

MightyGem · May 21, 2015

Do disk images on the Mac suffer the same limitations on resolution?

Yes, because that, in a sense, is your dvd. It's that image that you transfer to the dvd.

There are two ways to get around it. Export/Share from iMovie as an HD movie file, and send people that, or use something like Roxio's Toast, along with an external BluRay burner and BluRay dvds.
Roxio Toast 12 Titanium - DVD Burning - Video Conversion - Music and Video Capture for Mac

I have been using Verbatim Digital Movie DVD-R disks for projects to date as I have read they are quite reliable. What do you think of them?

Been using them for years. Never had a problem with them.

poppi · May 21, 2015

MightyGem said:
Yes, because that, in a sense, is your dvd. It's that image that you transfer to the dvd.

There are two ways to get around it. Export/Share from iMovie as an HD movie file, and send people that, or use something like Roxio's Toast, along with an external BluRay burner and BluRay dvds.
Roxio Toast 12 Titanium - DVD Burning - Video Conversion - Music and Video Capture for Mac

Thanx MightyGem

One final (and probably stupid) question - it is suggested that one create a disk image for review prior to burning so it can be reviewed to prevent burning a bad project and thereby wasting a DVD. Is there a way to burn directly from iMovie (skip the disk image) and if so would it still have the resolution problem?

Thanks again

poppi

MightyGem · May 22, 2015

I usually go the disk image route to review it, as you mention, and to keep incase I need to make another dvd.

Is there a way to burn directly from iMovie (skip the disk image) and if so would it still have the resolution problem?

The disk image/dvd is created from iDVD not iMovie, so, from iDVD, you have the option of burning direct to dvd, or saving as a disk image. Whichever way you choose, there is no getting around the loss of quality when producing a standard definition dvd.

poppi · May 23, 2015

MightyGem said:
I usually go the disk image route to review it, as you mention, and to keep incase I need to make another dvd.

The disk image/dvd is created from iDVD not iMovie, so, from iDVD, you have the option of burning direct to dvd, or saving as a disk image. Whichever way you choose, there is no getting around the loss of quality when producing a standard definition dvd.

Just to close the loop MightyGem I went ahead and burned a DVD from the disc image and maybe it is wishful thinking but the product looks much sharper on the TV than it did as a disc image on the Mac. Thank you for all your help

poppi

MightyGem · May 24, 2015

the product looks much sharper on the TV than it did as a disc image on the Mac.

Could be the TV doing a good job of "upscaling" the image.

bobtomay · May 24, 2015

Yep, the last few years, a lot of TVs have very good upscalers turning DVD content into pretty good looking video to many.