A DVD menu can come in two shapes, standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9). The sooner you learn these sizes (and to accept their limitations) the sooner you’’ be designing your next project.
1. Launch Photoshop CS or newer.
2. Choose File > New…
3. From the New document preset list choose on of the following options:
- NTSC DV 720 X 480 (with guides) for a standard 4:3 menu commonly used in North America or Japan.
- NTSC DV Widescreen, 720 X 480 (with guides) for a 16:9 menu
- PAL D1/DV, 720 X 576 (with guides) for a 4:3 menu used in Europe and other parts of the globe.
- PAL D1/DV Widescreen, 720 X 576 (with guides) for a 16:9 menu used in Europe and other parts of the globe.
4. Click OK to create the document.
5. The guides added to the document identify the title safe region. All objects meant to be seen must fall onside them. The outside region is similar to the ‘bleed’ area in a print project.
- Action Safe – The outside box. All elements meant to be seen should fall inside of the inner 90% of the menu. Still design the background edge-to-edge.
- Title Safe – The inside box. All text elements meant to be read should fall inside the inner 80% of the menu.
6. Start to design.