User Guide

ADOBE ENCORE DVD 2.0

User Guide

Determining disc size

Before you can prepare a bit budget, you must determine the size of DVD on which to distribute your project. Adobe

Encore DVD can create projects for a variety of DVD sizes. The size you choose is based on the amount of video and

the replication method. Typically, desktop DVD burners use a recordable DVD-5 disc (DVD-R), which has 4.7 GB

capacity. A DVD-5 can hold approximately two hours of high-quality video. Adobe Encore DVD also supports

CD-Rs (recordable CDs) and DLT (digital linear tape), as well as dual-layer and double-sided discs.

Note: Although disc capacity is the prime consideration, there are other variables you need to consider when choosing a

DVD. If you’re burning the DVD yourself, you must choose a DVD that your DVD recorder supports. If you’re creating

a dual-layer or a double-sided DVD, be aware that you may need to duplicate it at a DVD replication facility. For more

information, see “To build a DVD” on page 192.

Dual-layer and dual-sided discs

Adobe Encore DVD supports creating projects for dual-layer discs and dual-sided discs. These discs, however,

cannot be burned by all conventional DVD burners; check your burner’s documentation to see if it can create dual-

sided or dual-layer discs. If your DVD burner cannot produce these discs, Adobe Encore DVD can still create the

project files for them, but you’ll need to replicate the DVD at a replication facility.

When preparing a project for dual-layer or dual-sided discs, keep the following in mind:

Dual-layer disc Dual-layer discs from Adobe Encore DVD require using +R DVDs; check your burner’s documen-

tation to see what type of DVDs (+R or -R) it requires. To replicate dual-layer DVDs at a replication facility, you first

must write your project to two separate DLTs (Digital Linear Tapes), one tape for each layer of the disc. (See “Build

options” on page 192.)

Note: Be aware that +R discs may have compatibility problems with some DVD players. Before replicating a large

quantity of discs, it’s worthwhile to create a sample disc and test it on several different DVD players. Replication facilities,

whose paramount purpose is duplicating discs, create discs with the widest possible compatibility.

Dual-sided disc For dual-sided discs, you must create two separate projects. If you’ll be replicating the DVDs at an

outside facility, write each project to its own DLT. (See “Replicating DVDs” on page 194.)

Dual-sided, dual-layer disc In this case, you need to build two projects, each producing two tapes. The first two tapes

represent the two layers of the first project (Side 1). The other two tapes represent the two layers of the second project

(Side 2).