{mosgoogle}Authoring Your Movie

Once you are satisfied with your video editing and final movie, you're ready to export it (write the final creative work to disc). The exact exporting method will depend on whether you're making a video CD or DVD.

Your video can be written to disc in two format standards -- MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-1 or MPEG-2. MPEG-1 is commonly used for video CDs (VCD) storing data at 1150kbps. This is 30 frames per second (fps) or similar to the quality of your VHS tape storage. An 800MB capacity Verbatim CD for example will hold about one hour of MPEG-1 quality video. SVCD (super video CD) provides medium quality video storing and playing your video at 2400kbps providing about 30 minutes of video capacity. DVD quality is high quality MPEG-2 video that stores data at 6000kbps and plays back in near theater quality at 60 fps. A 4.7GB capacity Verbatim DVD (+ or -R) will hold up to two hours of video memories and highlights.

The lower quality settings will allow you to store more video on a disc but the viewing quality suffers. Use the eyeball test (watch the video yourself) and you'll quickly see the difference. Because we are so conditioned by high quality movies and television, it is best to stick with the highest quality family movie possible.

Use the video production software and click on the MPEG button to select the settings you want or use the presets.

The software's wizard will quickly guide you through the complete creation process. Arrange the video segments in the order you will want them to play back, set up your menu and click the correct icon to burn or write your movie to disc.