Better DVD Authoring with New Adobe Encore 2.0

by James Murray
Published on Jan 17, 2006 9:00 AM



January 17, 2006 - Adobe Systems Incorporated has today announced the release of Adobe Encore DVD 2.0, a professional DVD authoring system which will integrate into Photoshop, After Effects, and Adobe Premiere Pro. With this new edition of Encore DVD, Adobe users will be provided with a new Slideshow editor, interactive menu structures, a Flowchart view, a flexible interface, and royalty-free templates and images.

The Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 software offers several improvements over its predecessor, Encore DVD 1.5. Via the new interface, the new Slideshow Editor allows users to produce slide shows with music, narration, transitions and pan-and-zoom effects. It will also be possible to include title and description of each slide as it is displayed.

Improving still further upon 1.5, Encore DVD 2.0 features a new flowchart window which provides a graphical interpretation of the DVD’s navigation structure. A similar feature can already be found on Apple’s popular DVD Studio Pro software, which is fully integrated with Final Cut Pro, Adobe’s rival for consumer non-linear editing.

In this latest batch of updates, Adobe has taken strides to provide integration between all of their video-related software. The new video editing suite, Adobe Production Studio, links many of their post popular programs together, including Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Encore, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Encore DVD 2.0, if purchased as a standalone program, will work seamlessly with Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Photoshop CS2.

Encore DVD 2.0 will also include Adobe Bridge, a file browser using XMP metadata, to offer advanced search and storage options.

Postproduction editors looking for simpler, less involved DVD authoring will find likely Encore 2.0’s inclusion of over 4 GB of royalty-free images and templates a treat, providing quick and immediate solutions for graphic needs.

Although not able to create 5.1 channel Dolby Digital sound, Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 does support the import and export of pre-existing 5.1 Dolby Digital files. In addition to 5.1-channel and standard stereo, audiophiles may also select Digital Theatre Systems (DTS), a multi-channel audio format.

Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 software is only available with Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 2, and will unfortunately not run on Macintosh systems. The Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 software is available now through Adobe Authorized Resellers as well as Adobe online. The MSRP for the full version runs at US$349, while upgrading users will find it starting at US$149.


A screenshot of Encore 2.0's Flowchart tool


The Slideshow feature