Chapter points



    About chapter points

    You add chapter points to mark a specific frame of a video clip in a timeline. Chapter points commonly mark the beginning of specific scenes and sequences. Chapter points also let the viewer skip forward or back through a clip by pressing the Next Chapter or Previous Chapter buttons on the remote control. You can link to chapter points, add actions to chapter points, or use them to place subtitles.

    View full size graphic
    Add chapter points as needed for linking to scenes or identifying locations for subtitles.

    A.
    Chapter 1 inserted automatically

    B.
    Currently selected chapter point is red

    C.
    Green chapter point indicates end action is assigned to it

    Note: For interactive Flash projects, timelines use separate media, so there is a pause between chapters, similar to a pause between layers on a DVD.

    As part of transcoding to the MPEG‑2 compression scheme for DVD projects, video footage is divided into contiguous groups of pictures (GOPs), which range from 4 to 20 frames per group. Playback of any frames within the GOP must begin from the start of the GOP, the GOP header. For this reason, when you insert a chapter point, Encore places it at the closest GOP header prior to the current frame. If a chapter point already exists at the prior GOP header, the program places it at the next GOP header. The time ruler displays GOP headers as gray vertical lines along the bottom edge of the ruler. The Monitor panel lets you skip forward or back to the next GOP header.

    When you work with AVI or MOV files, these restrictions do not apply until you transcode the clips for DVD projects. When Encore transcodes the AVI or MOV files, it automatically sets GOP headers at every chapter point you set. After transcoding, the file is considered an MPEG‑2 file, and the rules for chapter point placement for MPEG‑2 files apply to that clip. The minimum allowed distance between chapter points is 15 frames for NTSC and 12 frames for PAL.
    Note: These restrictions do not apply for H.264 Blu‑ray files.

    Add chapter points

    You can add chapter points from both the Monitor panel and the Timeline Viewer. Chapter points are numbered sequentially and renumbered automatically if you insert a new point between two existing chapters. You can also add chapter points at set intervals.

    When you place video or still images, Encore automatically inserts a chapter point at the beginning of a clip. Encore also adds an invisible chapter at the end of timelines to use for linking to end actions.

    Note: Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects can export markers in AVI, MOV, MPEG‑2, and H.264‑Blu‑ray files. Encore uses the markers to create chapter points. (See Importing from Adobe Premiere Pro and Importing from Adobe After Effects.)

    Add chapter points at specific locations

    1. Open the timeline to which you want to add chapter points.

    2. Choose Window > Monitor to view the video as you add chapter points.

    3. Move the current-time indicator to the frame where you want a chapter point.

    4. If you are working with MPEG‑2 or other video that you have already transcoded for DVD, Alt‑click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) either the Step Forward button  or the Step Backward button  in the Monitor panel to see the next GOP header. Remember that chapter points only land on GOP headers in DVD-transcoded video. (See About chapter points.)

    5. Choose Timeline > Add Chapter Point, or click the Add Chapter button  in the Monitor panel or Timeline Viewer.

    You can also add chapter points while the timeline plays. Press the asterisk (*) key to add a chapter point.

    Add chapter points at set intervals

    1. Open the timeline to which you want to add chapter points.

    2. Choose Timeline > Add Chapter Points At Intervals.

    3. Specify the interval at which to add chapter points. The interval value must be lower than the timeline duration.

    4. Indicate whether you want to remove existing chapter points, and then click OK.

    Delete chapter points

    1. Open the timeline containing the chapter point or points you want to delete.

    2. Click to select the chapter point you want to delete, or Shift-click to select multiple chapter points.

    3. Do one of the following:

      • Press the Backspace or Delete key.

      • Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) and choose Delete Chapter Point from the context menu.

    Move chapter points

    1. Open the timeline containing the chapter points you want to move.

    2. Drag the chapter point or group of chapter points to the desired location in the ruler.

    The Monitor panel updates to display the chapter point’s new position.

    Note: You cannot move the first chapter point, which marks the beginning of the timeline.

    Name and describe chapter points

    1. Select the desired chapter point in either the Timeline Viewer or the Timelines panel.

    2. In the Properties panel, type a new name for the chapter point.

    3. Enter any notes about the chapter point for Description.

    Display chapter names in the time ruler

    1. Open the desired timeline.

    2. Choose View > Show Chapter Names.

      Note: This view setting applies only to the current timeline.