Creating an iDVD Project from Final Cut

Video editors working in Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro often bring their work into iDVD to create their DVD discs.

To export from Final Cut:

1.	If you want to use Final Cut markers as iDVD chapter markers, be sure they're set up as such: locate a marker and press M to bring up the Edit Marker dialog.
2.	Click the Add Chapter Marker button (Figure 19.11). The text <CHAPTER> appears in the Comment field. Click OK. Figure 19.11. In Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro, click the Add Chapter Marker button to ensure that iDVD will import the chapters correctly.
3.	From the File menu, choose QuickTime Movie from the Export submenu.
4.	In the Save dialog, make sure Audio and Video is chosen from the Include popup menu.
5.	Choose Chapter Markers from the Markers popup menu.
6.	Click Save to save the file.
7.	In iDVD, import the file as described on the opposite page.

How to Add Chapters to an Existing iDVD Project

My wife and I worked on a vacation video using two different Macs, which meant that we had multiple iMovie projectsone for each day of the vacation. When it came time to create a DVD, I hit a stumbling block: once you've created an iDVD project, any new movies you import aren't included when you select the Play Movie option. So, our multi-part movie could only be accessed one day at a time. Ick.

The solution is to combine the separate iMovie projects into one, then use the combo movie as the basis for the iDVD project. Unfortunately, you'll have to redefine any chapter markers that were set up separately. (iDVD offers an intriguing option to Create Chapter Markers for Movie under the Advanced menu, but as of iDVD 6.0.2, it doesn't appear to work.)

Open a new iMovie project, then drag the clips from the other projects to the Timeline. Set up chapter markers, and then share the movie to iDVD.