Best way to go from iMovie to iDVD

[zaxcom]

I am not sure if I am following the right procedure to make DVD's from iMovie.

After I finish editing my file, I go to Share and Export the movie as a DV stream. This can take quite some time. Then I open iDVD and drop that DV stream file onto the drop zone of the look that I want. I click on burn and then wait hours while it converts the file.

It seems like I am converting the file twice, once to DV and once again in iDVD. This cant be right? I was told not to use the make iDVD option in the iMovie Share window as this would result in a lower quality image.

Then I read to just use the .mov file iMovie makes in the project folder, but there is no way that can be right. A 2 hour movie was only 2.3 MB in size in the .mov file. So that had to be a very low resolution file.

I am looking for the best way to make a DVD maintaining the highest resolution, with the least number of conversions or steps along the way.

So what is the way to go?

Thanks

 

[DeltaMac]

You can automatically export video to iDVD using the Make a Magic iMovie feature. This is available since version 5 of iMovie HD.

The best way (if there is a 'best' way) is what works for you. There's 3 or 4 major options here and maybe 8 or 10 variations. Export as a .mov file and burn it the way you like; export to iDVD and set it up with nice menus; use the Magic iMovie feature; and perhaps try other video exporting to see how that works.
You aren't locked into using only one option. Try different methods and see what gives you the best results. (personal aside: if only the whole process didn't take so long, it would be a much more cheerful time)

note: If you save a .mov file with dependencies, you'll see a more realistic file size (and you will end up with a Quicktime file you can actually view on a different computer)