dimensions of VCD video not as expected - using TMPGE & Nero

I have used TMPGE to encode .mov files of varying resolutions to MPEG1 (320x240, 360x240, 400x300, 480x360). When choosing the Video Arrange Method in TMPGE I have tried to use the following rationale: if the .mov resolution is less than VCD size (352x240) in either dimension, I choose "Center Keep Aspect Ratio". If the .mov resolution is greater than VCD size in both dimensions, I choose "Full Size Keep Aspect Ratio.

My goal is to preserve as much quality in the .mov file by not allowing TMPGE to stretch a movie smaller than VCD resolution. Also I do not want to distort the movie, so I always choose the Keep Aspect Ratio options. Do the "rules" above make sense?

If so, I am confused by the following... After burning the VCD with Nero6, I play the VCD in my Panasonic DVD player and find that the movies seem to always be stretched to full size, even if I chose to center them in TMPGE.

For example, I encoded a .mov file with resolution of 320x240 four different ways:
1. Video Arrange Method = Center
2. Video Arrange Method = Center Keep Aspect Ratio
3. Video Arrange Method = Full Screen
4. Video Arrange Method = Full Screen Keep Aspect Ratio

Before burning these four .mpg files with Nero, I watched them with Windows Media Player and watched them from Nero by selecting the file and choosing play. Either way they look different as I expected. Black box all around the centered one and no black box around the full size one. But when I played them in the DVD player... all were full size!

Any ideas as to how I can correct this problem, or better suggestions on how to choose the video arrange mehthod? Thanks!

-Thomas

 

OK...If you have a Mov file that is 320+240 and you want to make a VCD and you do not want to stretch the image and you want to keep the same aspect ratio what you would do is Choose "Center Custom Size" and Put 320+240 in For the Size...This will add a 16 Pixel Boarder On the Top and a 16 Pixel Boarder on the Bottom and Display the Image in its Original Resolution and aspect ratio with Boarder on the Top and Bottom to make up the 352 Vertical resolution for VCD...For the Other resolutions you posted the Best setting would Probably be "Full Screen Keep Aspect ratio" when Resizeing Down in resolution you actually get a Crisper Image so you can expect better Quality from Down sizeing an image Compared to Upsizeing an image.....Cheers