Create your Screencast in a Flash Adobe Captivate Edward Metz Systems Librarian USACGSC Fort Leavenworth KS [email_address]

What is Adobe Captivate? A tool for creating screencasts or “movies” on your computer with a narrator explaining what is happening as the action unfolds. Uses: e-learning, tech training, simple how-to presentations

A tool for creating screencasts or “movies” on your computer with a narrator explaining what is happening as the action unfolds.

Uses: e-learning, tech training, simple how-to presentations

Overview Record your interaction with a computer application such as a database in a web browser. Insert additional screens as necessary with images or graphics Add captions, call-outs, audio and other effects as needed Run the result as a seamless “video”

Record your interaction with a computer application such as a database in a web browser.

Insert additional screens as necessary with images or graphics

Add captions, call-outs, audio and other effects as needed

Run the result as a seamless “video”

Show me – Demo type video CARL Tutorials http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/tutorials/index.asp Show times http://tweaket.com/LibraryStuff/Screencasting/ShowtimesCaptivate_demo.swf

CARL Tutorials

http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/tutorials/index.asp

Show times

http://tweaket.com/LibraryStuff/Screencasting/ShowtimesCaptivate_demo.swf

Show me – Interactive type video Interactive How to use Refworks

Interactive

How to use Refworks

Adobe Captivate Features You can integrate sound, video clips and visual effects Easily insert PPT slides and images Record all the screen motions including mouse movements and clicks Add audio commentary Easy to update

You can integrate sound, video clips and visual effects

Easily insert PPT slides and images

Record all the screen motions including mouse movements and clicks

Add audio commentary

Easy to update

Adobe Captivate Features Output options include MS word handouts, Shockwave file (.swf) with HTML Start, stop and pause controls on the “skin” Can create interactive options, rollovers, buttons and even quizzes.

Output options include MS word handouts, Shockwave file (.swf) with HTML

Start, stop and pause controls on the “skin”

Can create interactive options, rollovers, buttons and even quizzes.

Adobe Captivate - Challenges Costs about $699 Need a Windows PC with min. 1GB Ram, 1GHz Processor Users need to have a web browser with Flash Player installed Learning curve Not difficult and fairly intuitive but do need to learn something new. Interactive screencasts require more planning and familiarity with advanced features Does require some time to plan, record, edit and publish, upload to web

Costs about $699

Need a Windows PC with min. 1GB Ram, 1GHz Processor

Users need to have a web browser with Flash Player installed

Learning curve

Not difficult and fairly intuitive but do need to learn something new.

Interactive screencasts require more planning and familiarity with advanced features

Does require some time to plan, record, edit and publish, upload to web

Preplanning Considerations Keep it short. Bandwidth. Screen size not to exceed 800x600 px Avoid capturing browser bars and toolbars in your screen. Prior to recording screenshots close your Outlook or other email programs.. (pesky email alerts). Inserting images? Make them web-ready first. Think ahead to future updates. Keep your files together.

Keep it short. Bandwidth.

Screen size not to exceed 800x600 px

Avoid capturing browser bars and toolbars in your screen.

Prior to recording screenshots close your Outlook or other email programs.. (pesky email alerts).

Inserting images? Make them web-ready first.

Think ahead to future updates. Keep your files together.

The Process – what topic Topic idea. (Ask yourself exactly what info you want to impart). Show how to use a tool or just a particular feature? Who’s your audience? How tech savvy are they? Just demonstrate or do you want some interaction? Both? Better to make several small screencasts than produce one long magnum opus.

Topic idea. (Ask yourself exactly what info you want to impart).

Show how to use a tool or just a particular feature?

Who’s your audience? How tech savvy are they?

Just demonstrate or do you want some interaction? Both?

Better to make several small screencasts than produce one long magnum opus.

The Process – Click path Rehearse the click path several times Sketch out the flow on paper. Strongly recommended if you plan on making it interactive or lengthy. Makes you think about how you’re going to impart the desired info.

Rehearse the click path several times

Sketch out the flow on paper. Strongly recommended if you plan on making it interactive or lengthy.

Makes you think about how you’re going to impart the desired info.

The Process – Screen recording Select “record or create a new project” At next screen select “custom size” option Select the dropdown arrow to choose which application screen to record. (e.g. your browser window) Set the screen size to 800x600 px. Hit the snap to fit button. Then adjust the red box to omit browser bar. Choose the options tab to review recording option defaults Go with Full motion recording Choose whether to retain mouse and keyword click audio Other Audio settings Encoding Bitrate – FM quality 64 kbps Encoding frequency – select 44 KHz Select record and begin the screen captures along your planned click path.

Select “record or create a new project”

At next screen select “custom size” option

Select the dropdown arrow to choose which application screen to record. (e.g. your browser window)

Set the screen size to 800x600 px. Hit the snap to fit button. Then adjust the red box to omit browser bar.

Choose the options tab to review recording option defaults

Go with Full motion recording

Choose whether to retain mouse and keyword click audio

Other Audio settings

Encoding Bitrate – FM quality 64 kbps

Encoding frequency – select 44 KHz

Select record and begin the screen captures along your planned click path.

The Process – Screen recording Click here

The Process – Screen recording

The Process – Screen recording Set screen Capture size Select application to record

The Process – Screen recording Red screen capture box 1. Fit to size 2. Select options button

The Process – Screen recording

The Process – Screen recording

The Process – Screen recording

The Process – Screen recording Recording tips Be economical in your clicks and mouse movements Be wary of scrolling in your screen captures. Adds considerably to file size.

Recording tips

Be economical in your clicks and mouse movements

Be wary of scrolling in your screen captures. Adds considerably to file size.

The Process – Screen Editing Edit each screen. (Add bullets, highlighting, images, captions). Adjust the timeline as needed. Insert additional screens such as an introduction screen and a closing screen. You can import a PPT slide or a Captivate question slide. Let’s look at some examples of text captions, highlight boxes and insert a PPT slide.

Edit each screen. (Add bullets, highlighting, images, captions). Adjust the timeline as needed.

Insert additional screens such as an introduction screen and a closing screen. You can import a PPT slide or a Captivate question slide.

Let’s look at some examples of text captions, highlight boxes and insert a PPT slide.

The Process – Screen Editing

The Process – Screen Editing Text Captions, highlight box and other insert options

Text Captions, highlight box and other insert options

The Process – Screen Editing Edit a text caption Edit a highlight box

The Process – Screen Editing Timeline

The Process – Audio recording Prepare a script for each slide as needed. Add it to the audio recording notes screen. Have the recorder read thru all the audio content prior to recording. Practice recording a short audio clip. Record the audio. Edit audio as needed and finalize your screen timings

Prepare a script for each slide as needed. Add it to the audio recording notes screen. Have the recorder read thru all the audio content prior to recording.

Practice recording a short audio clip.

Record the audio.

Edit audio as needed and finalize your screen timings

The Process – Audio recording Find someone with the “right” voice for recording. Pause an instant at beginning of each audio segment before speaking to avoid cutting off first words. Leave a second or two of silence at end of each audio segment. Oh yeah…and the microphone. Just a simple $20 off-the-shelf audio microphone is adequate. Microphone placement Tips

Find someone with the “right” voice for recording.

Pause an instant at beginning of each audio segment before speaking to avoid cutting off first words.

Leave a second or two of silence at end of each audio segment.

Oh yeah…and the microphone. Just a simple $20 off-the-shelf audio microphone is adequate.

Microphone placement

The Process – Audio recording

The Process – Audio recording

The Process – ADA Compliance Closed captions – hearing impaired

Closed captions – hearing impaired

The Process – ADA Compliance Accessibility - Screen readers

Accessibility - Screen readers

The Process – ADA Compliance

The Process – ADA Compliance Note: this is only available if you check the 508 compliance box in Project Preferences

Note: this is only available if you check the 508 compliance box in Project Preferences

The Process – ADA Compliance 508 compliance for navigation

508 compliance for navigation

The Process – Verify Project Settings (Captivate 2.0) Select Project – Preferences : Start and End tab Fade in on first slide Project end options – Action - Select Open URL or file. Enter the url you’d like to open at conclusion of screencast Fade out on last slide Preferences Tab Accept defaults – ensure 508 compliance box is checked Add playback control skin to your project. Select Project – Skin Modify the default settings as desired (color scheme, border, buttons etc) Note: with Adobe Captivate 3.0 select Edit – Preferences – Project Settings

Select Project – Preferences :

Start and End tab

Fade in on first slide

Project end options – Action - Select Open URL or file. Enter the url you’d like to open at conclusion of screencast

Fade out on last slide

Preferences Tab

Accept defaults – ensure 508 compliance box is checked

Add playback control skin to your project. Select Project – Skin

Modify the default settings as desired (color scheme, border, buttons etc)

The Process – Verify Project Settings (Captivate 2.0) Preferences

Preferences

The Process Adobe Captivate 3.0 Project settings

The Process – Project Skin Skin settings Note: with Adobe Captivate 3.0 the Skins menu is still found under Project - Skin

Skin settings

The Process – Review and Publish Ask another colleague to review Publish and export HTML. Export HTML – Creates an HTM file with the same name as the Captivate project. (.htm, .js and .swf file all should go inside same directory). To run the movie, create a link to the HTM. You can add further branding to the html file if desired

Ask another colleague to review

Publish and export HTML.

Export HTML – Creates an HTM file with the same name as the Captivate project. (.htm, .js and .swf file all should go inside same directory).

To run the movie, create a link to the HTM.

You can add further branding to the html file if desired

Publishing screenshot Publishing screen

Publishing screen

Let’s do a quick one Search CARL’s Historic Military Documents Collection Topic: Civil Affairs

Search CARL’s Historic Military Documents Collection

Topic: Civil Affairs

Review Topic idea Rehearse the click path several times Record – review recording settings Edit - Add bullets, highlighting, images, captions, intro screen as needed. Tentatively verify the timing for each screen capture. Record audio – prepare script in advance Improve accessibility – ADA compliant Check your Project settings – eg Start and End slide settings, Project Skin Publish – create SWF and export HTML for posting on web

Topic idea

Rehearse the click path several times

Record – review recording settings

Edit - Add bullets, highlighting, images, captions, intro screen as needed. Tentatively verify the timing for each screen capture.

Record audio – prepare script in advance

Improve accessibility – ADA compliant

Check your Project settings – eg Start and End slide settings, Project Skin

Publish – create SWF and export HTML for posting on web

Get inventive and have fun Infotainment CARL Digital Library http://www.comarmsblog.com/2007/06/carl-digital-library-flash-movie.html

Infotainment

CARL Digital Library

http://www.comarmsblog.com/2007/06/carl-digital-library-flash-movie.html