Creating a Screencast, Part 3: Recording Tips
- Creating a Screencast, Part 3 of 3: Post Production and Publication
- Cleaning Up the Screencast
- Choosing a Deliverable Format and Final Destination
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In Part 1 of this series, we learned exactly what hardware and software is required in order to record a quality screencast. In Part 2, we covered tips and tricks for obtaining the best possible initial recording. In this final installment, we take our audio-visual raw materials into our editing software to smooth out rough edges, add embellishments, and publish the screencast to its final destination.
The “Keep It Simple” Rule
Almost all of us have attended a business meeting in which the speaker presented by using an over-embellished PowerPoint slide deck. You know what I’m talking about: flying animations, slide transition effects, and so forth.
I would encourage you in the strongest possible terms to approach your screencast editing with the lightest possible touch. Above all else, we want to ensure that our content is our best asset in the presentation. We have failed in our undertaking if our screencast distracts the viewer from the content.
Most screencast recording packages (such as my own choice tool, TechSmith’s Camtasia Studio) include robust editors that include all of the embellishment bells and whistles, stuff like the following:
- Callout balloons
- Blur
- Highlighting
- Arrows
As you edit your screencast raw files, if there are spots in the presentation where you honestly feel further elucidation is necessary, then by all means go with your gut; your audience will likely thank you for it.
On the other hand, adding “bling” to your screencast for its own sake will reduce your message quality and call your credibility into question.