25 Little-Known Snagit Features That Will Save You So Much Time

Sometimes information is too difficult to explain using words only. So, we tend to lean on images to do the talking. Screenshots, or screen recordings, have become a handy tool for personal and workplace communication. 

Screen capture and recording software, like Snagit, is especially useful when you want to take precise, editable, and easily shareable screenshots. Snagit has so many easy-to-use features, we don’t blame you if there are a few you haven’t tried yet.

Let’s dive into 25 little-known Snagit features that will change the way you work.

Quick capture functions

Create keyboard shortcuts for go-to captures

Make screen capture speedy! Capture presets and keyboard shortcuts allow you to quickly take screenshots with fewer keyboard clicks. Quickly share a funny meme with your coworkers, a basic error message to IT, or project analytics with your team. 

Keyboard shortcuts are also great for capturing a dropdown menu. Simply keep your cursor on the dropdown menu and use your keyboard to snag a screenshot. The uses for quick screenshots are truly endless.

With Snagit, you can set keyboard shortcuts that reflect a more specific capture. For example, a keyboard shortcut can capture only a specific window, a full-scrolling webpage, or your fullscreen depending on what you need. 

Create one, or thirty: you can set multiple shortcuts for each type of capture you would like to take. For a basic capture, try  “Shift-Command-C” or “Control + Shift + C” for Capture! Hotkeys are also a fast and convenient way to capture your screen. So, go on and set your shortcuts. It’s all up to you.

Image of Snagit software with three presets for different captures.

Use crosshairs for added precision

Whether you’re using Crosshairs to share a data table, or zone in on a specific detail, they allow for a super precise screenshot, every time. 

Simply drag your mouse to select the area you want to capture and click to release. If you want to be even more precise, you can adjust individual pixels up and down, right and left until your screenshot is perfectly resized. Simply select the area you want to capture, and use your keyboard arrows to move over the capture dimensions, pixel by pixel. 

Image of a screenshot that is being taken using precise crosshairs with Snagit

Use exact dimensions for the perfect capture

Need an exact 1080 by 1080 for your Instagram? Stop guessing on the capture dimensions by only using crosshairs. Instead, set the exact capture dimensions to fit whatever size frame you need. 

This ensures that your captures fit a certain size perfectly. No more weird gaps or awkward zoom-ins when you use this feature. In your Snagit presets, set up a fixed region with width and height requirements so your captures are always that size.

Image of exact dimensions menu that is customized to fix the capture needed.

Not only does this feature come in handy for social media posts, but if you’re watching a video and need screenshots during the video, you can set it up and keep conformity in your captures. This feature is repeatable and scalable if you need to make tiny adjustments down the road, so there’s no need to rethink your capture every time. 

Easily display capture information by adding it to your screenshot

Directly add capture information to your screenshots so everyone can view the details, such as the application name and version, of your capture. 

Are you sending an error message to IT or technical support? Help them do their magic by adding in information system information. 

Or are you altering a document over and over again? Keep new (and old) versions of your project organized by adding in the time and date of capture right to your screenshot!

Image of Snagit menu that shows the capture informationn that can be added to any screenshot

By displaying capture information, viewers can find the capture date, URL, and more without having to dig through the capture settings. It’s convenient and informative for everyone.

Customize your camera video to fit your recording

If you want your face to appear in a circle, a square, or any other shape, we have the tool for you. Customize the size, shape, and location of your camera recording to best fit your video. While recording, move and resize your camera video so you don’t cover up any information.

GIF of a camera changing shapes to fit the woman's video needs best.

Messy background? Show less of it by choosing a circle that only shows your face. Not only will you have the viewer’s attention where you want it to be, but you can also really show off that good hair day. 

Screenshot an entire webpage with scrolling capture

Gone are the days of haphazardly stitching together multiple screenshots to create a complete picture. 

With scrolling capture, you can scroll as far as you’d like and capture everything in one screenshot. Capture a full webpage, long instructions, and full comment sections on your socials. Plus, scrolling capture works in all directions. Go from top to bottom and left to right, or vice-versa. 

Choose between automatic scrolling and manual, but be careful–automatic scrolling only works when you snap to a window. Use manual scrolling for a clearer picture if not snapped to a window. 

It’s efficient, convenient, and automatically rendered for you, so there is no work on your part. Besides a scroll or two.

Tip: If you’re using a non-automatic scrolling capture, avoid the scroll bar and scroll slowly to ensure your screenshot renders correctly.

GIF of Snagit taking a full webpage scrolling capture and rendering it into one image.

Create a video from images and add clarity to complicated captures

Why stop at images? Create a video from your screen captures, and record your camera and audio to explain information easily. Snap your screenshot, annotate all important parts, and then talk about the information in a quick video. It’s easy and lessens the pressure of presenting a screenshot directly. 

Instead of copy-pasting images into a PowerPoint slide deck, directly present with your screenshots for a time-saving hack. 

Image of someone starting a video recording on a pre-existing screenshot.

Complicated screen captures can be hard to decipher with just words, so recording a quick explanation can add much-needed clarity. 

 Tip: You can turn your camera and audio on/off to fit your video’s needs best.

Edit your heart out

From JPEG TO PDF, batch convert images for a time-saving trick

Need to add a watermark to a lot of pictures? Or maybe edit a certain filter in? Instead of wasting time by editing each picture individually, batch convert your images all at once. In no time, you’ll have identical edits on every picture you select.

Not only that, but you can convert all of your file formats, apply a new naming convention, and save a group of images to a new file location. Just select your group of images, and use the Batch Export Wizard to apply the new edits to your files.

The Batch Export wizard allows you to edit multiple files to:

  • Convert files into another file format.
  • Apply the same effect(s) to multiple files.
  • Save a group of images to a new file location.
  • Apply a naming convention to a set of files.

Save yourself some time with this handy feature!

Zoom in on important details with the Magnify tool

Always ensure that your viewer’s attention is where you need it with the Magnify tool. Zoom in on the important details and call out any areas easily. 

This tool gets in on the details without distorting your image with a full zoom. Just click, and boom, it’s done. Plus, you can change the color of the magnifying frame to make the information pop!

Image of magnified areas being blown up and put aside to show more details in the icons.

Tip: You can move and resize the magnified area around your screenshot. Don’t worry about it covering up any important information and offset it instead! 

Delete (or fill in) your background for clearer captures

Sometimes, we need to include logos and icons in our PowerPoint presentations, but they have a pesky background that messes up the clean look of your presentation. Sound familiar?

By deleting a busy background, you can make sure that those backgrounds are neat and visually appealing every time. After deleting, add in a neutral color that matches your theme, or leave it transparent, whichever fits your content best. Rest assured that none of your presentations will look messy ever again!

Keep your go-to tools handy with a customizable toolbar

Do you find yourself using a few tools more than the rest? Keep them on hand by customizing your toolbar to fit your needs. With the click of your mouse, you can easily access your favorite tools for a faster, more convenient editing experience.

You can customize these four categories:

  • Drawing tools
  • Menu items
  • Share destinations
  • Effects
GIF of the toolbar in Snagit being edited to fit the user's needs best.

Editing, sharing, and organizing your captures has never been easier!

Keep information safe with the Blur Tool

Sometimes our screenshots contain sensitive, or maybe just distracting, information. Prevent any security mishaps from happening with the Blur Tool. Just click and drag over any areas you’d like to hide from your viewers and keep your information safe. 

Try out different blur styles, like pixelate, to switch up the look of the effect and change the intensity for a blur that fits your capture every time. 

Image of s log on portal with information blurred out.

Edit captured text for easy copy changes

Snagit’s Grab & Edit Text Tool allows you to edit and delete text captured in your screenshot. 

Under Smart Move, you can edit text directly on your screenshot. Just click, switch, and save some new copy. Snagit will even match the font as best as it can! 

You can also access this feature under the selection tool. Right-click and select “edit text” to get started!

Easily edit out unnecessary text, fill out templates, and mock up potential edits with this nifty tool. 

Tip: Want to edit some text in another document or export it to your team directly? Right-click the text you want to export, click grab text, and watch as your screenshotted copy is extracted into its own box. Then, copy and paste anywhere.

GIF of text being grabbed and exported into text that can be copy and pasted into another document.

Delete selected areas to organize your screenshot

Select certain areas and delete them to organize and optimize your screenshot. Anything can be removed with this tool. Remove one small element for clarity, or delete the majority of your document to show new possibilities, it’s up to you. 

Delete your personal email from a template, remove user information from log-in portals, and customize your screenshots for different audiences. 

GIF of a selection on a screenshot being deleted seamlessly.

After you delete an area, the deleted background will automatically render to best match the surrounding image, so you don’t have to fill it in yourself. You can go in and fine-tune the background anyway because we know you want it to be perfect.

Declutter your screenshots with Simplify

Get rid of distractions by simplifying text and images. This feature saves your team time trying to decipher what’s important by designing a friendly user interface that creates a focus on what’s important.

There are different, fun options like cursors, profile pictures, thumbnails, and more, so you can simplify as much, or as little, as you want. Whether your screenshot needs a whole revamp, or you need a quick adjustment for a presentation, this is the tool for you.

Screenshot that has information simplified.

The Simplify tool creates shapes and placeholders that match the main colors of your screenshot automatically! Access it under Quick Styles and Tool Properties to customize your color palette. Create cleaner, neater screenshots and focus attention where it needs to be. 

Tip: No time? No problem! Auto-simplify detects the clutter and does it for you!

Move specific elements to rearrange information

Select and move elements with the Smart Move tool. Reorder confusing instructions, show alternatives to project designs, and easily correct mistakes. With this tool, your screenshot’s possibilities become endless. 

And don’t worry about your background, Snagit will autofill the area you’re moving elements from to its best match so there are no messy and awkward spots.

GIF of items being moved in a screenshot to rearrange the information.

Delete, resize, or move your cursor

Did you accidentally capture your cursor in your screenshot? No worries! With this tool, you can easily delete the cursor from your image. Snagit knows what’s hiding in the layer underneath, so you don’t have to worry about it altering your background. 

Hover over the captured cursor and watch as it becomes clickable so you can move, resize, or delete it altogether. 

You can also go the opposite route and make your cursor stand out. Make it bigger to capture attention and move it around so it shows up exactly where you need it. Tutorials and “how-to” instructions just got a whole lot easier. 

Make your information eye-catching with a spotlight (Mac)

Highlight (literally) the most important part of your screenshot for an eye-catching look. Use a spotlight and put your information on stage for everyone to see clearly, without the hassle of distractions.

Choose from pre-made shapes, or create your own so you can highlight only what you need. 

Image of a textbox being highlighted using the spotlight tool with the background being darker and blurry.

Then, blur the background and change the opacity so that only the information you want to show off is on display.

Point out key information with customizable stamps

A must-have tool for anyone’s editing needs. Easily point out critical information with arrows, and explain specific areas with customizable callouts. There’s even a cursor stamp to show off specific clicks! 

The Stamp Tool is boundless and will support any message you convey in your screenshots. Quick visual feedback is easy when you stamp a green checkmark or a red X on your team’s projects. 

GIF of stamps being used in a screenshot to give a document a stamp of approval.

Tip: make your captures fun with emojis!

Spruce up your captures with the effects panel

Quick, small edits can change your capture’s effectiveness and make it visually appealing for your viewers. Sometimes a small change, such as adding a grayscale filter, will aid comprehension by conveying complex information in a digestible way–free from distractions.

Image of a border added around a screenshot about Sea Otters.

Edits are easily accessible in Snagit’s Effects panel. Quickly add a Border, add a Watermark, adjust colors, and more! These small changes can really make a world of difference. 

Add numbered steps to show processes

Instructions can be confusing, but they don’t have to be when you add numbered steps

Effortlessly add clarity to onboarding documents, explain new processes efficiently, and simplify tutorials with this handy tool. 

Snagit’s Step Tool allows you to pick the shape, color, and position of the step tool so that it fits your document perfectly! You can even save it as a quick style for future uses. 

And don’t worry about needing to delete a step: Snagit automatically renumbers for you so you don’t have to waste any time going back and forth. We’re here to make your life easy.

1, 2, 3, (or a,b,c) and done!

A screenshot with step tools used to show a process of making a user manual.

Tip: Need multiple step counts? Click the refresh button to reset the number to 1.

Multi-tail callouts add information to (you guessed it) multiple areas

Are you ever looking over your coworker’s project and need to point out the same mistake over and over again? Stop cluttering up their project and use Extra-Tail Callouts to add the same comment to multiple areas.

Customize your callouts to match your document’s colors, and add in new tails by dragging the blue dot or right-clicking on the callout. It’s that simple.

So whether you need this tool to make quick comments, edits, or connect ideas together, you can ease your coworker’s comprehension and make it a quick process instead.

Screenshot with multi-tail callouts being used to show off different types of otters.

Store & Share

Never lose a screenshot with smart library filters

Don’t remember where you filed that one screenshot? Or is your desktop full of years and years’ worth of random screenshots? Don’t worry! Snagit keeps your files organized for you in its Library. 

Depending on which website URL, application, or even month you screenshot, Snagit automatically keeps a folder of all captures. All you have to do is remember where you screenshotted and go to the appropriate folder–it’s that easy. 

Image of Snagit's library with different classifications that store screenshots in multiple places.

Tip: Add tags to your content for a personalized filing system. (See below)

Tag content for later recall in the library

Use personalized tags to keep your content organized. Just select the captures you’d like to tag and create a unique category name. Find content faster and easier by creating the filing system that works for you.

Did you find a picture you like while browsing the internet? Snag a quick screenshot and use tags to make Pinterest-inspired mood boards! The possibilities are truly endless. 

Image of tagged contents in Snagit to keep information organized.

Let’s be real, half of the time you send an email, you forget to add the attachment. Then comes the awkward follow-up email with a single file. Forget the embarrassment and share your screenshots with a link. 

At the click of a button, a unique URL will be copied to your clipboard, making it easy to share your link with Screencast. Just paste it into an email and watch as the link to your screenshot appears. No messy uploading is needed. Your Snagit content will be stored in your Screencast library, making it easy to access, review, and share with anyone, even if they don’t use Screencast themselves. 

Remember: After clicking the Share Link button, don’t expect your content to be downloaded to your computer! By pasting the link into an email, Slack, etc. you will be able to send it to anyone. No downloads and uploads are needed. 

Image of a screenshot being shared through Screencast using the share link button.

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

How to Remove Background Noise From Audio

Graphic representation of audio editing, specifically the process of removing background noise. It features a sound wave pattern across the center against a gradient purple background, signifying audio frequency. Below the waveform, there are two icons: a speaker emitting sund waves and another with a line through it, connected by an arrow pointing right, symbolizing the transformation from noisy to clean audio. This image is suitable for educational content about audio editing techniques and sound engineering.

Imagine you’ve just finished recording a video, only to play it back and notice a constant hum in the background. It’s frustrating, but no one will care as long as the picture quality is good, right? Wrong! Good video content isn’t just about crystal-clear visuals — the audio quality is just as important. 

Whether it’s the buzz of distant traffic, the unexpected whir of an air conditioning unit, or some unidentifiable hissing sound, even the most meticulously planned recordings can fall victim to intrusive background noise. While some video makers might be tempted to ignore such issues, poor audio can severely detract from your content and distract your audience. 

But fear not, removing (or at least reducing) unwanted noise is easier than you think — and it doesn’t involve refilming your entire video. In this guide, we’ll show you ​​how to remove noise from audio to ensure that your message is heard loud and clear. 

So, if you’re looking to learn how to remove white noise from audio, look no further! All you need is the right tools and a little know-how, which is exactly what we’ll be discussing in this post. We’ll also be looking at:

The easiest way to record and edit voice over audio

Audiate transcribes your voice as you record, so you can edit your audio just like a text document!

Try Audiate for free!
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What is audio background noise and why is it harmful?

There’s no single definition of audio noise, but generally speaking, it’s any background sound such as fans, people talking, cars driving by, or other ambient noises that shouldn’t be in your video. Even faulty wiring in your devices (such as your microphone) can cause an annoying background buzz!

While good audio goes a long way in making a good video, noisy audio distracts viewers from the information that’s being given. Don’t believe us? Here are some examples: 

Noisy Audio Background

In this audio clip, you can clearly hear a hiss in the background. While it might not be overly distracting, it could be a lot better.

Clean Audio Background

Now here’s the same clip, but with the audio noise removed…

There’s no denying that the second clip sounds better. It’s cleaner, clearer, and — most importantly — it sounds more professional. It’s a bit like when you turn off a semi-loud appliance, like the hood over your stove, and realize how much quieter (and nicer) it is without that noise. 

How to remove background noise from audio BEFORE you record

As with many things, when dealing with noisy audio, prevention is the greatest cure. While there are a few things you can do to record great audio, one of them is finding the quietest possible environment.

You don’t need a professional studio to get great results — though you could make a DIY recording studio (if you have the time and budget) — but you do want to pick a quiet space that you have some control over. Then, you should get familiar with the typical ambient sounds in that area.

Can you hear large trucks or other traffic from outside? What about the heating or air conditioning? Is there a fan turning on and off? Are people talking in other rooms? Are there fluorescent lights buzzing overhead? These are just a few of the noises that might distract from your voice over. 

Once you’ve chosen your space, run a short test recording to get an idea of the sounds your equipment might pick up. You don’t need to speak, just use your microphone to record 10-20 seconds of the room’s natural noise. In technical terms, this is called “recording your room tone.” 

When you’re done, listen to your room tone recording using headphones. Is there anything that you can hear that can be immediately eliminated?

For example, if you can hear the fan from your heating/cooling system, then turn it off while you record. If you hear people talking in the background, you could (politely) ask them to move their conversation to a different area. 

Your room tone recording will also help you reduce audio noise after you’ve recorded as it can act as the baseline for your audio software to remove noise. Don’t worry if that sounds complicated, because next we’re going talk you through it. 

The easiest way to record and edit voice over audio

Audiate transcribes your voice as you record, so you can edit your audio just like a text document!

Try Audiate for free!
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How to reduce background noise from existing videos

There are a lot of free audio editing applications out there, but they can be complicated and require some prior knowledge of audio editing techniques.

However, because we want to make things easy for you, in this example we’re going to show you how to remove background noise from audio, using TechSmith’s Audiate

What’s Audiate? It’s only the easiest way to record and edit your voice over like a pro… no big deal. 

Using magic (aka. very clever and complicated technology), Audiate transcribes your voice over as you record it and then lets you edit the audio as if it were a text document. If you need to cut a word or sentence, just highlight it and delete it. It’s that simple! 

Audiate can also transcribe imported audio recordings, so if you’ve already recorded your voice over but don’t yet have Audiate, it doesn’t matter. You can still import the audio, edit it, and use it to isolate your voice from background noise. However, the steps below are for reducing audio noise that you’re recording (not importing).

So, without further ado, here’s how to remove white noise from audio (or any other noise for that matter):

Step 1: Record your room tone audio and voice over

First, record your room tone as we mentioned above. That means getting a 10-20 second clip of what the room sounds like before you start talking. Then, in the same recording, record your voice over.

Next, before you work on removing the background noise, edit your voice over as needed.

Step 2: Apply the Remove Noise filter

The Audiate add effects and filters panel.

Once you’re happy with your voice over, click the Filters and Effects button, then the Plus symbol (+) to add an effect, and select Remove Noise.

Next, adjust the effect’s settings to reduce as much of the room tone noise as possible from the first 10-20 seconds you recorded by using the Processing slider to adjust how much noise you want to remove. 

While it can be tempting to remove all the noise from your recording, it’s worth noting that doing so will likely make your voice over sound muddy or unnatural.

The Focus dropdown allows you to choose what types of sound frequencies you want to filter out. For example, if your audio noise consists of mostly high-frequency sounds (like hissing), you could select High Frequency.

The Output slider will allow you to adjust the volume of the audio coming out of the filter while the Remove Hum/Buzz switch can automatically remove many kinds of hums and buzzes common to noisy audio.

Step 3: Check your voice over

Once you have reduced the noise in your room tone, listen to how the filter has affected your voice over recording. Does it sound good? Or, does it sound a little off?

Applying too much noise reduction can sometimes make your recording sound strange. Fixing this is as simple as adjusting the settings to maintain optimal noise reduction while also ensuring your voice sounds natural.

The easiest way to record and edit voice over audio

Audiate transcribes your voice as you record, so you can edit your audio just like a text document!

Try Audiate for free!
audiate icon

How to reduce audio background in a video editor

Aside from Audiate, TechSmith’s Camtasia is also great at removing audio noise — especially when the audio is already embedded in a video. Just in case you’re unfamiliar with Camtasia, it’s an advanced video editing software that doubles up as a sophisticated screen recorder.

Despite its vast range of cutting-edge tools and functionality, Camtasia sports a sleek and intuitive user interface. This means it’s great for professional video editors looking to make complex edits, as well as those people looking to make their first-ever YouTube video

With Camtasia, you can add music to a video, change the speed of a video, and even make a split screen video in just a few simple steps! While you don’t necessarily need both Camtasia and Audiate, they integrate seamlessly to help optimize your workflow.

For example, Audiate makes it easy to create an .srt file with its own transcription that can be used to add captions to your video in Camtasia. What’s more, if you record your audio separately in Audiate, you can easily sync your audio and video sources in Camtasia. 

You can also use Camtasia as a way to get rid of white noise in audio that features in a video, which is exactly what we’re going to discuss in this section. 

Step 1: Open your video in Camtasia and separate the audio and video

Separating audio and video tracks in Camtasia is incredibly easy. Just right-click on your video in the Camtasia Timeline and choose Separate Video and Audio.

Righ-click on the video on the Camtasia timeline and select Separate Video and Audio.

Your audio will now appear on a separate track on the Timeline.

Separated audio and video on the Camtasia timeline.

Step 2: Apply the Remove Noise audio effect

The Camtasia audio effects panel.

Next, click on Audio Effects and drag the Remove Noise effect to the audio track on your timeline. In the Properties panel, you can adjust how sensitive the Noise Reduction effect is with the Sensitivity slider, and the amount of noise you want to remove with the Reduction slider.

And that’s all there is to it. Just remember not to go over-the-top with the noise reduction or your audio might sound strange.

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Removing background noise from audio, the FAQs

The audio in my video is noisy, can I fix it?

Yes! With the right tools, fixing noisy audio can be very easy.

Is there anything I can do to prevent noisy audio before I record?

The best way to ensure your audio isn’t noisy is to record in the quietest spot possible.

How do I reduce audio noise?

Use your audio editor’s noise reduction feature. In TechSmith Audiate, click the Filters and Effects button and then click the plus sign, and choose Remove Noise. You can adjust the settings to get the sound you desire.

How do I reduce audio noise in a video?

TechSmith Camtasia has a filter to reduce audio noise. Separate the audio and video tracks on the Camtasia Timeline and then apply the Noise Reduction audio effect.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2016 and has since been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Ryan Knott

Ryan Knott is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where he creates content about easy, effective, and efficient video creation, editing, and tips and tricks, as well as audio editing for creators of all kinds. He/him.

The Best Way to Add a Voice Over to PowerPoint

The Best Way to Record Voice Over for PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is generally considered to be little more than a tool for creating and giving live presentations. It can, however, be used to create great content, such as educational and instructional videos — all you have to do is add a voice over. 

Knowing how to do a voice over on PowerPoint is a brilliant way to transform a bunch of slides into a dynamic piece of professional content that can reach audiences far beyond the conference room. While PowerPoint comes with a built-in presentation recorder, it’s not without its limitations. But, there is a better way. 

Tools like TechSmith’s Camtasia, ideal for screen recording and video editing, and TechSmith’s Audiate, designed for audio editing, make voiceover work a breeze. In this post, we’ll show you how to harness both of these tools for maximum impact.

Before we dive into the how-to, it’s important to understand why voice overs are so powerful in PowerPoint presentations and how exactly the help to ensure your presentation isn’t boring. So, in this post, we’ll also discuss:

Why record voice overs for PowerPoint?

The shift to digital and remote working, learning, and collaboration has firmly taken root. From Zoom meetings to virtual classrooms, and even messaging platforms like Slack, remote communication has become a normal part of everyday life. This digital transition means that meetings, workshops, employee training, classroom lectures, and presentations are increasingly moving online.

In today’s digital world, delivering your presentation doesn’t always require being there in person. Instead, you have the freedom to rehearse, record, and edit your presentation in advance, ensuring it’s polished before anyone sees it. It also means that your audience can watch your presentation at a time that suits them. 

While this is excellent for perfecting your presentation without the pressure of a live audience, adding a voice over to a recorded presentation can significantly amplify its impact. Imagine a live presentation without the human touch of a voice – it’s like having a deck of slides without the story. There’s a reason why they’re called TED Talks, not just TED Decks.

With your voice breathing life into your PowerPoint, what was once a standard presentation becomes an immersive experience. Whether it’s for an online class, a webinar, or a remote business meeting, your message will resonate more when it’s heard.

As we navigate a world that increasingly blends face-to-face and virtual interactions, the power of a well-narrated presentation can’t be underestimated. It’s about breaking down barriers to communication, reaching people wherever they are, and making sure your message isn’t just delivered but remembered.

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Record and Edit Voice Over for PowerPoint!

Audiate makes recording and editing your voice as simple as editing text in a document.

Try Audiate for free
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Recorded PowerPoint presentations are more flexible

While live meetings and educational sessions have their place, they require everyone to be in the same place at the same time (even if the place is virtual). That’s fine if all your employees, students, or other audience members are in the same time zone. 

But what if your company has employees all over the world? That 2 p.m. ET meeting at your company’s HQ will take place at midnight for your employees in Sydney, Australia.

What if your company has employees all over the world? That 2 p.m. EST meeting at your company's headquarters happens at midnight for your employees in Sidney, Australia.

Moreover, what about employees, students, or others who have to share technology? Or don’t always have access to high-speed internet? Or the privacy necessary to meet at the appointed time?

By offering your presentation asynchronously (which is just a fancy word for “on-demand”), you give people the flexibility to consume your content when it’s convenient or easier for them. Plus they can consume it at their own pace, they have more opportunities to absorb and understand the information.

That doesn’t mean that synchronous (just a fancy word for “live” or “in-person) meetings, training sessions, classes, etc. aren’t important or useful. It just means that providing your audience with more options gives your content more value.

Forget PowerPoint’s built-in recorder — there’s a better way

The first thing you’ll probably notice when you decide to record a voice over for your PowerPoint presentation is that PowerPoint has a built-in recorder. Just click the record presentation button and you’re good to go.

This will get the job done, but it’s not the best way to do it. And you know what they say, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right”. If, for example, you want to make small edits to your recording at a later stage, you’re going to really regret using PowerPoint’s built-in recorder, as it doesn’t allow you to edit mistakes or verbal flubs. 

With PowerPoint, you only get one take. That means you have to remember what you want to say, advance your slides, and do your best to avoid stumbling — just like if you were doing it in front of a live audience.

Quick-and-dirty recordings work in some casts, but for others you want to show something a little more professional.

Quick-and-dirty recordings work in some cases, but for others — especially anything that will be consumed outside your company —  you might want something a little more professional. Creating an on-demand recorded presentation will let you do exactly that.

Plus, by recording your voice over separately, you can ensure that your recordings are professional and more engaging.

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Record and Edit Voice Over for PowerPoint!

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How to record voice over for PowerPoint

Now, if you’re not going to use PowerPoint’s built-in recorder, what are you going to use? Well, this is where Audiate comes in…

Audiate is, without a doubt, one of the best tools you can use to record and edit a voice over. You’ll find out why in the following steps, but perhaps one of the coolest features of Audiate is that it allows you to edit audio recordings as if they were text files. 

All you have to do is delete the words, sentences, and sounds you don’t want. We’ll tell you all about it shortly, but it’s really easy to use and integrates seamlessly with Camtasia. Best of all you can download a free trial for both Audiate and Camtasia, without giving up your credit card details — just click the links in this sentence!

Okay, so we told you that Audiate is easy to use. And when we say easy, we mean it’s almost ridiculously easy — and we’re going to prove it to you.

1. Start with a script

Whether you’ve created a new presentation or you’re recording one you’ve given a thousand times, writing a script will ensure you know what you want to say, exactly how and when you want to say it. It also helps you stay on topic and remember important points. 

If you already have a slide deck, you can use that as the outline for your script. Then, just write up what you would say to your audience if you were presenting it live.

Of course, if you don’t want to write a full, word-for-word script, even a bulleted list of talking points is better than nothing at all. Trust us, a script will save you a ton of editing time later.

2. Record your audio

 

Gone are the days when audio recording and editing were reserved for professional audio producers, fraught with complex settings and overwhelming interfaces.

Audiate revolutionizes this process with its simplicity and user-friendliness. Its intuitive UI is designed for ease of use, allowing you to start recording your voice over in just a few seconds. To start, simply hit the Record button and start talking. Audiate will transcribe your audio in real-time, which means your words will appear on screen, as you speak. 

Once you’re done recording, just click Stop, and Audiate will finish transcribing. This process not only makes recording a stress-free experience but also ensures that editing your voice over is super easy. 

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Record and Edit Voice Over for PowerPoint!

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3. Edit and export your recording

Everyone makes mistakes or hesitates when recording — even the guy who does all the voice overs for movie trailers. The beauty of Audiate lies in its ability to correct these mishaps. Because Audiate displays your spoken words as text, it eliminates the need to comb through audio waveforms. 

Made a mistake? Just find the word or sentence, highlight it, and delete it. Audiate even offers the option to automatically remove common hesitations like “umms” and “uhhs” in just a few clicks.

Need to rearrange your content? Audiate lets you cut and paste words or entire sections as needed. Adding more audio is just as easy — simply hit Record, and your new audio will be added to the end of the existing file, ready to be cut and pasted wherever you need it to be.

If you plan to add captions to your video (which we recommend you do), be sure to go through the transcription and correct anything that Audiate may have misheard to ensure the text matches what you said.

That’s it, you have now successfully recorded and edited your voice over! All that’s left to do is click the Export button and save it as a .WAV file. You can also click File and Export Script, which will save your transcript as an .SRT file that Camtasia can use to add captions.

In the next section, we’ll show you how to add your edited audio to your video in Camtasia.

Pro tip: Edit your video in Camtasia 

Camtasia is a powerful, but easy-to-use video editor. Even if you’ve never made a video before, you can quickly learn to create professional-quality content — here’s how: 

Import your slides

Click Import Media to find and select your media to import.

With Camtasia, you can import PowerPoint slides and insert the audio afterward. No more recording your screen while you run through your slides.

Just click File > Import > Media or, in the Media tab, click the Import Media button and navigate to select your PowerPoint files.

As it stands, Camtasia can’t import presentations made with Google Slides or Apple Keynote. However, if you created your deck in either of those applications, you can save your file as a PowerPoint presentation (.ppt file) and Camtasia can import that instead.

Once you’ve imported your slides, do the same thing for your audio recording.

Add your slides to the timeline

Select your slide or slides and drag them to the timeline.

Once your slides and audio are in the Media Bin, drag the audio over to the Timeline. Then, simply add your slides to the Timeline as needed. 

Now you can adjust the slide timing and the amount of time they’re visible to ensure they correlate with what’s being said in your voice over. 

With everything in its right place, you can export and share your video with your audience, but there are a few more things you can do to ensure the audio is as good as it can possibly be…  

Take your video a step further

Use Camtasia’s callouts and other features to add arrows, highlight important information, or otherwise enhance the video experience for your viewers. That’s something you definitely can’t do in PowerPoint.

When you’re ready to add your captions, click Modify and Add Captions to import your captions file. Drag it to the timeline and Camtasia will automatically put the captions in the right spot in your video. 

When you’re satisfied that your video is done, you can save the file locally or upload it to any of Camtasia’s array of destinations, including YouTube, Google Drive, Vimeo, and TechSmith’s Screencast (to name a few).  

Now your video really is ready to be shared with the world!

Just remember that if you ever need to edit or update your video, you can easily go back into Camtasia, replace whatever slides need changing, and import whatever new audio you’ve recorded. If you had recorded your presentation using PowerPoint, you’d have to start from scratch. 

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Tips for getting great audio

Now we know you’re ready and raring to get started with your voice over, but we’d be remiss if if we didn’t give you a few pointers on how to record high-quality audio

So, before you go, here are a few extra tips: 

  • Start with a script. You’ll speak more confidently and you’ll stay on point.
  • Use a better mic. Your computer microphone will work in a pinch, but if you really want the best audio (or, if you plan to make more videos), invest in a decent USB microphone. Some of the best microphones for recording videos will probably cost a lot less than you think. 
  • Stay hydrated. Your voice sounds better when your vocal chords are nice and hydrated. So, be sure to keep water handy while you’re recording and take a sip when you need to. You can edit out that part later.
  • Speak slowly and clearly. When people are nervous they tend to race through whatever they’re trying to say. So, remember to breathe, slow down, and enunciate.

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Record and Edit Voice Over for PowerPoint!

Audiate makes recording and editing your voice as simple as editing text in a document.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to do voice over for PowerPoint?

Not at all. With the right tools, you can easily add voice overs to PowerPoint slides and turn your presentation into an engaging educational or informational video!

What tools do I need to record voice over for PowerPoint?

Not much! A decent microphone and a quiet place to record will go a long way in ensuring your recording sounds great.

Should I record my voice over using the PowerPoint presentation recorder?

While PowerPoint’s built-in recorder works in a pinch, you’ll save your self a lot of time and effort by using a standalone audio recorder like TechSmith’s Audiate.

What software should I use to edit my presentation video?

We highly recommend TechSmith Camtasia. It’s super easy to use and can import PowerPoint slides directly!

Ryan Knott

Ryan Knott is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where he creates content about easy, effective, and efficient video creation, editing, and tips and tricks, as well as audio editing for creators of all kinds. He/him.

How to Blur a Video (Quick & Easy)

How to Blur a Video

Blurring parts of your videos can be a great way to add privacy, eliminate distractions, and enhance the audience’s focus on your content. It’s also the best way to ensure you’re complying with privacy laws when showing content that includes sensitive information. 

However, some video editing software can be tricky. Who wants to fiddel with loads of overly-complicated settings just to blur one small piece of information? Exactly, nobody!  Fortunately for you, there is a better way…

TechSmith’s Camtasia makes it easy to blur any element of your video, no matter how big or small. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a simple, step-by-step process on how to blur videos quickly and easily.

If, however, you’re trying to find out how to fix a blurry video, click here.

Why Blurring Videos?

There are more reasons to blur a video than simply wanting to hide someone’s identity or sensitive information. In fact, blurring can be a powerful tool in editing, offering several aesthetic and practical benefits. 

Whether it’s to maintain focus, ensure privacy, or add a professional touch, being able to use the blur tool properly can transform your content, here’s how: 

Busy background

It’s an easy thing to overlook, but having a busy background can detract from the primary subject of your video. However, by blurring out distracting elements, you can keep your viewers focused on what matters. 

Whether it’s a cluttered room or an unorganized desktop, a blur effect helps maintain the audience’s focus on the content, ensuring your message is heard loud and clear.

Easily and quickly blur your videos!

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Unwanted objects

Photobombs are the worst. Whether it’s an email notification popping up while you record your screen, or someone unexpectedly appearing in your shot, your viewer’s eyes will be drawn to these distracting intruders. 

However, blurring these elements allows you to keep your content professional and focused without needing to start recording all over again. It’s an easy fix for those unforeseen intrusions that can occur while filming.

Privacy

Protecting privacy is crucial, especially in today’s digital age. Blurring videos is key when displaying faces, license plates, emails, or other sensitive information that should be kept private. 

Blurring sensitive data isn’t only the right thing to do, it could well be a legal necessity, especially if your video will be available to the public. It’s not just about protecting the person’s details — it’s about protecting yourself from a lawsuit should anything go awry. 

Highlighting text

As well as hiding information, blurring out unnecessary text can be very effective in drawing people’s attention to specific details in your video. This technique creates a natural focal point, making it easier for your audience to focus on key information, be it in instructional content, product demos, or educational videos.

How to Blur Videos With Camtasia

Step 1: Record or import your video

If you want to know how to make a video blurry, then you probably have some footage already. But if you don’t, we’ll show you how to import or record a video too.

Camtasia’s intuitive design makes it easier than ever to create professional-quality videos. Whether you’re making a YouTube video from scratch or just need to trim some footage, Camtasia could be exactly what you’re looking for. 

With Camtasia, you can record videos directly within the software, or upload footage you’ve filmed elsewhere. You can also change the speed of your footage, add music to your video, and create closed captions

Now, to record a video with Camtasia, open the application and click the red Record button. You can choose to record your microphone, computer screen, webcam, or other video source, and system audio at the same time, or individually.

How to record video in Camtasia.

When you finish recording, click Stop, and your video will automatically appear on the Timeline, ready for editing. 

You can also import a previously created video by clicking on, File > Import > Media and selecting the video you wish to import. You can also use this method to import other assets such as images, presentation slides, and video clips. 

When you have all the files you need, simply drag them from the Media Bin to the Timeline. We told you it’s easy! 

How to import media in Camtasia

Step 2: Add the blur effect

To blur a part of your video, click the Annotations tab and then the Blur & Highlight tab. 

How to blur a video in Camtasia.

Next, drag a blur annotation to the Canvas. From there, you can adjust the size and position of the blurred area to cover the desired section. You can also change the intensity of the blur to make it more or less blurry.

How to adjust a blur effect in Camtasia.

How to completely block something in a video?

If you need to completely cover a piece of information, we recommend using the Shapes feature. Simply click and drag a shape to the canvas and adjust its size and position until what you’re trying to cover is completely hidden.

How to add shapes to Camtasia.

There’s a wide variety of different shapes that you can use, and you can change the color of each one to suit the style you’re looking for. For more information about Annotations, Callouts, and Titles, check out the tutorial below.

Step 3: Share your video

Once you’ve blurred all the information you need to hide, it’s time to share it with the world. Camtasia will give you the option to export your footage to a range of the most popular sharing destinations, including YouTube, Vimeo, and Screencast Classic — to name a few.

Camtasia offers several sharing destinations.

And that’s all there is to it! You now know how to blur a video like a pro! No more worries about privacy issues or viewers seeing a part of your screen that isn’t relevant. 

For more tips on how to get the most out of Camtasia, be sure to check out our guides on merging videos, cropping footage, and how to make a split-screen video. Now get out there and make some secure and professional content!

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How to Blue a Video, the FAQs

How do I blur out an image in a video?

With Camtasia, you can easily drag a blur effect to any image in your video that you’d like to hide. You can also adjust the blur effect to cover as large or small of an area as needed.

How do I blur someone’s face in a video?

If you’re looking to hide someone’s face, Camtasia makes it easy to click and drag either a blur or shape effect to cover the person’s image and protect their identity.

Kara Swanson

Marketing Content Specialist at TechSmith. I know way more about tea than any human being ever should.

How to Record a Presentation with Webcam, Narration, and More

Vibrant illustration of a presentation recording setup, featuring a stylized web browser window with an icon of a person gesturing and two speech bubbles, symbolizing an interactive online presentation. The design uses a bright blue to green gradient background with dynamic lines and shapes, suggesting movement and digital communication. This image is ideal for content related to creating and recording digital presentations, webinars, or instructional videos.

Everyone has, at some point, put a load of time and effort into creating the perfect PowerPoint presentation, only to use it once or twice. But isn’t it a shame for all that hard work to be discarded so quickly? Is every slide deck destined for deletion after just a couple of uses? 

Isn’t there a better way to make the most out of your presentations? Well, yes. Yes, there is. 

Rather than simply creating and presenting your work once or twice, recording your presentations can give them a new lease of life. Whether it’s a data report or a self-recorded PowerPoint, you can record a presentation in real-time, or in advance to make it available on-demand.

In this guide, we’ll explore two distinct ways of recording your presentation. First, we’ll discuss how to record a presentation from PowerPoint with audio and webcam, and then we’ll look at how to turn your .ppt slides into a video.

Benefits of Recording a Presentation 

As well as there being many different ways to record a presentation, there are also many benefits of recording them. So, before we show you the ‘how,’ let’s talk about the ‘why.’ 

  • Encouraging asynchronous communication: One key benefit is fostering asynchronous communication. By recording presentations, you’re letting your audience engage with the content in their own time, breaking the constraints of time zones and scheduling conflicts. This also ensures your viewers can absorb information at their own pace, and revisit it as needed.
  • Boosting SEO: You can use your presentation to create a YouTube video and share it on your website to increase your online visibility and attract prospective customers. This can be a great way to expand your audience, increase web traffic, and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
  • Perfecting your presentation: Whether it’s in-person or over Zoom, you don’t get second chances with live presentations. However, a pre-recorded keynote lets you perfect the content and the narration before anyone sees it. This is a great way to combat stage fright while honing your presentation skills and building confidence.

With this in mind, turning your slides into a video is a no-brainer. It’s an easy way to grow your audience and make the information you’re sharing more accessible and easier to digest.

Record your presentation today!

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How to record your presentation (with Snagit)

Depending on your audience and the type of presentation you need to deliver, TechSmith’s Snagit could just be the perfect tool for recording your PowerPoint. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, Snagit is ideal for capturing top-notch presentation videos, in just a few clicks. 

Now, there’s no denying that presentations are better when you can see the presenter… Fortunately, Snagit lets you capture your screen and webcam at the same time to create a Picture-in-Picture video.

In this section, we’ll guide you through the steps to record your presentation and webcam with Snagit. 

Step 1: Open video capture 

First, open Snagit and navigate to the Capture window. Select the Video tab, and start by clicking the big red Capture button.

Step 2: Select a recording area

Next, you’ll be prompted to choose which parts of your screen you want to record. Use Snagit’s orange crosshairs to select a specific region, window, or your entire screen. 

Step 3: Configure recording settings

With the Video Recording toolbar, you can set options like Cursor Capture and Effects, System Audio, and Webcam. 

If your webcam isn’t showing, click on the webcam icon. If you have an external webcam, select the one you want to use by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the webcam icon. 

Step 4: Adjust your webcam

Next, adjust your webcam options to ensure your Picture-in-Picture recording looks how you want it. Here you can change the Picture-in-Picture placement as well as the shape and size of your webcam recording. You can even toggle between Picture-in-Picture and fullscreen webcam modes as you like.

The best part? You can make these adjustments even while recording.

Step 5: Manage recording

When you’re ready to roll, hit the Record button and click the Stop button when you’re finished. It’s that simple! 

And remember, if there’s an interruption (like an unexpected visit from the mailman), just hit Pause. It’s okay to take a break — your video won’t be ruined by a little interruption.

Step 6: Edit your video

Once you’ve finished recording, Snagit will automatically open your video in the Snagit Editor, which is super easy to use. From here, you can make light edits to the footage as needed. 

For example, if you need to cut or trim your footage, you can! Here’s how: 

  1. Set Start Point: Drag the Start handle (green) on the timeline to your desired starting point.
  2. Set End Point: Similarly, drag the End handle (red) to where you want to end the cut.
  3. Review the Segment: Before making any cuts, you can review the segment by dragging the Playhead (white) left and right across the timeline. This ensures you’re only cutting the footage you intend to.
  4. Make the Cut: Once you’re satisfied with the selection, click the Cut button, which will pop up once you’ve made a selection.

And that’s all there is to it! If you want to go the extra mile, you can also use Snagit to save individual frames of your video as images, which can be used to create a thumbnail for your video

Record your presentation today!

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How to record a presentation from PowerPoint with audio and webcam

Now, Snagit is great for recording less formal videos in a flash, but if your presentation is intended for a particularly large or important audience, you might be looking to create something more polished. This is where TechSmith’s Camtasia comes in. 

Camtasia is one of the smartest and most intuitive pieces of editing software out there, but it also makes for a pretty nifty screen recorder too. Camtasia is great for recording presentations when you need more control and editing powers over the final product. 

But best of all, Camtasia streamlines the process by letting you record your presentation and voice over directly within PowerPoint. 

 

Step 1: Set up your presentation video recording

If you’re a Windows user, you’ll have the option to include a PowerPoint Add-in Toolbar when you install Camtasia. While this feature isn’t currently available on MacOS, the Camtasia Add-in Toolbar allows you to start, stop, and control your recordings from within PowerPoint — so you don’t need to switch between applications.

Screenshot of how to record a powerpoint presentation with the Camtasia add-in toolbar

Just open the presentation you want to record and locate the Add-in toolbar under the Add-ins tab. 

Don’t see the add-in toolbar? Go to File > Options > Add-ins, to enable it. Click on the Manage drop-down, select Disabled Items, then click Go. If the Camtasia Add-in is listed, select it, and click Enable.

If you’re an Apple user, don’t panic! You can still record your screen (with audio) on a Mac using Camtasia, and it’s just as easy. Alternatively, you can skip ahead to the next section and import your slides directly into Camtasia. 

Step 2: Customize your recording options

Now let’s walk through each of the options on the toolbar before we begin recording.

Screenshot of the Camtasia add-in toolbar to record powerpoint

Record audio

The microphone button controls whether or not audio is recorded as part of your presentation. When you enable it, you’ll be able to record your narration using a microphone.

If you are planning to record audio, this is where you’ll select your microphone. If you want to record great audio, we suggest using an external microphone, rather than the one that’s built into your laptop. 

Some of the best microphones for recording video are likely to be less expensive than you think. But, if you’re on a shoestring budget, even the mic that’s built into your headphones could produce better audio than your laptop. 

Once you’re set up, be sure to test the mic and adjust the volume slider as needed. You’ll also need to decide whether or not to record your system audio, which is any sound that comes out of your speakers, such as email notifications. 

Record webcam

If you have a webcam, you can also record your camera during the presentation to create a Picture-in-Picture clip — just as you can with Snagit! 

screenshot of adding webcam to a presentation recording

To customize even more of the recording settings, click the Recording Options button. Here you’ll find settings that let you record with a watermark and adjust your video frame rate. There are a few more options too, but the default settings should work just fine.

When you’re ready, click OK to close this window and save any changes made.

Record your presentation today!

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Step 3: Record your presentation

The final step is as simple as clicking the Record button in the toolbar. This will launch your slides into the Presentation Mode and start recording.

When you exit Presentation Mode or reach the end of your slideshow, you can either continue recording your screen, or stop recording and save your file. Pretty easy right? 

Before you get started, let us show you another way to turn your presentation into a video, without recording your desktop

How to turn your PowerPoint presentation slides into a video

 

Another way to create a video from your presentation is to import your PowerPoint slides into Camtasia. This way you can adjust how long each slide appears on screen, as well as add Behaviors and Annotations to personalize your presentation and highlight important information. 

By importing your slides into Camtasia, and recording your voice over separately, you get a lot more flexibility with the editing process, which means you have more control over the finished article. 

If you do decide to record your audio separately, you might want to take a look at TechSmith’s Audiate. This advanced audio recorder will transcribe your voice over in real-time and let you edit the audio file as if it were a text-based document. We don’t want to brag, but it’s probably the best way to add a voice over to a PowerPoint

Regardless of how you decide to narrate your PowerPoint, here’s how to turn your presentation into a video: 

1. Import your PowerPoint slides

First, start by importing your PowerPoint slides directly into Camtasia. Once your media is imported, you can edit it by dragging your slides into the Editing Toolbar.

screenshot of how to add powerpoint slides into camtasia

You can now add the images to the Timeline, and edit them like any other media in a Project. 

screenshot of powerpoint slides in the camtasia media bin

If you drag your slides to the Timeline, the slides will be placed in the order of the presentation, each with a default 5-second duration.

screenshot of powerpoint slides in the camtasia timline

With your presentation on the timeline, use Ripple Move to create space in between slides to adjust the timing of each one. To do this, hold shift, then click and drag.

screenshot of how to adjust the timing of powerpoint slides in the camtasia timeline

Once you’ve imported your slides and adjusted the duration of each one to correlate with your voice over, it’s time to start editing. 

How to edit a presentation video (in Camtasia) 

Add Behaviors

Firstly, add some visual interest with Camtasia Behaviors. A Behavior is an animation that brings movement to your slides, making them stand out on screen. This is a great way to bring parts of your presentation to life and take it from ordinary to extraordinary — because nobody likes a boring presentation

To add a Behavior, click and drag the Behavior you wish to use onto the slide you want to animate. Once added, you can adjust the Behavior using the Properties tab.

animated gif of adding a camtasia behavior

Add annotations

Another good way to grab and direct your audience’s attention is to add some Annotations, which are great for highlighting important information.  

To insert an Annotation, click the Annotation tab on the left side of the screen and drag it into the designated slide. You can then re-position and edit the Annotation in the Properties tab as needed.

gif of adding an annotation in camtasia

Recording a PowerPoint Presentation, the FAQs

Can I record a PowerPoint presentation?

Absolutely! Both Snagit and Camtasia are excellent choices for recording a professional and polished presentation. Snagit is perfect for no-fuss recording and editing. If you require more sophisticated editing capabilities, Camtasia is the ideal choice, offering the added convenience of recording your slideshow and voice over directly within PowerPoint.

How do I record a slide in PowerPoint?

Click the Record button in the toolbar to launch your slides into the Presentation Mode and start recording. When you exit Presentation Mode or reach the end of your slideshow, you can either continue recording your screen or stop and save your file.

How do I record audio and video in PowerPoint?

If you’re planning to record audio, select your microphone in the recording options. The microphone button controls whether or not audio is recorded as part of your presentation. If you have a webcam attached to your computer, you can also record your camera to create a Picture-in-Picture clip, perfect for showing the presenter during the presentation.

How do I record audio with a presentation?

With Snagit, you can conveniently record your voice over as you go through your presentation, capturing both the audio and visuals in one go.
If you’re looking for more advanced recording and editing options, you might also consider using Camtasia, which allows you to record your voice over while presenting. For even more control, use Audiate to record your audio separately and then import it into Camtasia for fine-tuning.

Justin Simon

Global Content Strategy Manager at TechSmith. I play a lot of golf and watch a lot of football.

How to Create a Training Manual: Steps and Tools that Make it Easy

Illustrative graphic for content creation, specifically on "how to create a training manual." It features three overlapping paper documents with digital icons, displayed against a gradient blue background with abstract shapes. The foremost document has an image of mountains, symbolizing visuals in manuals, and is paired with a pencil, indicating the editing or creation process. The design conveys a theme of informative and educational material development.

Sooner or later, every company or organization needs to create a training manual. Often, they need to create multiple manuals to cover both internal and external training needs.

Internally, training manuals help all employees remain efficient and productive in the course of doing their jobs. Whereas externally, training manuals are critical content pieces for customer education, training, and, most importantly, satisfaction.

Now, you’d be forgiven for hearing “training manual” and picturing a thick, corporate-looking booklet bound in a bland cover with some stock imagery on it. But it doesn’t have to be that way! 

So, erase that image from your mind. The old booklet format still has its place in the world (e.g. your car glovebox), but there are so many more — and better — ways to train people. The training guides of today don’t look or function like the training manuals of yore, and with the right tools, it’s easier than ever to make great training materials. 

In this post, we’ll take a close look at how to write a training manual, as well as some of the best ways to make your own.

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What is the purpose of a training manual?

While the packaging of the traditional training manual has changed (thankfully!), its purpose remains the same.

A training manual is a set of instructions that improve the quality with which a job, process, or task is performed. Companies use training manuals with in-person, remote, on-demand, and just-in-time training. A few common applications include:

  • Onboarding new employees
  • Rolling out new software and systems
  • New protocol or process documentation
  • Sharing standard operating procedures
  • Customer training and education
  • Product instructions and information

Companies create employee training manuals to increase organizational productivity and ensure everyone has the tools and information they need to excel at their jobs.On the flip side, organizations create training manuals that support their customers, too. They can be used to teach how to use their products, when certain features come in handy, and demonstrate key workflows.

Training manuals for customer education help users get the most out of their purchases, making them a critical resource — which is why every successful company provides them.

The best training manuals are easy-to-follow, informational guides. They lay out concepts in clear language, using relevant examples and imagery. Done right, a good training manual becomes a trusted resource for employees and managers or customers and clients.

 

What are the different types of training manuals?

While all training manuals share a similar goal, they’re not all the same. From onboarding new employees, to guiding them through complex projects, each manual serves a unique purpose. 

Understanding the variety and function of different training manuals can help you determine which will be best for you. So, before we talk about how to create a training manual, let’s explore some of the most common types of manuals and what they can help you achieve. 

Employee Training Manuals

Arguably the most common type of training documentation in the corporate world, employee training videos and manuals are often designed to bring new hires up to speed in their roles. They cover everything from company policies and procedures to role-specific tasks and responsibilities. 

While employee training manuals may also be used to train existing staff on new processes and systems, the ultimate goal remains the same: To ensure that every employee has a clear understanding of their role, what’s expected of them, and how they fit into the company’s framework. 

By having a well-structured employee training manual, organizations can ensure consistency in training while reducing the learning curve for new hires and increasing overall productivity. It’s a win-win! 

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Project Manuals

When it comes to specific projects, especially complex ones, a dedicated project manual can be an incredibly useful tool. These manuals are crafted to provide a clear roadmap for a project’s lifecycle, from start to finish. 

Project manuals will often outline objectives, milestones, roles, and responsibilities. In doing so, the best project manuals will help keep teams on track, ensuring that everyone works toward the same goal with a clear direction and purpose. 

Task Manuals

Task manuals delve deep into the nitty-gritty details of specific tasks and operations. Instead of giving a broad overview, they provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform a particular task, to help ensure it’s done correctly and efficiently every time. 

These manuals are particularly useful where precision and consistency are important. Whether its purpose is to help staff deal with customer complaints or upload a blog post, companies can ensure consistent quality by standardizing the approach to particular tasks. 

What’s more, task manuals can serve as a reliable reference should a staff member need reminding on how to complete a task, without the need to interrupt colleagues. This not only saves time but also fosters a more productive and autonomous work environment.

Vendor Training Manuals

When external contractors work with a company, it’s important that they align with the company’s values, procedures, and expectations. Enter the vendor training manual.

These manuals provide vendors with insights into the company’s policies, codes of conduct, and any specific processes or systems they need to be familiar with. They help streamline communication, set clear expectations, and ensure that vendors can work seamlessly with the internal team.

You might also have training manuals that work in the opposite too, by outlining how company staff should interact with its vendors. 

Why is a training manual important

It might sound cliché, but training manuals are more than just documents (or videos, for that matter). They are a testament to an organization’s dedication to quality, clarity, and customer satisfaction — they can save you time and money, too. 

On the one hand, internal training manuals play a crucial role in onboarding, training, and providing ongoing reference, ensuring that everyone can access the knowledge they need when they need it. Meanwhile, a well-structured customer manual can be a valuable resource for troubleshooting and fully understanding how to use a product. 

In a nutshell, training manuals empower both teams and customers by making information easily accessible. This, in turn, helps minimize misunderstandings among teams, reduce the time spent answering repetitive questions, and reduce the customer’s need for additional support. 

All things considered, they’re a simple and effective way to lower the burden on company time and resources. 

The benefits of having a training manual for employees

A training manual can be the silent mentor that supports your staff, improves efficiency, and ultimately, contributes to your company’s success. But the advantages of having training manuals in place extend far beyond just having a set of instructions. 

From elevating productivity to reducing overhead costs, training materials can benefit different elements of a business in many ways…

Helps productivity

Effective employee training is a powerful way to stimulate productivity. With clear guidelines and precise instructions, you’ll be putting your staff in the best possible position to do their job — it’s that simple. 

What’s more, a training manual serves as a constant resource, enabling staff to refine their skills, refresh their knowledge, and master their roles. Such manuals are the backbone of a support system that reduces errors and elevates morale, leading to heightened employee confidence and satisfaction.

Confident employees tend to be more engaged, which makes them more willing to embrace new challenges and be enthusiastic about their work. The presence of a well-constructed training manual translates directly into a more capable and determined workforce, with the power to boost the productivity of an entire organization. Pretty amazing, right? 

Facilitates onboarding

Starting a new job is always overwhelming, which is why bringing new members of staff up to speed is such a critical component to the smooth running of any business. 

One way to make onboarding easy and efficient for everyone involved is to provide comprehensive training manuals that include all the information a new hire needs. Having a structured approach to onboarding ensures that all employees receive the same information, encouraging consistency and a certain standard of performance from their very first day on the job.

Promotes continuous learning

Learning shouldn’t stop after the initial training period. In fact, most people want to be part of companies that foster cultures of continuous learning and development. 

While a training manual will serve as a permanent resource that staff can refer to whenever they need a refresher on certain tasks, simply having the information there helps create an environment that encourages self-improvement. 

This also goes a long way to show your staff that you’re invested in their growth, as well as the business’s. In time, this will turn them into the biggest ambassadors of your brand.

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Reduces training costs

Developing a training manual may require an initial investment, but it can lead to significant savings over time. With a thorough manual, the amount of time and resources spent on face-to-face training can be drastically reduced while allowing people to learn at their own pace.  

There may still be a need for face-to-face training, but the best training materials will reduce how often they’re needed.  

How to write a training manual

Learning how to create a training manual may be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and approach, you can quickly go from planning to production, and provide your colleagues or customers with a helpful, easy-to-use resource.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Find your software

The first thing you need to do is find the right software. There are a lot of options out there, and your decision will likely hinge on the kind of training manual you’re putting together. For example, if you’re going to be making a training document with text and imagery, TechSmith’s Snagit may be the best way to guide users and employees through a computer-based process. 

With Snagit, you can easily capture screenshots, edit them, and add annotations and Callouts to outline steps and make features stand out. You can even help readers focus on only key information with the Simplify tool.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to create a training video then you’ll need a way to edit your footage. And if you’re training people on computer software, then you’ll probably need a screen recorder too, in which case TechSmith’s Camtasia could be just what you’re looking for. 

While we’re on the subject, Camtasia 2023 has taken video creation to a whole new level. The all-new Camtasia Rev feature harnesses the power of artificial intelligence by integrating innovative AI workflows, transforming how you produce video content. 

This powerful tool accelerates the video creation process, enabling you to convert basic recordings into polished, professional content with background customization, effects, and template selections — all fine-tuned by AI. The new workflow is a rapid, intuitive, and adaptive approach to video creation, making it easier than ever to maintain brand consistency while injecting personal style with just a few clicks. 

We’ll talk more about video vs. text formats and how to make them with Snagit and Camtasia in a moment. If you’re raring to get started, then you’ll be glad to know you can download free trials for both! 

Step 2: Define your audience

Now, with the right software at your disposal, it’s time to get planning. 

When you start working on your training manual, the first thing is understanding who it is you’re writing for. To do this, try picturing when, where, and how people will access your training materials.

To understand your audience, try thinking about questions like:

  • What will bring them to your training manual?
  • What is their level of expertise?
  • What industry do they work in?
  • How much time do they have?
  • Do they prefer written or visual content?
  • Are there language or cultural references you should be aware of?

Answering these questions helps you decide exactly what your content should include, and how it should be presented. With an understanding of things like your audience’s skill level, their context, and their content preferences, you can create content that caters to their needs and expectations.

It’s easy to skip this step and tell yourself you have an implicit understanding of your audience. And, while you probably do, spending some time to flesh it out and bring the picture into clear focus will help you craft training content that truly solves your audience’s problems.

Step 3: Plan your content

A great training manual is easy to navigate. Someone encountering it for the first time should feel comfortable discovering the information they need, and a returning user should be able to quickly find specific information. 

You can make sure this is the case for your training manual by strategically planning your content. Simply put, this means laying out all of your training material and organizing it logically.

For example, there may be themes that you use to categorize the topics in your training manual, such as:

  • Beginner to advanced topics
  • Jobs to be done
  • Key features
  • Usage frequency
  • Popularity among the audience

This can be a quick process for short, one-off training content, or it might take some more time if you’re creating a comprehensive guide.

If you do have a lot of topics to get through, consider grouping them and using headings and sub-sections to create a logical flow and organization within your manual. You can then use this structure to make a table of contents in the final version of your manual.

Step 4: Determine the presentation format

You know your audience, and you know what you want to cover, so now you need to decide how you’ll present the content.

There is almost always a ‘best way’ to deliver your content, and figuring this out will mean taking some time to think about both your audience and your content. There are, for example, several different ways to deliver your training content, including: 

  • Knowledge base articles
  • Video tutorials
  • Online courses
  • PDF guides
  • Printed guide books and/or pamphlets

When it comes to your audience, consider their context.

  • Where are they when they’re using this training manual?
  • What tools and resources do they have at their disposal?
  • What will they not have access to?
  • How much time will they have?

Questions like these will tell you whether things like video, interactivity, and assessment strategies (such as a quiz) would work well in your training material.

At the same time, some topics are more suitable for video, while others are better for text and imagery. If you’re showing complex processes that need to be seen in action, you may consider using video. Meanwhile, if you’re working with simple sequences, then a written format — supported by images — might be the way to go.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of creating training manuals today is that they’re often delivered (or at least made available) online. This means you can combine different formats to provide rich, media-supported content.

Step 5: Develop your content

Now that you’ve thought long and hard about your audience, your content, and delivery method, you can start putting the training materials together — finally! 

For video-based training manuals

If you’re creating videos for your training manual, this is when you can start storyboarding, scripting, recording, and editing videos with software like Camtasia. 

Don’t worry if you’ve never created a video before, just because Camtasia is used by professionals doesn’t mean it’s difficult to use — on the contrary, Camtasia has been designed for everyone. 

While there are plenty of advanced tools, Camtasia’s user experience is simple and intuitive. This means that if you’re new to video editing, you don’t have to worry about getting to grips with an overwhelming interface. Instead, you can focus on the basics and learn the more advanced features as you go on. There are also plenty of great guides, like this one, to help you hone your editing skills. 

 

There’s also the TechSmith Academy, a free resource where everyone, from aspiring to advanced creators, can find useful resources to get started and learn new skills. Find content on tons of topics around training, video creation, and more.

For text and image-based training manuals

Training manuals that will be made with written text and imagery might seem outdated, but they’re not. In many cases, the traditional text and image format will be the best fit for your audience. 

If your manual outlines a computer-based process, you can capture screenshots of each step. Alternatively, photos and illustrations are ideal for outlining processes that take place in real life. 

 
Annotate images for clarity

While it might take a few tweaks for images and screenshots to really get a point across, this usually means adding annotations such as arrows, shapes, and other Callouts. However, you might also need to remove or hide sensitive and unnecessary information — which is easy to do with Snagit’s Blur tool

Snagit is full of drawing and editing tools that make it easy to ensure you’re conveying the right message to your audience. With Snagit, you can even edit the text in your screenshots in just a few simple steps. 

 

Step 6: Assemble and deliver your manual

Now, this is when creating a training manual can become a little tedious. The process of adding images to a template, document, or other source can present several issues with things like formatting, image sizing, and file types — to name a few. 

Fortunately, however, Snagit provides a hassle-free way to create a training manual with the magic of templates. These templates allow you to choose the images, add text, arrange the order, and make aesthetic decisions in one swift process.

Templates menu in TechSmith Snagit.

There’s a whole bunch of professional-quality templates already in Snagit, but you can also find more free and premium templates in the TechSmith Asset Library.

This is great because you can cover each process or task individually to create separate sections of the manual. Then you can save each one as a PDF or an image for sharing, and compile them into a complete guide! 

Now, if making individual stand-alone documents doesn’t feel like the best approach for you (trust your gut) then you might consider tools like Zendesk or MadCap Flare to create a knowledge base support center or a help file document.

If you are creating an online knowledge base, you should be able to use video, image, and written content all at the same time. So, get creative and make content that covers everything your audience will need.

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Step 7: Track feedback and keep your content updated

The final step to creating a training manual is to welcome feedback on your manuals to measure their effectiveness and update them accordingly. 

If you interact with your audience, listen to their feedback about the content you provide. Based on what they say, see if there are topics that need expanding on or ones that aren’t covered at all.

As always, systems will change, products and features will be updated, and your content will need to stay relevant. Make sure to keep source files for all your work so you can easily return to it and make updates as needed. 

Conclusion on training manuals

A training manual no longer needs to be the thick, boring tome it once was. People are used to learning online, and they often prefer it over analog sources of information.

Online training manuals are also easier to access and navigate than their paper-based ancestors. They’re searchable and allow users to bookmark particular pages for easy and quick access to often-used content.

With the right tools and processes we’ve discussed, you can create great training manuals for colleagues or customers alike.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2019 and was updated in November 2023 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Guy Larcom

Guy is the Global Content Strategy Manager at TechSmith. If he's not golfing or skiing, he wishes he was.

How To Use A Green Screen In Your Marketing Videos

Whether it’s used to make superheroes fly, put spacemen in faraway worlds, or help wizards hide under invisibility cloaks, you’ve probably seen a video that would have been impossible without the use of a green screen. Did you know, however, that the technology has been around since the early 1900s? And that the so-called ‘green screens’ don’t even have to be green? 

Another thing to know about green screens is that they aren’t exclusive to Hollywood blockbusters. In fact, many companies use green screens to produce informative product videos, company updates, and even instructional videos. It’s a useful and valuable tool when you want to produce a professional-looking marketing video quickly and affordably.

This visual effect is often called chroma key compositing, or, chroma keying. It’s a post-production effect that allows video editors to replace backgrounds and insert footage and images into certain scenes.

In this post, we’ll be breaking down how to use green screens. The first thing to know is that it’s incredibly easy to produce a green-screen video these days!

To help you get started, here are a few key things to remember when producing any video:

  1. The first time is always the longest. Whenever you try something new, it will always take time, so be patient and don’t give up. You’ll get faster every time you do it.
  2. Make a plan and stick to it. We wrote a great post on video pre-production that explains the importance of writing a script and making a plan!
  3. Last but not least, have fun! Green screen videos can be a blast to create. Don’t take yourself too seriously (even if it’s a serious video) and your production is sure to be more relatable to your audience.

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What is a Green Screen Background?

The best way to think of a green screen is as a magic canvas for filmmakers to add visual effects to their videos. 

Whether you want your subject to be walking on the moon or transported to the bustling streets of Tokyo, without needing to get on a plane (or space shuttle) you can use a green screen. 

The key to this magic is chroma keying, here’s how it works: You film against the green screen. Then, during editing, this color is made transparent and replaced with any chosen visuals, such as a location, a graphic, or an effect. In simpler terms, editors layer green screen footage with other visuals to craft a unified, realistic scene.

So what does any of this have to do with marketing? Well, if you’re a marketer, then you’ll be glad to know that green screens can significantly enhance online video engagement — making content especially potent in the fast-paced world of social media.

What is Green Screen Used For in Video?

There are many practical use cases for green screen and it all depends on what you are trying to achieve with your video production.

On big Hollywood sets you’ll see green screens as large as a city block! While you probably won’t need anything quite as big as that, if your company is ready to invest in video marketing, you should have the tools to produce some amazing marketing videos!

Let’s take a look at some of the most common use cases for green-screen videos…

1. Marketing Videos

Filming a quick marketing video for your organization can be surprisingly easy. As we’ve said already, the screen itself doesn’t have to be green — it just has to stand out from everything else on camera. You can buy basic pop-up green and blue screens online without breaking the bank, but we’ll talk a little more about equipment in a moment. 

2. Creating Engaging YouTube Videos

woman standing in front of green screen

Some of the most popular vloggers use green screens to add interesting backgrounds to their YouTube videos. Replacing the background can add depth and visually interesting patterns to keep the viewer engaged.

3. Split Screen Videos

With green screen technology you can create fun side-by-side or split screen videos to add a little comedy to your video. Just make sure to write your script before pressing record!

4. Replacing Backgrounds

Green screens can be used to replace backgrounds on virtually any device with a screen. 

This is a great visual effect to use if you are creating a marketing video for a new application or piece of software, or making a video to share the results of a marketing campaign with your colleagues.

Setting Up a Green Screen For Your Videos

When diving into the world of green-screen videos, preparation is key. And while the magic happens in post-production, a lot rides on how you set things up before you even hit the record button.

From the equipment you choose to how you light your scene and position your subjects, every choice you make plays a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless and professional video. So, let’s take a look at some of the essential steps to making your green screen setup as good as it can be.

Gather your equipment

As mentioned above, you can buy basic screens at a reasonable price, but you’ll need more than just a green screen to make the green screen effect work effectively. 

Your essential toolkit should include a stretch of green (or blue) fabric, a camera (obviously!), good lighting fixtures, and sophisticated video editing software.

To save yourself time and effort, you can buy ready-made green screen kits that will include a lot of the equipment you need (though not necessarily all of it), which will provide both convenience and quality — but could prove costly. 

On the other hand, if you’ve got more time than budget then you might also want to check out our step-by-step guide on how to create a DIY green screen.

Set-up the backdrop

Bright green, specifically ‘digi green’ or ‘chroma key green’, is the go-to choice for most modern green screens. While other colors can be used, these shades of green are favored for how well they stand out against most subjects. However, if you’re subject is going to wear bright green clothing, you might want to use a blue screen instead. 

As for the type of backdrop you choose, whether it’s a collapsible panel or fabric, this will depend on the environment you’re filming in. If opting for a fabric, prioritize one that’s wrinkle-resistant and undamaged. The great thing about fabric is that if it is creased, you can iron it out to ensure a smooth surface.

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Light-up your area

Getting the perfect lighting is important no matter what you’re filming, but to ensure your green screen effects work smoothly and as intended, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. 

Unlike traditional filming, green screen shoots require distinct lighting for both the background and the foreground. What’s more, the lighting on your subject needs to match that of the environment that you’ll be adding in post-production. 

If, for example, you plan to film a superhero flying over a city at night, you don’t want your actor to be too well-lit, or it will look off. However, the right lighting will ensure a seamless integration when replacing the green screen.

To avoid issues like green spills or uneven lighting, large soft lights are usually best as they offer a consistent distribution of light on both the subject and the background.

Position your subjects

Getting a shadow-free green screen is crucial if you want things to look right — which is one of the reasons why lighting is so important. While one of the best ways to avoid shadows on the screen is to have separate lights for the subject and the backdrop, there are other techniques you can use as well. 

Putting some distance between your subject and the green screen is a great way to eliminate those pesky shadows while cutting down on green reflections.

Lastly, whatever camera you’re using, be sure to keep it steady. While nobody likes shaky footage, even the smallest tremors can ruin the green screen effect by making subjects look like they’re vibrating, or by blurring the image. 

So, whether you’re mounting your camera on a tripod, switching on image stabilization, or tweaking the shutter speed, make sure you get smooth shots. 

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How to Use Green Screen Software for Your Videos

It’s easy to think of green screen technology as something that requires a lot of technical know-how and expertise to make the most of, which can put many people off ever getting started. However, there are simple and effective ways that allow you to save time while making fantastic videos. 

We should note that there are many different types of video editing software out there. If you’re just getting started, we recommend finding the easiest and most user-friendly software possible.

So, the first thing you need to do is choose which software you want to use for your green screen video. As you may expect, we’re pretty fond of TechSmith’s Camtasia, which has a click-and-drag “Remove a Color” feature that allows you to quickly replace backgrounds.

Yes, “click-and-drag”, you read that right — it is really that simple!

For the sake of this guide, we’ll be using Camtasia to show you how to use green screen software. If you haven’t got Camtasia already, then you can download the free trial and try following along with these steps:

Step 1 – Drag and Drop

Firstly, select the Remove a Color feature in the Visual Effects menu in Camtasia. Then all you need to do is drag and drop on the clip. Simple as that!

Step 2 – Select Color

Select the color you want to remove from your scene. 

As we’ve discussed, this tends to work best with green or blue. Filmmakers have used many different colors including red, yellow, and black to replace backgrounds, but green and blue remain the most popular choices. 

Step 3

Replace the image or background in your scene with your desired footage, background, or image. In Camtasia, you can adjust the replaced image using the rotation tools in the Properties panel to easily scale your image.

And there you have it, you’ve just learned how to make use of chroma key compositing in three quick and simple steps. We told you it was easy… or at least, it’s easy with Camtasia! 

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Creating a Marketing Video With a Green Screen

Now that you know the basics and the best ways to use them, it’s easy to see that creating a green-screen marketing video won’t take you a ton of time. In fact, you have probably seen examples of these short marketing videos on your social media feeds. In fact, there’s virtually no limit to the number of effects you can add and ways you can edit a video. Whether you want to change the speed of a video, add music to your footage, or even blur a video, anything is possible — and easy to do — with Camtasia.

David Patton

David Patton is the Media Coordinator for TechSmith.
Follow him on Twitter @davidpatton6

Favorite things: Star Wars, iPhone, and Dr. Pepper
Personal motto: "If you're at a buffet, be first and fill up your plate."
Currently reading: The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

How to Add Text to a Video (Quick & Easy)

Most of us don’t consider ourselves teachers or trainers, but at some point, nearly all of us will have to show a colleague or a customer how to do something. 

A training video or an instructional video — which are similar, but not the same — are both great ways to guide someone through a process, teach new skills, or train someone on a new system. But sometimes, merely showing someone what to do and how to do it isn’t enough. 

Adding text to a video can add more clarity, help identify what you’re trying to show, and inject life into your explanation. 

But how exactly do you add text to video? Well, the good news is, it’s incredibly easy. And the other good news is we’re going to show you how to add text to a video in this post. 

Here’s what we’ll cover in this post: 

  • Five reasons to add text to a video
  • How to add text to videos in five easy steps
  • How to go beyond basic text
  • How lower-thirds can help add clarity to your videos

Note: This post is not about how to add captions or subtitles to a video. However, you can learn how to add captions or subtitles to a video, by clicking here.

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Why add text to video?

Video has proven to be an incredible learning tool because it provides everything your viewers need to see on one screen. You can literally show people what you know, so why would you need to add text? 

Well, there are a lot of reasons, such as:

  • Show your video’s title
  • Identify something or someone on the screen
  • Provide more context as to what’s being shown
  • Draw attention to a detail that might go unnoticed
  • Show a series of steps

We could go on, but these reasons alone should be more than enough to show how important it can be to add text to videos, and the role it plays in ensuring your audience get the information they need. 

To be clear, when we talk about adding text to a video, we mean adding dynamic text that’s actually part of the video. You could add a static image of text onto the screen, but it’s much easier and more efficient to do it right in your video editor. 

By using your video editing software to add text when you’re actually editing your video, you’ll be making it much easier to update and edit the text in the future.

How to add text to a video

One of the best things about TechSmith’s Camtasia is that, unlike other video editing tools, it’s super quick and easy to add text to a video — and we’ll prove it to you! 

Step 1: Choose annotations

With Camtasia open, head to the Annotations tab in the menu on the left-hand side of the editing suite.

WIth Camtasia open, choose Annotations in the menu.

Step 2: Pick your style

Next, choose the style of annotation you want to add and drag it to the Timeline where you want it to appear.

Step 3: Place the Playhead

Place the Playhead over the area on the Timeline where your annotation appears.

Place the playhead over your text.

Step 4: Position your text box

On the Canvas, click and drag your text box to the position where you want it on the screen, and use the handles to make it bigger or smaller as needed.

Step 5: Add your text

Double-click in the text box and add your text.

That’s it. That’s how to add text to a video in Camtasia. It really is that simple.

And to make your life even easier, this works regardless of whether you created your video in Camtasia or imported it from another source.

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Beyond the basics: How to enhance your text for greater impact

If basic text is all you need, that’s great, but if you’d like to learn how to customize and animate the text in your videos then let us enlighten you further. 

Camtasia offers a ton of ways to enhance your text and help it have an even greater impact. For example, instead of plain text, you can use annotations such as arrows, speech bubbles, and shapes as well as a wide range of effects

Basic enhancements

Want to change the font, size, color, or other properties of your text? With your text box selected, click the Properties button to open the Properties panel. This is where you can change all of the attributes and settings that determine how your text looks.

To add text to a video open the Properties pane to make basic changes to the text's appearance.

You can make all kinds of changes, including the ones mentioned above. You can even select a theme if you have one, change your text’s alignment, and more.

To add text to a video select the film icon to change the size and position of the text box.

Next, you can click on the Film icon to change things like the size of your text box, its opacity, rotation, and positioning. The rotation and position properties are particularly useful if you want to start animating your text — but let’s keep things simple for now. 

You can also change most of these visual properties directly on the canvas as well. All you need to do is click and drag any of the several anchor points in and around the text box.

To add text to a video you can animate the text in Camtasia

You can also adjust the length of time that your text appears in the video by dragging the edges of the clip on the Timeline. Simply click and drag it to where you want it to be.

Behaviors

If you did want to make your text come alive with a little added motion, you can do that too! 

This is where Camtasia’s Behaviors — which are dynamic sequences of animation — come in. These can be great for drawing attention to your message while adding some flare. To get started, click on the Behaviors tab in the menu. This will open up the wide variety of different Behaviors that are available. 

You can preview what each Behavior does by hovering your cursor over them. When you find one you want to use, click and drag it to the Timeline and drop it on the text or clip you want to animate. Simple! 

Transitions

When you add your text to the Timeline, it will appear suddenly and disappear just as suddenly when its time is up. Transitions help soften this and add elegance to how your text appears on the screen.

To add a transition, click on the Transitions tab in the menu to see the available transitions. Just like Behaviors, you can hover over each one to see what it looks like in action. 

To add text to a video you can add a transition to make it appear and disappear

When you find a transition you like, drag and drop it onto your text on the Timeline. Transitions can be applied to both ends of a clip at once, or separately.

One of our favorite transitions is Fade. It’s subtle and does a nice job of softening the appearance and disappearance of your text without distracting the viewer. 

Whatever transition you choose, we’d suggest using the same one throughout your video. Using different transitions can give your video an amateur or unpolished look. 

Lower thirds from TechSmith Assets for Camtasia

Camtasia comes bundled with a cool selection of free assets, such as intros and outros, music, icons, and loads more. 

As well as the usual assets, Camtasia also comes with a nice selection of lower thirds. Also called chyrons, these are the combinations of text and graphics often used to identify people speaking on screen. If you’ve ever watched a TV news broadcast, then you’ll have seen a lower third in action. 

While you can certainly use plain text instead of a lower third, using one of these from the vast TechSmith Assets Library will add style and finesse to your video.

To add text to a video select the Lower Third you want from the Assets Library and drag it to the timeline.

To insert a lower third into your video, go to the Media tab in the left-side menu and click on the Library icon, which looks like three books standing next to each other. Scroll down to the Titles folder and click on it. This is where you’ll find Title assets, including lower thirds. 

Next, select the one you want and click and drag it to where you want it to appear on the canvas. You can also drag it directly to the timeline, which will make itl appear on the lower-left of the canvas by default.

But don’t worry, you can customize these as much as you want by opening the Properties pane. 

Snagit can do it, too

Adding text to video isn’t exclusive to Camtasia. With TechSmith’s Snagit, you can use the Create Video from Images feature, which creates videos from a series of screenshots or other images. 

You can then add annotations (including text and other callouts) as you record your video. It’s not the same process, but for basic videos, the results can be just as impactful. 

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Keep accessibility in mind

As with any content, whenever possible, videos should be accessible to people with disabilities or who may use accessibility tools. 

While a person who is blind or visually impaired may not be able to see your video, they may be able to learn through the audio portion of the video along with an audio description. That description should include anything that is only presented visually, including any text that appears on the screen.

Text matters

While a video without text can be impactful, interesting, and effective, adding text can enhance understanding and bring more clarity. In fact, nearly all videos can be improved with some added text — even if it’s just to highlight the title of your video. 

Fortunately, we’ve made it super easy to add professional-looking text and effects using Camtasia. But that’s not all, with Camtasia you can change the speed of a video, add music to your footage, and even seamlessly sync audio and video sources. If you don’t have Camtasia already, you can download and try Camtasia for free, without needing to hand over your credit card details. So what are you waiting for?

Ryan Knott

Ryan Knott is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where he creates content about easy, effective, and efficient video creation, editing, and tips and tricks, as well as audio editing for creators of all kinds. He/him.

How to Record Your Webcam (Step-by-Step Guide)

Using a webcam recorder to add webcam footage to a video is a simple way to increase engagement and help viewers connect with your content.

Using a webcam recorder to add webcam footage to a video is an easy and effective way to increase engagement and help viewers better connect with your content.

Whether you’re trying to record webcam footage and add it to the corner of a training video or you want to start a video with a live introduction, this post will walk you through the steps to create a video from your webcam.

What is the best webcam recording software?

A webcam is a valuable and versatile tool in your video creation toolbox. You can use it to make YouTube videos, create instructional videos, and add personality to any other type of video.

When choosing software, you have two options: a dedicated webcam recorder, or a screen recorder. Now, we may be biased but we’d argue that a screen recorder is the better choice.

If all you need to do is make webcam videos, a simple webcam recorder might be enough, but if you are capturing a lecture, recording a live stream, or filming a webinar there’s a good chance that you’ll want to record your entire desktop, as well as your webcam.

That’s why we suggest using high-quality screen capture software, like TechSmith’s Camtasia, which comes with a full suite of editing tools, making it perfect for creating all types of video content. 

Because Camtasia is both a webcam recorder and a screen recorder, we’ll be using it throughout this step-by-step guide. If you haven’t already installed Camtasia, you can download a free trial here.

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Here’s how to start recording your webcam

Step 1: Start a new project

Open Camtasia and choose New Project.

Step 2: Bring on the video

To start working with video and webcam footage, import it into Camtasia by choosing File > Import > Media.

Then, select the video and webcam footage you want to import and click Open. Camtasia will add your chosen videos to the Media Bin, where they’re ready to be used in your Project. If you haven’t already recorded your webcam footage, you can do that using the Camtasia Recorder.

Record webcam videos

Step 3: Position your media

Now you need to make a decision. Do you want your webcam footage to appear at the beginning of your video, or do you want it to appear on top of your video, using the Picture-in-Picture feature?

Don’t worry, we’re not going to force you to make that decision right now, but we are going to show you how to do both!

Webcam first, video second

Start by dragging your webcam footage from the Media Bin to the Timeline. Then, drag your other video files to the Timeline and make sure they’re positioned directly after the webcam footage.

When Camtasia produces the video, the videos will appear in the order shown on the Timeline. Remember, Camtasia will only produce videos that are on the Timeline, so be sure not to leave any footage behind.

Add webcam videos

Picture-in-Picture

To create that cool Picture-in-Picture effect, start by dragging the video to the Timeline.  Then, drag the webcam footage to the track above the video. 

It might help to think of these tracks as pictures in a stack. The topmost track is at the top of the pile, meaning that anything underneath can be covered by what’s on top.

Adding Webcam Videos

Once you’ve added the webcam footage, you can resize and position the Preview Window on the canvas to make it look just how you want it.

As cool as this is, we’re not evening scratching the surface of things you can do in Camtasia. If you want to learn more about Camtasia’s editing tools, as well as tips and tricks on how to use them, be sure to check out our video tutorials.

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Step 4: Save your video

Once your webcam footage is set, export your video by clicking the green Share button. This produces your video and allows you to choose the format and where you’d like to save it.

Save your project or share it to social media

Tips to make your webcam recording awesome

Now that you know how to record webcam video, here are a few things to consider when creating your content:

Set-up

Tilt your webcam so that it’s at eye level, this way your viewers won’t feel like they’re looking up at you. You should also position yourself in front of a solid-colored wall or hang a sheet behind you. Busy backgrounds can be distracting, so this is a great way to help your viewers stay focused on what’s important: You! 

Stick to the Rule of Thirds (which you can learn more about here) or position yourself in the center of the frame. If you need to check your position you can do so by hovering your mouse over the webcam view in the recording toolbar. 

As a final tip, try to avoid making any quick movements while recording to ensure you don’t draw the eyes of your viewers away from your content.

Lighting

Lighting can make or break a webcam recording, so be sure to pay close attention to your video lighting

If you record near a window, try to avoid recording directly in front of it. Instead, position yourself either next to, or facing it. This will ensure you’re not washed out and will stop you from turning into a silhouette.

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Built-in webcams

If you’re using the webcam built into your computer, there’s a good chance it will default to the computer’s microphone, which may not be the best quality. For the clearest audio, you might want to consider setting up a DIY recording studio

However, if time and resources make that impossible, using an external microphone will make a huge difference in the quality of your audio. It doesn’t have to be expensive, even the mic built-in to your headphones will likely be better than the one on your laptop.

Just remember to check that Camtasia is recording your audio from the right source and always make sure you test your external microphone before recording your voice over

Click here for more tips on how to record great audio.

External webcams

Most external webcams have a microphone built-in; however, it’s always worth testing the quality of the microphone before recording. 

While using a webcam recorder might not be the best choice for everyone’s content, it could help you communicate better with your viewers.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • Will this help me get my message across better?
  • Is it necessary to accompany your content?

Think about how you want to present not only your video content to your viewers but yourself as well.

Doug Brunner

Doug Brunner is an Instructional Designer at TechSmith. Fun Facts: • He's run a 52.4 mile race • Traveled to 11 different countries • Played drums in a Celtic band • Sings in his local community choir

How to Take a Screenshot on Mac: The Complete Guide

The image features a simplified representation of an Apple iMac computer with a blue screen, on a gradient blue background that transitions from light at the top to dark at the bottom. On the computer's screen, there's a dashed white outline of a square with a smaller image icon inside, symbolizing the action of taking a screenshot.

There comes a time when you will need to take a screenshot on Mac for one reason or another.

You can use screenshots to demonstrate a process at work and share feedback with your team members. And who doesn’t like to send funny memes and gossip about the latest celebrity feuds?

Screenshots have become an essential part of our daily lives. 

Computers have built-in screenshotting functions that make it super easy to take a basic capture of your screen. However, third-party applications take more advanced captures that you can edit and share quickly. 

There’s something out there for everyone’s screenshot needs. Now, let’s dive into how to screenshot on Mac.

What is a screenshot?

A screenshot, also called a screen capture or screengrab, is a still image that displays the exact contents of a computer display. They can be edited and are usually shared with others or stored away for future reference. 

With a screenshot, you can capture exactly what you see on your screen. That makes it super convenient to share an error message with IT, showcase a mockup of your latest project, or even send funny memes to your coworkers.

They are helpful in many situations, which makes them an essential part of people’s workdays. Above all, screenshots are an easy way to show something that would be incredibly difficult to put into words.

Different methods to screenshot on Mac:

Basic screen capture tools are usually built into mobile and desktop operating systems. However, there are downloadable software that are designed for advanced screen capture.

With a third-party tool like Snagit, you’ll quickly forget your basic, bland screenshots and create visual masterpieces instead. In three easy steps, you can create a capture, edit it to fit your needs, and share it with anyone.

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Whether you’re planning on using your built-in tool or downloading a third-party app, we’re here to help you take a perfect screenshot on Mac.

Screenshot on Mac with keyboard shortcuts

Shift Command 3 is the most straightforward option. This keyboard shortcut captures a screenshot of your entire screen and automatically saves it. This is a go-to choice for anyone wondering how to take a screenshot on a Mac without much effort.

Shift Command 4 turns your cursor into a crosshair. From there, you can either:

  1. Press and release the spacebar. This will turn your mouse from a crosshair to a camera icon. Release the mouse button or trackpad on the window you’d like to capture. This option also lets you capture specific windows.
  1. Click and drag the crosshairs to the desired dimensions. Once you release your mouse button or trackpad, your Mac will instantly capture the selected area.
Screenshot of built-in mac tool when taking a screen shot with the command shift 4 keyboard shortcut.

Once captured, your screenshot will be saved to your desktop, and multiple screenshots will be stored in a folder. 

How to take a screenshot on mac with the Screenshot app

Macs have a built-in screenshot app that allows you to take more precise and curated captures than the keyboard shortcuts above.

Shift Command 5 will pop up a small screen-capture window. This is the screenshot app. After that, three screenshot buttons will let you carry out these options:

  • Capture the entire screen. 
  • Capture a portion of the screen.
  • Capture a single window.
Screenshot of the options available when you use the command-shift-5 keyboard shortcut to screenshot on mac.

Pick whichever fits your needs best and get to screenshotting! Again, your captures will be saved to your desktop for easy retrieval. It’s important to note that they will not be copied to your clipboard at that time.

Expert tip: By pressing the Control (Ctrl) button at the same time as your keyboard shortcuts (for example: Shift Command 3 Control), your screenshot will be copied to your clipboard. However, it will not be saved to your desktop.

Using third-party applications

Do you use screenshots more than just a few times per year? If so, you would benefit from trying out an advanced screen capture and screen recording tool. 

Although built-in screenshotting functions can be useful, they are restricting.

That is why third-party applications have become a much-needed tool for many professionals. An application like Snagit provides countless editing and sharing options. That makes it an essential tool for anyone who relies on screenshots to share information because the functionality can save you so much time.

Take scrolling screenshots on Mac

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Snagit provides users with advanced features that are easy to use, like scrolling capture. For example, it allows users to take a screenshot of a full, scrolling web page without the hassle of stitching together multiple screenshots.

 

You can also create videos from images to explain processes quickly and easily. Record your screen, camera, and microphone audio to create quick, informative videos.

These, and countless other features, make Snagit an indispensable tool for visual communication

Snagit brings more flexibility and creativity to your screenshots compared to built-in snipping tools.

How to edit and save screenshots on Mac

Add context and clarity to your screenshot by editing it. Incorporating text, marking up your screen, and cropping out what you don’t need all make your screenshots easier to understand.

Once you take a screenshot on your Mac, a preview will pop up in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click on the icon to open Apple Preview with your screenshot inside. This is where you will be able to edit your capture. 

The expandable toolbar allows you to edit the screenshot. In the editor, you can add shapes, change color composition, incorporate text, draw on the screen, and more. When you’re done, save your screenshot by clicking “Save as” and filing it in the appropriate folder. 

Image of a screenshot in Mac's preview editor with annotation tools exposed

Or, you can edit your screenshots in Apple’s presentation tool Keynote. This app has different features, like adding shadows and effects.

However, for the best results, you may need to edit screenshots with a third-party app.

Choose a third-party tool for more editing functionality

If you regularly need to edit screenshots, a tool like Snagit will save you time and get you more professional results. 

For instance, it’s full of helpful features like the Simplify tool that lets you block out unwanted text to keep information secure and your screenshots less cluttered.

 

You can even move elements of your screenshots around with the Smart Move tool. It makes rearranging information, showing potential edits, and altering workflows easy. 

Image of Snagit Editor, showing annotations on a screenshot of a webpage offering design feedback.

Organizing and managing screenshots on Mac

The first step in keeping your captures organized is to name them appropriately. Your Mac screenshots are saved with the name “ScreenShot” with the date and time attached by default. To make retrieval quicker, use file names you can easily remember!

All desktops have a file library. File your screenshots in a designated folder and rename it. Additionally, you can tag your screenshots by color. This will remind you what files belong together and where to find them.

Your Mac device includes all of these management tools. But third-party apps are your best bet if you don’t want to do all that work.

Keep your screenshots magically organized with Snagit

Snagit’s library organizes screenshots like your Mac but also uses an advanced filing system. Your captures will automatically be managed by application, website, and month. 

This neat feature lets you find your screenshots in multiple places. Without any work on your part, your screenshots are organized and ready for you to refer to easily. 

Screenshot of Snagit's library that organizes your screenshots for you.

And there you have it! Using Mac keyboard shortcuts and the Screenshot app, it’s easy to create basic screenshots and screen recordings. 

We advise you to look into third-party applications for more advanced screen capture. They can take your screenshots to the next level. 

Take your Mac screenshots to the next level

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Illustration of a how-to guide made with snagit

Snagit is a great tool and a leading screen capture and screen recording software. For example, it allows you to look good, feel good, and communicate with clear intent. Its revolutionary capture powers, advanced editing features, and easy sharing options make it our go-to screenshotting software.

There you have it! Now you know how to take a screenshot on Mac using different built-in shortcuts and the best third-party app for your needs. 

So, get on to screenshotting and have fun looking better and working smarter!

Explore our blog and subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter to learn more about screenshot tips and tricks. 

FAQ

What is the default keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot on a Mac?

The default keyboard shortcut on Mac is Shift Command 3, which captures the entire screen.

How can I screenshot a specific area or region on my Mac?

To screenshot a specific area or region, use the keyboard shortcut Shift Command 4 and create a selection area with your crosshair cursor.

What is the difference between capturing the entire screen, a selected area, and a specific window?

Capturing the entire screen screenshots everything you see on your display, while capturing a selected area lets you choose a portion of the screen. Capturing a specific window captures just the content of the currently active window. Snagit allows you to specify your capture window down to the pixel, so you get the exact screenshot you need every time.

Can I change the default location where my Mac saves screenshots?

Yes, you can change the default save location for your screenshots. Snagit’s library offers different options for an organized filing system, such as application type, website, and tags.

Are there any third-party apps for taking screenshots that you recommend?

Snagit is a screen capture and screen recording software that is full of advanced but easy-to-use features for anyone looking to improve their screen capture tools.

How can I annotate or edit a screenshot on my Mac?

You can use the built-in Preview app to annotate and edit your screenshots. Snagit also includes original stamps, a blurring tool, a step tool, and much more for a finer editing process.

What should I do if I’m encountering issues with taking screenshots on my Mac?

If you’re facing issues, you can troubleshoot by checking your keyboard shortcuts, available storage space, and any third-party software that may interfere with screenshot functions.

Can I capture a screenshot of a dropdown menu or context menu on my Mac?

Yes, you can capture a screenshot of a dropdown or context menu by using keyboard shortcuts or the Screenshot app. Ensure the menu is open before taking the screenshot.

How can I share my screenshots with others or post them online?

You can share your screenshots by copying and pasting them into documents, emails, or image editing software. In addition, you can use Screencast by TechSmith to share your screenshots with a link to anyone.

Clémence Daniere

Content Marketing Specialist Contractor at TechSmith where I write, edit, and create content that informs and entertains. I also read too many books.

Frame Rate: A Beginner’s Guide

A beginner's guide for frame rate

Getting started with video can be a little intimidating, especially when you hear so many technical-sounding terms, like frame rate or fps. 

Even if you’ve heard of frame rate, it can be hard to know what frame rate would be best for your videos. There are, after all, many factors to take into account when choosing a frame rate.

Lucky for you, in this beginner’s guide, we’ll break down the definition of what a frame rate is and why it matters. So, to sum up, here’s what we’ll be discussing: 

  • What is a frame rate?
  • Why does frame rate matter?
  • How do I choose the best frame rate for my video?
  • What are the different types of frame rates?

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What is frame rate?

Remember those cool little flipbooks where a pad of paper had an image on every page, and when you flipped through the pages quickly, the image would appear to move? 

This is how video works. Whether it’s digital or film, a video is essentially a series of still images that, when viewed in order at a certain speed, give the illusion of motion. Each of those images is called a “frame”. 

 

Frame rate, then, is the speed at which those images are shown, or how fast you “flip” through the book. It’s usually expressed as “frames per second,” or FPS. In the most simple terms, frame per second means how many frames are squeezed into one second of video. So, if a video is captured and played back at 24fps, that means each second of the video shows 24 distinct still images.

The speed at which they’re shown tricks your brain into perceiving smooth motion. Magical isn’t it? 

Why does the frame rate matter?

Frame rates can greatly impact the style and viewing experience of a video. Different frame rates yield different viewing experiences, and choosing a frame rate often means thinking about multiple factors, such as how realistic you want your video to look and whether you plan to use slow-motion or motion-blur effects.

For example, Hollywood-style movies are usually displayed at 24fps, since this frame rate is similar to how we see the world and creates a very cinematic look. Live videos or videos with a lot of motion, such as sporting events and video game recordings, often have higher frame rates because there’s a lot happening at once — this keeps the motion smooth and the details crisp.

Meanwhile, people who create animated GIFs will often sacrifice detail for a smaller file size and choose a low frame rate.

Frame rate is different than video speed, but they are related. You can change the speed of your video when you’re editing it, it’s always best to capture footage at your preferred frame rate. 

The most common video frame rates

Every art form has its standards, and in the world of video, frame rates have been central to the viewing experience. Historically, these standards have evolved not just from artistic decisions but also from technological and practical considerations.

The cinematic world settled on its standards early on. Movies, with their desire to emulate real-life motion, chose to capture film at 24fps and display it at 48fps or 72fps as this mimics the way our eyes naturally process movement. This standard has stood the test of time and is deeply rooted in the film industry’s legacy.

In contrast, TV broadcasters had to contend with technical constraints related to power standards, which influenced the frame rates used. This led to regional variations based on the electricity specifications of different countries.

Fast forward to today, and technology has broadened the horizon. Modern filming equipment allows filmmakers and videographers the flexibility to explore beyond traditional frame rates, especially when pursuing specific visual effects or storytelling techniques.

In essence, while there are common frame rates that the industry leans on, the ultimate choice often rests on the blend of an artist’s intent and the technical demands of the project.

What is the best video frame rate?

There’s no such thing as the “best” frame rate. As mentioned, different frame rates yield different results, so selecting the best one means going with the option that best fits what you’re trying to create.

Even though frame rate is a relatively straightforward concept, there’s a fair amount of controversy around which rates provide the best viewing experience, and there’s research that builds the case for just about any frame rate. Controversy aside, here are four things you need to keep in mind when choosing a frame rate.

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Style/Realism

The frame rate of a video greatly impacts the way it looks and feels, which in turn determines how realistic the video appears. This concept ties directly to how we see the world.

When we see motion, such as a person throwing a ball or a car driving by, we naturally see a certain amount of motion blur. Ideally, the frame rate you choose will mimic this motion blur, keeping the experience as realistic as possible. 

If you choose a frame rate that’s too high, things will start to look unnatural and the video will suffer from what’s called the “soap opera effect” — which is when a video shows so much detail that it looks odd. On the other hand, if you choose a frame rate that’s too low, the video will start to look choppy and will provide a poor viewing experience. 

To help figure out which frame rate is best for you, let’s look at a few common options and how they’re used.

24fps

This is the standard for movies and TV shows, and it was determined to be the minimum speed needed to capture video while still maintaining realistic motion. Even if a film is shot at a higher frame rate, it’s often produced and displayed at 24fps. 

30fps

As mentioned, this has been the standard for television since the early days, and is still widely used despite producers moving toward a more cinematic 24fps. Videos with a lot of motion, such as sports, will often benefit from the extra frames per second.

The reasons for using 30fps are complicated and, as mentioned are mostly to do with television and electricity standards set in the days of yore.

60+fps

Anything higher than 30fps is mainly used to create slow-motion video or to record video game footage. Additionally, as technology continues to evolve, many smartphones are now capable of recording at 60 fps as well.

Motion

The next key variable to take into consideration when choosing a frame rate is the amount of motion in your video. This one’s pretty straightforward. If you have a lot of movement, you’ll probably want to capture at a higher frame rate.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to produce at a higher frame rate, but capturing at a higher frame rate ensures a higher level of detail for the amount of motion captured. The higher frame rate also allows for more flexibility when editing your video

To help you decide what’s best for you, here are a few common options.

24fps 

As stated above, this is the minimum speed needed to capture video while still maintaining realistic motion. If you capture a really busy scene at 24fps, you’ll see a lot of motion blur.

30fps 

With six more frames a second than 24fps, you’ll see more detail during scenes with high motion; however, the motion might start to look unnatural and suffer from the “soap opera effect.”

60+fps 

Anything higher than 30fps is usually reserved for recording busy scenes with lots of motion, such as video games, athletics, or anything you want to show in slow motion.

Gamers record at this rate because there’s a lot happening on their screen at once, and more frames equals more detail. Sports are often recorded at a high frame rate too so they can be slowed down to show replays while still maintaining crisp, clear video.

Frame Rate Delivery

The way a video is delivered, such as via YouTube or broadcast television, and the device a person uses to view your video can greatly impact the options you have for frame rate.

Not all devices and delivery methods support all frame rates, so it’s best to look into this before you start filming.

To help tackle delivery, let’s look at a few of the most common places people watch videos and how the video is delivered.

Streaming video on the Internet

This is quickly becoming the most common way to deliver video, and many streaming services support a wide array of frame rates. 

If, for example, you’re making a YouTube video, you can relax a little with the knowledge that viewers aren’t as bothered by frame rates when watching online. However, keep in mind that older TVs and computer monitors might not have a screen refresh rate that can handle high frame rates.

Television

When you produce a video for television, it’s best to stick between 24 and 30fps. This ensures that your videos look realistic and fit what people expect from broadcast television. Live broadcasts, such as news and sports, are almost always shot at 30fps, whereas TV shows and movies are usually shot at 24fps.

Film Projectors

Movie theaters, and projectors in general, are still an incredibly popular way to consume video. Much like TV broadcasts, the frame rate should be kept to 24fps as this will give your video that “cinematic” look and feel. You’ll also be able to rest easy knowing that your video will be displayed properly on most projectors.

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Frame Rate File Size & Export Times

The final factors to consider when choosing a frame rate are file size and export times. These two are pretty straightforward — the higher the frame rate, the more still images are packed into each second of video.

More images mean more information, and more information means bigger files and longer export times. This is especially important to consider when uploading videos to online streaming sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and TechSmith’s Screencast.

Higher-quality video is always the most desirable, but larger file sizes require better internet connections and computer hardware to stream at its highest quality. This means that people who aren’t using the most modern equipment or the fastest services might suffer from a poor experience.

Final Thoughts on Frame Rates

Choosing a frame rate requires some thought, but if you consider the four key points outlined in this guide, it should be pretty easy to find the best frame rate for you. Of course, the best way to really get to grips with frame rates and understand how they work is to play around with them. Try recording similar footage at different frame rates, and then using software like TechSmith’s Camtasia to edit your videos. 

Camtasia comes with a professional editing suite that’s intuitive and easy to use for beginners and experts alike. With it, you can add music to your videos, create closed captions, and even synchronize different audio and video sources

But Camtasia isn’t just an editing suite, it’s a screen and webcam recorder too. This means you can use it to film your own videos, record live streams, and make training videos

If you don’t have Camtasia already, you can download a free trial here. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and make some great videos! Check out the video below for a great walkthrough on making your first video with Camtasia.

 

FAQs about Frame Rates

Is one frame rate better than another?

That depends on what type of project you’re working on! See the above sections to learn about different frame rates and what they’re typically used for.

How many frames per second can the human eye see?

Most people can see about 30-60 fps.

What are the most common frame rates?

The most common frame rates are 24fps for cinema, whereas 30fps and 60fps are used for television and online content. Different projects and mediums may have their own unique standards, but these are the most typical benchmarks.

How do you change a camera’s frame rate?

To change a camera’s frame rate, access the camera settings or menu, locate the video or frame rate option, and select your desired fps setting. For more specific instructions, take a look at the user manual for your camera.

What’s the difference between shutter speed and frame rate?

The shutter speed determines how long each frame is exposed to light, while the frame rate indicates how many frames are captured in a second. A fast shutter speed freezes motion, whereas a slower one can introduce motion blur. Frame rate, on the other hand, affects how smooth the video is when you’re watching it back.

Doug Brunner

Doug Brunner is an Instructional Designer at TechSmith. Fun Facts: • He's run a 52.4 mile race • Traveled to 11 different countries • Played drums in a Celtic band • Sings in his local community choir

How To Rotate a Video

How to rotate a video

Whether you’re bringing in vertical footage from your phone, looking to create a unique perspective, or just want to fix a crooked clip, it’s always good to know how to rotate videos.

Fortunately, it’s super easy to rotate a video. In fact, with the right tools, you can do it in under a minute and in this post, we’re going to show you how. 

How to rotate a video with Camtasia

As frustrating as it can be, recording a video with the wrong orientation isn’t the end of the world. So, rather than start recording all over again, you can use the rotation properties to rotate your video and save time in the long run.

1. Open a video editing program

You’ll be glad to know that even if you’ve never edited a video before, knowing how to change the orientation of a video is as easy to learn as it is valuable. The first step to rotate a video is to open up a video editing program on your computer. We recommend choosing software that’s easy to use, like TechSmith’s Camtasia, especially if you’re new to editing. 

Camtasia has been designed with both beginners and professionals in mind. While it comes packed with a wide range of advanced editing tools, its user interface is sleek and intuitive without being overwhelming. So whether you’re a pro and you know exactly what you want to do with your footage or an amateur who wants to learn along the way, Camtasia has you covered. 

We’ve also got loads of online resources, from the TechSmith Academy, to our blog where you can learn how to do things like add music to your video, change the speed of your footage, and add captions to your video. Best of all, you can start using Camtasia to edit your videos for free! Download the free trial today

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2. Find the video you want to rotate

With Camtasia open, click on Import Media and browse to find the video you want use. You can grab a clip from your computer, camera, or network. Next, click Open to add it to your Media Bin.

find the video you want to rotate

3. Get it ready to edit

Now that you’ve imported your footage, you can drag your video from the Media Bin to your Timeline.

Drag the video you want to rotate

4. Rotate your video

Lastly, click on the video in the large Preview pane. In the center of the video, you’ll see two hollow circles. Hover over the circle on the right until your cursor turns into a rotation symbol. Click and move your mouse to tilt your video.

That’s all there is to turning a video around! Pretty quick, right? 

There’s more than one way to rotate a video though, and depending on what your video is for, you might want to try out these other techniques:

  • For more precise rotation, you can click and hold the rotation symbol while moving your mouse near the outer edge of your video. This wider radius will provide you with more accuracy in your rotation movements.
    This is especially helpful when you are rotating videos from a smartphone or iPad/tablet that was taken just slightly askew.
  • Have a specific angle in mind? You can type in the exact degrees. Just select the video in the Preview pane and click the Properties button on the right. Then, under the Rotation heading, the Z axis is where you enter the number of degrees.
    Hint: Enter 90º or 270º if you want to rotate vertical footage to be horizontal, or 180º if you want to turn it upside down.
Rotate by typing in degrees

Remember, if you’re turning a horizontal video into a vertical one, you might want to crop your clip after rotating it.

Bonus tip: Fill the space

Of course, there may come a time when you don’t want to rotate your video, but you do want to play a vertical recording in a horizontal space — without leaving big blank spaces on either side of your content. 

One great way to do this is to duplicate the layer and scale the background video up until it completely fills the space.

screenshot of Camtasia scale feature

Then, either add a simple blur effect from inside the annotations tab – or adjust the opacity down to 25% to really make that top layer stand out.

screenshot of Camtasia opacity feature

This works in reverse too! So if you wanted to make a video for Instagram where vertical video is the norm, or even on YouTube where many people watch vertically on their phones — you can! 

Simply go into your Project Settings, reverse the 1920×1080 aspect ratio to make it 1080×1920, and rotate your video to fit!

Ready to start rotating video?

Now you really do know all there is to know about using Camtasia to rotate videos horizontally, vertically, and everything in between, as well as ‘flip’ them upside down and backward. But remember, there is still a whole lot more you can do with Camtasia. From making split screen videos to synchronizing video and audio sources — the world (of editing) is your oyster!

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How to Make a Great Quick-Reference Guide

A quick-reference guide is any documentation that provides a one- or two-page set of condensed instructions on how to use a product.

New products often spark excitement, but that enthusiasm can quickly be lost when reading the user documentation, which consists of hundreds of pages of dense text and technical jargon. There’s no denying that such documentation can be dull, but an overwhelming introduction to your product can also overshadow your customers’ thrill of using it. 

While detailed documentation is important, especially for in-depth explanations of complex processes, not every user wants or needs to navigate an ocean of information on their first use. This is where the quick-reference guide comes in. 

A quick reference guide can be your users’ best friend when it comes to understanding your product without getting into the nittiest and grittiest details. 

In this comprehensive how-to guide, we’ll be looking at: 

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a closer look at what exactly a quick-reference guide is…

What is a reference guide?

In a nutshell, a quick-reference guide is any documentation that provides a condensed set of instructions on how to use a product. Such documents are typically no longer than two pages and can either be very detailed or super simple, depending on what’s needed. 

While user manuals and lengthy documentation dive deep into the intricacies of a product, quick-reference guides are all about brevity and accessibility. They act as a bridge for users, spanning the gap between having no prior knowledge and gaining basic proficiency. 

Whether it’s a list of keyboard shortcuts, a flowchart for a process, or a collection of frequently asked questions, these guides are designed with one goal in mind: to get the user up and running as quickly as possible. 

With the rapid pace of today’s world, such guides resonate with users who need answers fast, without sifting through pages of information.

Why is it important to have a quick reference guide?

Quick-reference guides are especially useful when a product or service has several different or advanced functions but can also be used to perform more simple tasks. 

Imagine you’re buying a fancy new stove to replace your trusty old one. The old stove had a straightforward oven — turn it on, set the temperature, and you’re good to go. But this new one? It’s cutting-edge. Beyond the basic Bake setting, it dazzles with options like Convection Bake, Roast, Bread Proof, and more. Instead of the old-fashioned turn-knob, it has buttons and a sleek digital display.

Now, even if you’ve baked the occasional loaf of bread, let’s admit it: most days, you’re just warming up pizza rolls or crisping up garlic bread. That’s where the beauty of the quick-start guide (a common type of quick-reference guide) comes in. Provided by the manufacturer, this handy documentation gets you up and running with basic baking in no time.

Then, when the day comes that you’re ready to dive into those advanced features, the fully comprehensive manual is ready and waiting. Quick-reference guides are like a cheat sheet, helping users to quickly locate the essentials. They don’t replace the user manual but act as a trusty sidekick, making information delivery swift and user-friendly.

Turning our attention away from baking bread, TechSmith’s Snagit makes it super easy to create a quick-reference guide. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about making a high-quality quick-reference guide faster than you can say sourdough! 

Create a quick-reference guide!

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Is a quick-start guide the same as a quick-reference guide?

The quick answer: Yes!

As mentioned above, a quick-start guide is one of the most common types of quick-reference guides. So, while not all quick-reference guides are quick-start guides, all quick-start guides are quick-reference guides.

Make sense?

How to make a quick-reference guide in six easy steps

It’s important to note that creating a quick-reference guide can be tricky without the right tools. For example, using Microsoft Word to create such a document will likely be frustrating and time-consuming. 

Of course, if you have a professional designer — who can ensure your quick-reference guide looks good and conveys all the necessary information in the best possible way — on the payroll, then you’re sorted. 

But what if you don’t have the tools or expertise on hand? We’ve got two words for you: Templates

When it comes to designing great content, Snagit 2020's templates are my superpower.

Snagit comes with several templates that provide professional-looking designs you can use to create quick how-to guides just by dragging and dropping different elements. Snagit will even let you add and customize different color palettes to help ensure brand consistency, which will build better customer relationships. 

If none of the preloaded quick reference guide templates take your fancy, you can download dozens more with TechSmith Assets for Snagit.

quick reference templates for Snagit 2020

Snagit templates allow you to create an array of different kinds of how-to guides, process documents, tutorials, and more. 

Now, for this example, we will create a quick reference guide that outlines how to use the five most popular tools in Snagit.

Step 1. Take your screenshots

First, take all the screenshots you need and make any annotations (arrows, text, etc.) you want to include in the graphic.

Step 2. Create your template

Then, in the Snagit Editor, click Create > Create Image from Template. 

Step 3. Choose a template

The Basic 5 Steps Landscape Snagit template.

Next, select the template you want to use. There are plenty of quick-reference guide templates to choose from.

For this example, we chose the Basic 5 Steps Landscape. While this particular template is intended as a step-by-step guide, it’s perfect for our use case as well.

Step 4. Add images

Then you can drag your screenshots from the Recent Images tray at the bottom of the Snagit Editor into the placeholders in the template. 

Step 5. Resize images

Showing how to resize and reposition the images added to the template.

Next, resize and adjust your screenshots as needed.

Step 6. Add written content

Finally, add descriptions and instructions in the corresponding sections in the spaces provided to the right of the template, and add a title in the title box.

That’s it, you’re done! Now, you can share, save, and print your quick-reference guide. 

Believe it or not, it took us longer to write out the six steps than it did to create this quick-reference guide!

Common types of quick-reference guides

Six common types of quick-reference guides. Content is repeated in the text below.

There’s more than one type of quick-reference guide, so understanding your audience’s needs is paramount when it comes to creating the right type of documentation for their needs.

Learn your audience's needs and expectations and then create the content they need to succeed.

For example, does your audience need a fast and easy way to get started using your product’s most basic features? If so, you need to create a quick-start guide. Or, maybe they need a one-stop reference for understanding your software’s UX? How about a glossary of common terms? Or an overview of your product’s core features?

What if the user is moving from a different software to yours? What information might they need to make the transition easier? By thinking about the differences in menu trees, icons, and feature names, you can accelerate product adoption and improve customer retention

While all these applications may be different, the point is that the information you need to convey can transferred with the right quick-reference guide. The key is understanding your audience and creating the content they need to succeed.

With that in mind, here are some quick-reference guide examples with a breakdown of how they’re most commonly used to help users:

  • Quick-start guide
    Help your users get up and running quickly with your product.
  • Core or basic task guides
    This is similar to a quick-start guide, but offers an overview of how to use your product or service’s most basic or core features.
  • Guide to more advanced features
    Once your users are ready to take things to a new level, use a quick-reference guide to introduce them to other functions and features.
  • Guide to product changes
    Has your software had a major update? Use a quick-reference guide to walk your users through the changes. If the update is really major, you might even consider simplifying the user interface in your guide.
  • Step-by-step how-to
    Got a process you need to explain? Outline the process one step at a time.
  • User manual for products with limited features or functionality
    If your product doesn’t require a huge manual, a quick-reference guide may be all the documentation you need.

Create a quick-reference guide!

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Essential elements to creating a great quick-reference or quick-start guide

Know your audience and their needs

It’s important to keep in mind that any user documentation you make needs to include the information and content your audience wants. It’s important to remember that this isn’t always the same as what you want to tell them.

As noted in our Beginner’s Guide to Customer Content, there are a number of ways to figure out exactly what your users need to know. Looking at online forums, using customer surveys, and even speaking to your technical support staff are all great ways to find out what your customers believe is missing. 

Regardless of how you get this information, delivering the content your customers want and need will go a long way to ensuring the success of your quick-reference materials.

Simplicity is key

The whole point of a quick-reference guide is that it’s quick. This means making information easily and readily accessible, so it’s important to ensure it’s easy to understand. Here’s how you can do that…

Use visuals

Visual communication matters, so avoid big blocks of text as much as possible. Instead, use visual elements such as screenshots with markups, icons, and product photos — and just enough text to ensure your points are clear.

Include only essential information

Be sure to keep your guide between one and two pages long. Don’t try to include everything from your entire user manual — a quick-reference guide that needs a table of contents isn’t going to be that quick to reference. 

Make sure you only include the most vital information that the user will need to accomplish a particular task. This means boiling down complex concepts to their most basic form. 

Remember, you can always create more quick-reference guides to cover other important topics when needed. 

Use a simple and easy-to-follow layout

You don’t have to create a work of art to make a good quick reference guide, but if your quick-reference guide isn’t visually appealing and easy to follow, your users won’t find it useful. 

Creating instructions using visuals is easy. Sometimes, something as simple as a screenshot annotated with arrows, text, etc. can be enough to give someone the information they need. 

Visual Content

We can’t emphasize this enough: Your quick-reference guide just won’t be as effective, engaging, and useful as it can be without good images, icons, screenshots, or other visuals. 

Images draw the eye and help provide anchor points to your content, helping your users quickly and easily identify important points of information. In fact, our Value of Visuals research found that people learn better with images and text compared to just text alone. 

Infographic showing that 58% of people believe they remember information better when it's visual, that 67% of people complete tasks better when instructions are provided with visuals or video, and that employees absorb information 7% faster when communications are visual.

As the infographic above demonstrates, there’s some truth behind the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”. A good image can convey a ton of information and help to reduce the text density of your content, thus making it more user-friendly. 

So, it turns out the best way to show something, is to literally show it. Who knew?! 

Quick-reference guide dos and don’ts

Not all quick-reference guides will be as simple as the one we created above. Some will need more text or more images, while others will need more complex layouts. 

There is a wide range of types and uses for quick-reference guides, and it would be impossible to cover them all here in this guide. That said, there are some common dos and don’ts that are pretty universal:

Quick-reference guide dos and don'ts. Text is repeated below the image.

Do

  • Keep it as short as possible — one to two pages is best.
  • Use visuals like annotated screenshots, icons, and product & UX images. 
  • Use a sensible, easy-to-follow layout, with clear headings and subheadings.
  • Know your audience and what they need.
  • Make it stand on its own. Users shouldn’t have to look in your manual to understand your quick-reference guide.

Don’t

  • Cram in too much information. You’re not trying to fit your whole user manual into one guide.
  • Make your font sizes so small that no one can read them without a microscope.
    Repeat information unnecessarily. 

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Quick Reference Guide, the FAQs

What is a quick-reference guide?

A quick-reference guide is any documentation that provides a one- or two-page set of condensed instructions on how to use a product. 

Is a quick-start guide a type of quick-reference guide?

Yes! A quick-start guide helps a customer or user quickly get started with your product or service without having to know the more intricate or advanced features.

What are some common types of quick-reference guides?

– Quick-start guide
– Core or basic tasks guide
– Guide to more advanced features
– Guide to product changes
– Step-by-step how-to
– User manual for products with limited features or functionality

What are the essential elements for creating a good quick-reference guide?

– Know your audience and their needs.
– Keep it simple.
– Good, clean, easy-to-follow layout/design.
– Use visual content such as images and illustrations.

Ryan Knott

Ryan Knott is a Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith, where he creates content about easy, effective, and efficient video creation, editing, and tips and tricks, as well as audio editing for creators of all kinds. He/him.

How To Merge Videos?

Whether you’re creating training videos for your staff or a YouTube video for your vlog, sooner or later you’ll probably find yourself needing to merge videos. 

What does merging videos mean? Well, it’s pretty simple, whether it’s two clips or more, you can combine videos together to make a single cohesive video. Learning how to merge videos is easy, but will save you a ton of time and effort in the future. 

While editing beyond basic techniques such as cropping and rotating can be daunting, there’s no need to panic. In this post, we’ll show you how to combine videos together using TechSmith’s Camtasia

Never used Camtasia before? Then download the free trial today and find out just how easy it is. 

Camtasia comes with a sophisticated, but incredibly intuitive editing suite that makes it easy to create professional-quality videos. Whether you want to add music to a video, change the speed of your footage, or add closed captions, with Camtasia it only takes a few clicks. You can even synchronize separate audio and visual sources

But back to how to combine videos! Here’s what this post will cover: 

It’s worth noting that merging two or more videos together is not the same as creating a split-screen video. However, if that’s what you’re looking to learn then this is your lucky day as we have another post on how to make a split-screen video

What to consider when merging video clips

No matter how experienced you are with video editing, it can still be hard to seamlessly merge videos in a way that keeps your videos looking professional. With that in mind, here are some of the obstacles you might need to work around: 

Quality

Be aware of the video quality when merging two separate videos. If one clip has a lower resolution, you may want to lower the resolution in your project settings to match that of the lowest-quality clip, before moving forward. 

Trimming and cutting

There’s a good chance that not every clip you want to use will be perfect from start to finish. This is where the trimming and cutting tools come in handy. You can use these tools to clean up your clips so that the transitions between them are seamless.

 

Color correction

Most video clips won’t look exactly the same. If you’re filming in different locations or at different times of day, the overall lighting might be different. 

While getting the perfect lighting before you film can help maintain consistency, you can also adjust the color temperature of your clips to ensure they share the same aesthetic before you merge them. You can do this by using any of the color effects options, or by adding a color filter (which you can learn more about here) to all of your clips to give them a cohesive look.

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Tips for adding a professional polish to your final merged video

Create a storyboard

Without going into too much detail, storyboards act as visual representations of a video. They’re often hand-sketched, but that doesn’t mean they have to be picture-perfect — even stick people can make a good storyboard.  

While not every video will need a storyboard, they can go a long way in helping you get organized, especially if you’re merging two or more videos into one.

If you’re only making a quick tutorial video to be shared internally, then you probably don’t need a storyboard. But if your video is reaching a wider audience, it would likely benefit from being visualised in advance.

Keep your clips organized

Always keep your video clips and images organized in folders when you’re working on a project — this will ensure that nothing gets lost during the editing process.

In Camtasia, you can import certain clips from your computer to the library. This way, you can have easy access to all the clips you plan on using in your project. What’s more, Camtasia’s Standalone Projects feature makes it easier than ever to make sure all your clips are included in your project file, which lowers the risk of losing them later on.

Include transitions and animations

Things don’t always go to plan when you’re trying to combine videos as they won’t always merge seamlessly. 

However, with the help of transitions and animations you can hide the moment when one clip ends and another begins. This will make your footage more cohesive and less choppy while adding more visual interest to the video. 

Make sure your animations provide clarity, draw appropriate attention, and are worth the extra effort. If you’re adding animations simply for the sake of having some cool effects, there’s a chance they’ll do more harm than good — trust us.

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Include images

Having images dispersed throughout your video can be a great way to break up the visual monotony and better keep your audience’s attention. 

With most video editing software, including Camtasia, you can import images the same way you import videos and adjust the amount of time they appear on screen to a duration that you think works best. 

If you feel an image is on screen for too long, you might try adding an animation to slowly zoom in or out on the picture, as this will add more visual interest. 

How to merge two videos together in Camtasia

Step 1. Start a New Project

First, open Camtasia and select New Project.

Step 2. Import Videos

Before you can merge videos, you need to add them to the Camtasia project you created. 

With your new Project open, choose File > Import > Media, then select the videos you want to merge. Camtasia will add the videos to the Media Bin and they will be ready to be added to your Project.

Step 3. Add videos to the timeline

To merge videos together, you must add them to the Timeline in the order you want them to appear. To add videos to the Timeline, click and drag them from the Media Bin to the Timeline. To reorder your videos on the Timeline, click and drag them to the desired location. 

Pretty easy, right?

Now you can click the Play button above the Timeline to preview your merged videos. If there are gaps between your clips, be sure to move them together until they’re touching. It’s important to note that Camtasia will only produce the videos that are on the Timeline.

Step 4. Save your video

Once you’ve added your videos to the timeline, and they’re arranged in the order you want them, you can export your video by clicking on the green Export button (who’d have guessed!). 

This will merge all your videos together and give you options for where you’d like to save your merged video, and in what format.

Learning how to stitch videos together to make one complete video can seem overwhelming if you don’t know how to do it — but now you do! Be sure to use all of the information we discussed to get started, and don’t be afraid to get creative!

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How to Write A Shot List That Will Transform Your Video

SLR camera next to laptop

When you start creating videos, there’s often a lot of preparation before you can even think about hitting the record button. If you will recording using a camera, you need to find a set, adjust lighting, and have the proper camera angles.

The best way to organize this preparation is with a shot list.

Even if your video will only use screen recordings without any camera footage, it’s helpful to have a shot list to help you identify and plan for everything you want to record.

What is a shot list?

A shot list is a document that maps out exactly what will occur and what will be used in that particular shot, or scene, of the video.

And, while your video probably isn’t a big Hollywood production, a shot list helps organize your thoughts and begin with a solid plan.

Shot lists go hand-in-hand as part of writing the script, creating a storyboard, and the overall pre-production process.

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Why are shot lists important?

If you’re asking yourself whether a shot list is really worth the effort, then allow us to answer that question for you: Yes it is!  

A shot list is like a blueprint that acts as a roadmap for your entire project, offering a structured plan that everyone can follow. It ensures that all team members are aligned, setting the stage (quite literally!) for a successful shoot.  

But why are they so important?  

Firstly, shot lists save time. Having a predetermined list of shots helps you utilize your shooting hours more efficiently. It provides quick answers to questions like, “What are we shooting next?” or “Who will be on camera for this part?” Having this information in hand eliminates guesswork, speeding up the shoot and maintaining focus throughout production.  

Secondly, a well-constructed shot list helps keep you prepared because it outlines what to expect at each step. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings and ensures the shoot runs as smoothly as possible.  

In essence, a shot list helps streamline the creative and logistical aspects of making a video. It’s a guide to staying organized, saving time, and most importantly, capturing the footage that will bring your story to life.

The essential elements of a shot list

Now that we know why a shot list is so important, let’s take a look at how to make a shot list, starting with a breakdown of each of the key elements you should include: 

  • Script / SB reference: Indicates which part of the script or storyboard the shot corresponds to, ensuring alignment between planning and execution.
  • Shot Number: The reference number assigned to each shot. This is essential for easy identification and organization.
  • Interior / Exterior: Specifies whether the shot takes place indoors or outdoors. This is crucial for lighting and equipment planning.
  • Shot: Identifies the type of shot — such as Wide Shot (WS), Medium Close-Up (MCU), or Very Wide Shot (VWS) — to establish the shot’s visual style.
  • Camera Angle: Specifies the perspective from which the camera will capture the shot — like eye level, high angle, or even birds-eye view — adding layers of meaning to the scene.
  • Camera Move: States whether the camera will remain static or employ a specific movement like panning, which affects the energy and pacing of the scene.
  • Audio: Indicates if the shot includes specific audio elements like a voice-over (VO), an important note for post-production.
  • Subject: Listing any people needed in the shot is an important detail for scheduling and ensures all team members know what should be captured.
  • Description of Shot: This is a detailed summary of the shot in question, including the visual elements and type of shot to help guide the director, cinematographer, and crew. 

While there is fundamental information that should be included on every shot list, there’s no right or wrong way for you to put yours together. This is a tool for your production and the most important thing for you is to make sure you have all the information you and your crew will need. 

With that in mind, you may wish to add, or even swap out, some columns to list other bits of information, such as: 

  • The Scene Number: This is a number to identify each scene, which will help with the organization and workflow of the shoot. 
  • Location: Specifying the set or location for each shot will help when planning logistics.
  • Framing: This should indicate how you want a shot to be composed, which will help maintain artistic coherence and consistency.
  • Action/Dialogue: This is where you’ll describe what you want to happen in the shot, such as character actions and important lines, ensuring key parts of the story are captured.
  • Props Needed: It’s also worth detailing the props required for each shot.
  • Extra Notes: You can also add a section for miscellaneous (yet essential) information, like special camera instructions, lighting requirements, or anything else that needs to be conveyed to the crew.

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Shot list template

Now let’s take a closer look at what a shot list might actually look like.

In the screenshot below, you can see a clear shot list example, complete with information about each shot to help convey to the crew who’s needed on set, details of the action, and where each shot will be filmed. 

Sample shot list template

We’d recommend organizing your shots based on location. Grouping shots this way will make it easier to film because you’ll be able to film everything you need at one given time. 

For example, if you’re going to shoot a scene at a lake for the beginning and end of the video, it would make sense to film these shots at the same time, rather than separately. While you won’t be filming in order of the storyboard, this makes filming much more convenient. 

The different types of shots

Perhaps one of the most important aspects to consider when creating your shot list is how you want each shot to be captured. This includes information about the types of shots you want to film, as well as camera angles and movements. 

For example, do you want a wide shot (WS) or a close-up (CU)? Will the camera be static or panning? 

Meanwhile, camera angles could include high and/or low-level shots, whereas a move may be on a handheld camera, a crane, or a dolly. Once you’ve decided on your camera work, it’s also important to think about how you’ll record the audio, whether it’s using a boom mic or a voice-over — and don’t forget about your B-roll, the secret sauce of all great videos

We’ve put together a quick and easy chart that you can refer to below for more shot types, camera angles, camera moves, and audio.

Chart of shot types, camera angles, camera moves, and audio options

There’s a lot to consider, but all of these details are vital to creating a shot list that ensures your shoot runs smoothly. 

How to create a shot list in 5 steps:

Now, we’ve already covered enough information to make any video creator’s head spin. But, don’t worry if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of creating your own shot list because we’re going to make it easy for you. 

Whether you’re making a training video, a software demo video, an animated explainer video (yes, animations need shot lists too!), or any other type of video, we’re going to show you how to make a shot list in five easy steps. 

Now for the actual process of creating your shot list, we suggest opening a spreadsheet. The layout makes it easy to compartmentalize all the information while keeping everything organized and easy to rearrange if and when needed. 

1. Pick a scene

The first step in creating a shot list is choosing a scene from your script to focus on. Then, in your spreadsheet create column headings using the nine essential elements of a shot list that we’ve discussed above, such as the scene and shot numbers, location, framing, etc. 

Next, each individual shot you have planned for that scene should be given its own row. Pretty easy so far, right? 

2. Break down each capture

Now that you have your scene and spreadsheet ready, it’s time to dissect each shot. This means going through them one at a time and thinking about how you’d like to capture each one.

This is the time to use your understanding of shot type and camera movements to fill in each column in your spreadsheet with the specifics that will guide your crew during production.

3. Number your shots

Clarity is key when organizing your shot list, which is why it’s so important to number your shots. Start with the number 1 for your first shot, and for each subsequent shot, create a new row in your spreadsheet and give it a unique number.

This simple system makes it much easier to reference specific shots during a busy shoot and also helps in the editing process later on.

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4. Assign a shot for every part of the scene

There’s nothing worse than wrapping up production, only to realize later on that you forgot to take an important shot — but it’s a mistake that’s as common as it is avoidable. 

While it can be really tempting to skip a “minor” shot when creating your shot list, with an “it-will-all-work-itself-out” mentality, the whole point of your shot list is to list all your shots. So, make sure that each part of your scene, no matter how small, has its own spot on your spreadsheet. By being meticulous in this way, you’ll eliminate ambiguities and ensure that every element in your scene gets the attention it deserves during filming.

5. Draw rough sketches

Even if you’re not an artist, drawing rough sketches or storyboards for your shot list can be incredibly useful. This visual aid will help you and your crew better understand how a scene will unfold. It’s also a good way to try and spot any potential issues before you’re on set. If something doesn’t look quite right in the sketch, you can adjust your shot list accordingly. 

You might want to think of these drawings as a second layer of planning, offering another opportunity to fine-tune your vision before the cameras start rolling.

And that’s all there is to it! Your shot list can be as simple or as detailed as you see fit. The most important thing is making sure you have a shot list in the first place—while it might seem like a lot of work upfront, it will make both shooting and editing your video much easier in the long run. 

Speaking of editing, once you’ve got all your footage together, consider using TechSmith’s Camtasia — which comes with a 30-day free trial! If you’re new to editing, you might also want to check out our guide on how to edit a video.

How to write a shot list, the FAQ

Do I really need a shot list for a small project?

Even for small projects, a shot list can be incredibly useful as it keeps you organized and ensures you don’t miss any shots crucial to your production.

How detailed should a shot list be?

The level of detail your shot list requires will depend on the needs of your project. That said, it’s generally better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

Can I make changes to my shot list during the shoot?

Yes! Flexibility is key in filmmaking. While a shot list serves as a guide, there may be moments when you need to adapt due to unforeseen circumstances or new creative insights.

Is a shot list the same as a storyboard?

While they serve similar purposes, shot lists and storyboards are not the same. A storyboard is a visual representation of your script, while a shot list is more like a detailed checklist that includes logistical and technical information.