Welcome | Discussion | How-to / Tutorial | Screencast Factory (Scripts + Ideas) | Software | Gallery |
There are many approaches to creating a screencast. You'll want to choose an approach that fits your topic, and your preferred work style. In some cases, you might record in a single-take, by just clicking "record" in a screencasting program, and start talking about a subject you know really well. In other cases, you'll want to do some careful thinking ahead of time, write a script, and prepare some visuals to support your demonstration.
Collaboration can work well for any aspect of the process. Or the work can be done in 20 minutes by one person!
Below is a basic outline that will apply to most screencasting projects.
The basic workflow is as follows. Some steps are optional, but all are recommended!
Create an outline and script for the screencast, that you can follow as you record it or put the pieces together. (tip: do not record while speaking off the top of your head; a script helps avoid having "um" and "uh" throughout the screencast)
Script 2: Establishing a purpose / audience, Writing a script is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
Determine your target audience. Are you demonstrating basic information to new users, or showing advanced tools to experienced users?
A script is important for many reasons. It helps to: avoid the danger of "um" and "uh", it makes later translation easier, and it gives the option of providing captions for the deaf (or people without speakers).
See a sample script at Wikipedia:WikiProject Screencast/Intro. To create a script table like this, add {{subst:Template:Screencast script table}} to a page, and click save.
Our suggested style includes these elements:
Tip: Practice
Practice your speech timing and mouse movements. Speech should be at a measured pace. The mouse cursor should move smoothly, and with purpose – avoid small twitches that move the mouse. |
Simplify the screen that will be recorded, ideally starting with a clean slate.
Decide which programs you want to use. See our guide at WP:WikiProject Screencast/Software, for advice.
Before recording the entire screencast, be sure to test the individual components. Record a small segment of speech, then listen to it to check the volume and sound quality. Record a small video clip, then watch it to make sure you're only recording the parts of the screen that you want.
Experiment with the screencast-program settings, to find configuration with not so much compression that the video is fuzzy, but not too high quality that the file size is excessively large.
Record your screencast. It may take a few attempts to record something you are happy with.
If you're assembling a screencast from component pieces – separate video clips, sound files, image slides – this is the next step. Programs such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker can be used to assemble your parts.
Script 8: Encoding and testing is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
Upload your completed video to Commons (and/or YouTube, Vimeo, and elsewhere).
Embed your video in the relevant help or project pages, and add it to our gallery.
See
WP:Creation and usage of media files for advanced options, such as specifying the video-frame to be displayed as the thumbnail (e.g. "...|thumbtime=3
..." for 3 seconds in).
Script 10: Know-it-all uber expert super fancy fun time haz is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
(Insert links to more specific approaches)
Simplify. Don't try to address too many points. Short is sweet, and memorable.
External links – general tips
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Welcome | Discussion | How-to / Tutorial | Screencast Factory (Scripts + Ideas) | Software | Gallery |
There are many approaches to creating a screencast. You'll want to choose an approach that fits your topic, and your preferred work style. In some cases, you might record in a single-take, by just clicking "record" in a screencasting program, and start talking about a subject you know really well. In other cases, you'll want to do some careful thinking ahead of time, write a script, and prepare some visuals to support your demonstration.
Collaboration can work well for any aspect of the process. Or the work can be done in 20 minutes by one person!
Below is a basic outline that will apply to most screencasting projects.
The basic workflow is as follows. Some steps are optional, but all are recommended!
Create an outline and script for the screencast, that you can follow as you record it or put the pieces together. (tip: do not record while speaking off the top of your head; a script helps avoid having "um" and "uh" throughout the screencast)
Script 2: Establishing a purpose / audience, Writing a script is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
Determine your target audience. Are you demonstrating basic information to new users, or showing advanced tools to experienced users?
A script is important for many reasons. It helps to: avoid the danger of "um" and "uh", it makes later translation easier, and it gives the option of providing captions for the deaf (or people without speakers).
See a sample script at Wikipedia:WikiProject Screencast/Intro. To create a script table like this, add {{subst:Template:Screencast script table}} to a page, and click save.
Our suggested style includes these elements:
Tip: Practice
Practice your speech timing and mouse movements. Speech should be at a measured pace. The mouse cursor should move smoothly, and with purpose – avoid small twitches that move the mouse. |
Simplify the screen that will be recorded, ideally starting with a clean slate.
Decide which programs you want to use. See our guide at WP:WikiProject Screencast/Software, for advice.
Before recording the entire screencast, be sure to test the individual components. Record a small segment of speech, then listen to it to check the volume and sound quality. Record a small video clip, then watch it to make sure you're only recording the parts of the screen that you want.
Experiment with the screencast-program settings, to find configuration with not so much compression that the video is fuzzy, but not too high quality that the file size is excessively large.
Record your screencast. It may take a few attempts to record something you are happy with.
If you're assembling a screencast from component pieces – separate video clips, sound files, image slides – this is the next step. Programs such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker can be used to assemble your parts.
Script 8: Encoding and testing is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
Upload your completed video to Commons (and/or YouTube, Vimeo, and elsewhere).
Embed your video in the relevant help or project pages, and add it to our gallery.
See
WP:Creation and usage of media files for advanced options, such as specifying the video-frame to be displayed as the thumbnail (e.g. "...|thumbtime=3
..." for 3 seconds in).
Script 10: Know-it-all uber expert super fancy fun time haz is ready to be turned into a screencast. Video here, soon! |
(Insert links to more specific approaches)
Simplify. Don't try to address too many points. Short is sweet, and memorable.
External links – general tips
|
---|
|