How-To Articles and Videos: April 2009 Archives

Often I get asked about converting student PowerPoint slides into a video format for sharing on the web or onto DVD.  There are many options here, but I find the easiest way to accomplish this is through using Adobe Visual Communicator.

Since Visual Communicator allows you to drop a PPT project right on the timeline, most settings like slide timings, transitions, and even some sound effects are all preserved when importing the PPT show into Visual Communicator.

See this example video below of a student PowerPoint created as a commercial we broadcast on our April 30th 2009 morning show:

Now take a look at this Ask Mr. Z Episode showing how PowerPoint can be used with Adobe Visual Communicator:

Submitted Question:

I was wondering if there was a way to record a green screen segment on VC and add it to a new segment. The problem is we only have one camera so we need the anchors to report from that one. But I would love to add a pre-recorded weather segment with green screen as the background...Is this possible?

Sure, its something we do all the time.  When you see our morning shows, the Caring Message segment for example is a previously recorded show made with VC that we pull back into another show as a WMV video in a tray...

This workflow can be good for giving the illusion that you have more than 1 camera, but still only use one camera in your setup. 

Example workflow:

1.  Record a show in VC.

2.  Publish show as DV-AVI format (or WMV format if you use the custom preset)

3.  Create new VC show, and insert the previously published video file from above as a tray that sits on the timeline.  Smart position where appropriate.  See the help menu (F1) to learn more about the "Smart Position" feature (which ALL users really need to know about!)

I cover these steps in my training DVD Volume 2 and show how to reuse clips and trim, fade audio, etc.  Lots of options exist once you know where to find them.

Hope that helps, let us know below in the comments area.

Submitted Question:

Just downloaded a copy of VC.  I have a graphic background, know how to record and use the telepromter, but have no idea how to fade out the background to the graphic.  Help?

Not to panic, remember that Visual Communicator is so unique, that it may take some time getting used to, especially if you have an existing background with video production.  Basically it is EASIER to use, but you just have to get the hang of it.

If I understand your question, you're talking about using fullscreen pictures?  If so, locate them in the media bin first.  Use the browse tab.  When you find the desired picture, drag it into the timeline and it will create a tray for it.

Does that help?  If not, provide more details below in the comments area and we all can try to help.