The Visual Lounge

Want to take your video editing skill to the next level (we’re talking ‘coloring outside the line' levels)?  Then this episode has your name on it.Cristi Cotovan joins The Visual Lounge to take us through some of the ‘out of the box’ work he’s been doing on Camtasia.Cristi is a video editor, educational content creator, developer, and Founder of Design Catchup and Graphicious. One of his superpowers is having a “visual brain,” and that certainly comes in handy in his line of work. One of Cristi’s core focuses is Camtasia, which he uses to produce some advanced-level material that can only be described as “out of the box.”Whether you’re just getting started in video creation or you’re further down the line, there’s something to be learned from Cristi’s approach to video making.Learning points from the episode include:What inspires Cristi to create “out of the box” videosHow Cristi’s background as a developer affects his approach to video creationThe role of constraints in video makingCristi’s favorite feature to use in videosCristi’s approach to learning in CamtasiaFoundations everyone should know for video editingWhere Cristi draws inspiration for his Camtasia videosWhen to stop tweaking a projectImportant links and mentions:Try Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.htmlThe Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeSubscribe to Cristi’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/graphiciousCheck out Cristi’s website: https://graphicious.co.uk/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy .To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/out-of-the-box-camtasia

Creating videos can be a work-intensive process – especially when you’re doing everything from scratch.But it doesn’t have to take eons to come up with a well-rounded video, and that’s what Andy Owen, the Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmith, discusses in this episode of The Visual Lounge.As Andy explains, recreating every element of your video from scratch is just not practical as your career progresses, it’s important for content creators to embrace the efficiency that comes with templatizing in order to make the most of their time.Andy also discusses various ways to tap into your creativity while staying consistent with templates. As a bonus, he shares a few templates that he uses in Camtasia. Tune in to this episode of The Visual Lounge to hear more about how you can cut down your content creation time using templates.Learning points from the episode include:Why it’s important to create content you can watch yourselfWhat to consider when watching videosWhat Andy still finds challenging about video creationThe importance of templatizingWhen to use scripting templatesHow to balance consistency and creativityAndy shares a few templates he uses in CamtasiaWhy calls to action are so importantThe role of music in video creationImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeAndy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfilms/TechSmith’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4GLzj1-tfM91DRtD8lk-gAHow to Make a Tutorial Video in 2022 (FREE Template!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyCIXOpJGcETutorial blog post: https://bit.ly/3kvAKB5Download our FREE Script Template: https://bit.ly/3jO9L4zLearn more about the TechSmith Academy here.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/faster-video-creation

Storytelling can be a powerful tool in the L&D community.But, as it is with most tools, you need to know how to use it to get the desired end result. That’s what Hadiya Nuriddin, Learning Strategist, speaker, and CEO of Duets Learning, explores on this episode of The Visual Lounge.Hadiya doesn’t just have a wealth of experience developing and delivering both technical and professional development courses, she’s an advocate for storytelling. She believes that the right stories can deliver context, spur empathy, and inspire people to take “expected” actions.As Hadiya explains, there’s always a story. It’s up to us to figure out how and when to use it. Listen to this episode of The Visual Lounge to learn how to leverage the power of storytelling for everything from compliance training to customer service training.Learning points from the episode include:Why Hadiya is keen on taking a cinematic approach to L&DHow stories add context and breed empathyWhy intent is important when telling storiesThe role of emotions in storytelling What formula makes up a good storyWhy “change’ is vital in storytellingThe difference between a story and an anecdoteWhat level of vulnerability is necessary for storytelling How to get different viewpoints using the perspective circleLessons from storytelling in TV and moviesImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeDuets Learning: http://www.duetslearning.com/Hadiya's resources: http://www.duetslearning.com/resoHadiya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadiyanuriddin/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/powerful-stories-and-your-message/

What can learning and development professionals learn from marketing experts? That’s the question we tackle in this episode of The Visual Lounge featuring Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist from Beyond the Sky. Danielle specializes in coming up with innovative ways to infuse marketing into training to create learning content that sticks.Believe it or not, we can learn so much from marketing teams, especially when it comes to identifying learner (or consumer) personas, defining the content’s objectives, and creating materials and resources that our target audience wants and needs.So, where should we begin when it comes to bridging the gap between marketing and training? Tune in to this amazing episode of The Visual Lounge to find out and get ready to take your training to a new level.Learning points from the episode include:How Danielle transitioned from marketing to learning and developmentWhat makes good content How to focus your core video strategy on consumer behavior Why you shouldn’t have more than one message per videoWhy you should take a disciplined approach to video creationTips to inject drama into your video contentHow to get to “the drama” of your contentWhat learning and development professionals can learn from marketingWhat marketing teams can take away from learning and development teamsThe importance of putting time into your learning coursesHow Danielle keeps her ‘creative well’ full of ideasTips to help develop your marketing teamImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeBeyond the Sky: https://www.beyondthesky.caDanielle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellewallace/?originalSubdomain=caLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-lessons-from-marketing

With the world shifting more into virtual spaces, live events are becoming the order of the day. If you’re in the L&D community,it’s probably time to think about ways to manage your time, space, tech and everything in between. To speak more on how to own your virtual training space, Kassy LaBorie, the Founder of Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC and virtual classroom master trainer, joined The Visual Lounge. Kassy is the “Original Virtual Training Hero" and is in the business of helping people give their best in virtual training sessions. She covers everything from live virtual training events to webinars and ways to connect better with your audience. In this episode, Kassy reveals the various ways she connects with her audience, how her producers help her streamline her messages, and the ins and outs of becoming a virtual training hero.Learning points from the episode include:How Kassy got into online L&DHow to get people more engaged in the learning processHow learning objectives influence participant numbersWhat it means to have someone producing a live eventWhat makes a good producerThe dynamics of the producer-moderator relationshipKassy’s advice about making mistakes during live videosWhat differentiates live videos from pre-recorded videosKassy gives some insights into “The Virtual Trainer’s Guide to Becoming a Hero”Important links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribeKassy’s Site: https://kassyconsulting.com/Kassy’s E-Guide: https://kassyconsulting.com/the-virtual-trainers-guide-to-becoming-a-hero/Kassy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/the-power-of-producers

What makes graphics click with your audience?Is it your skill level, the finer details like color or shape, or could it be something else altogether? While those things definitely contribute to the success of your graphics, you could still end up producing graphics that just don’t work even if you have the skills to show for it.Mike Parkinson, author and Founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain what it takes to make graphics that work. He explains why graphic designers need to appeal to their target audience on two different levels — emotionally and intellectually.Besides being the founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, Mike is a world-renowned communication and presentation expert, best-selling author, and professional trainer. He’s also a partner at 24 Hour Company, which is a premier creative services firm. Learning points from the episode include:Why you need to understand the way people consume contentHow to take a motivator-means approach to create visually compelling contentHow to make your graphics workWhy defining your message is importantHow to avoid overdoing it with graphicsHow to pick the right aesthetic styleTips for creating material design graphicsWhen to use graphics vs. textImportant links and mentions:The Visual Lounge: https://bit.ly/tvlsubscribe Billion Dollar Graphics: https://www.billiondollargraphics.com/Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-parkinson-microsoft-mvp-apmp-fellow-bb364/24 Hour Company: https://24hrco.com/Mike’s email address: mike@billiondollargraphics.comLearn more about the TechSmith Academy .To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/graphics-that-dont-work

Using stories to make more impactful videos is not a new idea. But it’s an overlooked part of video creation, especially when it comes to tutorials or corporate videos.But storytelling isn’t just for the fun, creative videos out there. Even if you’re creating a video tutorial about car insurance, injecting a little storytelling can go a long way in hitting your primary video goal – connecting with your audience.Andrew Kan, filmmaker, storyteller, and YouTube creator, joined The Visual Lounge to talk all about story, and how it can help you level up your video skills.Andrew helps people overcome the hurdles stopping people from achieving their creative goals. He’s an experienced film director and has produced award-winning documentaries for film festivals.Andrew is skilled in storytelling, YouTube search engine optimization, camera operation, and all things filmmaking. You may know him from his time as Director of Video Production at TubeBuddy, where he used his skills to grow TubeBuddy’s YouTube channel from 6,000 to 525,000 subscribers. This episode has plenty of nuggets of wisdom from Andrew that can benefit all sorts of content creators.Learning points from the episode include:Why videos are about creating connections with your audienceHow to improve your skills by watching othersHow to inject storytelling into your videosWhy professional gear is less important than you thinkHow to keep people watchingWhat to do when you feel demotivated about your videosImportant links and mentions:Andrew Kan’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrewKAndrew Kan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewKanFilmThe Kan Do Creator Community on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/4kKxvYTaW4Learn more about the TechSmith Academy here.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/impactful-story-videos

What’s the secret to the perfect video editing workflow? Same as for many great questions we hear, the true answer is that it depends. But it all depends on you.Building a workflow that’s efficient, doesn’t cut corners, and saves time can take a while to figure out, especially if you’re new to it all. But once you’ve figured out what works for you, you can start to level up your videos and fine-tune your craft. The Visual Lounge host Matt Pierce breaks down a sample video editing workflow that covers the main areas of video editing, from organizing your footage to adding audio and graphics. Download our workflow example or feel free to mix and match each element to find out what works for you. Learning points from the episode include:Why you should create a video editing workflowHow organizing your footage can save you a lot of time How to create a rough cut vs. fine cut What you need to know about adding audio and visual effectsWhen to color correct your videosWhy video editing is about finding what works for youWhy it’s so important to experiment and try new editing tacticsImportant links and mentions:Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html Video editing workflow: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0e0weizistb0wh2/TechSmith_VideoEditingWorkflow.pdf?dl=1Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-editing-workflow

How do people really learn? As an instructional designer or learning and development professional, understanding how people learn helps you deliver training that hits the nail on the head. It’s more complicated than learning styles or picking video over written instructions. In fact, there’s a whole science behind it. Clark Quinn, Executive Director of Quinnovation, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to impart some words of wisdom and share his knowledge on the science of learning.He takes us through what the research shows and busts some common myths we could all do with putting to bed.Clark provides learning experience design strategies for corporations, higher education, government, and not-for-profit organizations. He’s an award-winning consultant, an internationally known speaker, and author of six books. He integrates a deep understanding of thinking and learning with technology to improve organizational execution, innovation, and ultimately performance. Learning points from the episode include:Why learning science is key for businesses Why practice is essential for real learning How to learn in ways you can apply The problem with learning style theories Why context is important in learningThe benefits of multimedia learning What the research says about learning Important links and mentions:Quinnovation: https://quinnovation.com/ Clark’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnovator/Clark’s books: https://quinnovation.com/books.htmlLearn more about the TechSmith Academy.To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/creating-effective-learning

It may be considered the most basic part of editing, but there’s nothing basic about a cut.Cuts can be powerful tools in the hands of anyone who knows how to wield them. They don’t just make videos look way cooler, they bring an extra dash of clarity, brevity, and seamlessness to the table.In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce takes us through some handy cutting techniques as well as how to use them on Camtasia or any other video editing tool. This is a great episode to sink your teeth into if you’re looking to grasp the ABCs of video editing.Learning points from the episode include:Why cuts are a vital part of editingHow cuts provide clarityWhy context is important when using cutsHow and when it’s best to use a jump cutWhat makes cuts tricky in screen recordingsHow to juxtapose different media with J and L cutsThe importance of sound effectsImportant links and mentions:Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.htmlLearn more about the TechSmith Academy https://academy.techsmith.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=visuallounge&utm_content= video-cuts-you-should-knowTo read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-cuts-you-should-know