Creating Presentations

Who this guide is for

This is a guide to help you convert a digital slide presentation to a video with narration and captions. This can be done with any digital presentation software (including PowerPoint and Google Slides) by using a screen capture program like Camtasia (which is available on all Cal Poly Humboldt campus computers). Any presentation that is created with PowerPoint can also be quickly converted into a video automatically, with control to automate slide advance time(s) and recording a narration track.

If you need to create a video presentation that includes or is based on a digital presentation, this guide will help you determine the best and simplest way to get started.

Some of the programs mentioned in this guide are proprietary (not available for free for personal use). However, all proprietary programs included in this guide are available on Cal Poly Humboldt campus computers, including Camtasia and MS PowerPoint.

PowerPoint

This is a really simple process if you are using PowerPoint:

• Click on File
• Click Export
• Choose Create a Video
• Use the timer option to set the amount of time each slide will appear

Instructions from Microsoft:

• Record a slide show with narration and slide timings (video, screenshots and text descriptions)
• Turn your presentation into a video (with screen recording)
• Save a presentation as a movie file or MP4 (text with screenshots)

You may also want to record your narration. To do this, you will need a microphone. The microphone that is built into your computer may suffice or you may want to use an external microphone, such as those on in-ear cell phone headphones. For best results, you will want a quality microphone, which are available for checkout from the Library’s Makerspace Take 'n Make gear. Stop by the front desk of the library to ask about USB plug and play microphones or a digital recorders. Learn more about the equipment available to borrow on our Creating Audio guide.

Panopto

Record your screen with Panopto Capture. Learn how to use Panopto Capture with the video and text tutorials in the section Panopto Capture instructions.

With Panopto, viewers can access more features than most video players provide. You can:

• embed still images of your presentation slides that advance automatically with your video
• include captions that are searchable and, when clicked, allow viewers to skip to that section of the video
• play the video of your screen recording -- including webcam and multiple screen windows
• include thumbnail images that correspond to chapters within the video that viewers can skip to

The image below shows a sample screenshot with embedded slides, captions, a Zoom screen and webcam recording, and video chapters.

Camtasia

Record your screen with Camtasia. Visit the section on Camtasia screen recordings for instructions with video and text descriptions to learn how.

Camtasia allows you to record your screen. This means that you can record your presentation in real time -- along with your audio, if you prefer. Camtasia is available on campus computers (Mac & Windows), including laptops available for checkout.

However, Camtasia is not available for free for personal computers. If you want to work on your own computer, we recommend you try PowerPoint or Panopto (both are free for Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff, and faculty to use on their personal computers).

Camtasia has a some wonderful tutorials for learning how to record your screen:

• Build Your First Video (text, video, and screen shots)
• Basic Edits After Recording (text, video, and screen shots)
• Export & Share Your Video (text, video, and screen shots)
• Crisp & Clear Screen Recordings (text, video, and screen shots)
• Record a PowerPoint Presentation (text, video, and screen shots)

Basic steps and tips:

• Adjust the size of the capture area by dragging the box.
• Making the capture area as large as possible (fullscreen) will provide the highest quality capture.
• Hit the red button to begin recording.
• Starting: Before recording, take some time to set up your screen- open your slide presentation and enter presentation mode.
• Make a test recording to try it out your process and rehearse your presentation so that it is smooth and easy to follow. However, it is very easy to edit out anything at the beginning or end, if necessary.
• Finishing: To stop recording, press the F10 key.

Audio

Recording your audio requires a quality microphone and a lack of background noise. Some microphones allow you to record in noisy areas because they will only pick up sound nearby and in the direction of the mic. Whatever your choice, you should test your recording setup to ensure quality sound. You have the ability to clean up your audio with editing software, but you will get better quality and save yourself time by starting with a quality recording.

Instead of recording your presentation, you can import your slides as images:

PowerPoint (obnoxiously simple)

• File → Export → Choose file type JPEG or PNG → Choose Every Slide to download a folder with all slides.

Google Slides (more complicated)

Fewest steps:

• Download as PDF and export files as images in Adobe Acrobat:
  • File → Download As PDF Document (.pdf)
  • In Adobe Acrobat: File → Save As  → Choose file type PNG or JPEG

OR

• Download as PowerPoint presentation and open in PowerPoint:
  • File → Download As Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx).
  • Follow the instructions above to download slides as images from PowerPoint.

Most steps:

• Download each separate slide as an image file:
  • File → Download As (JPEG or PNG)

Import Your Recording/Slides into Camtasia

Choose the Import Media option either from the main menu in the Media Bin or by clicking on File → Import → Media and select your video or image file(s).

To set automatic timings, before you import: set the default image duration by opening preferences (Ctrl+,) and selecting the Timing tab.