Screen Capture of On-Line Database??

SecondWind-SK wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:40 AM
I'm working on a training project for a client. The purpose is to familiarize a sales force with a new on-line information system where users can see and add to the information. When logged into their system, the screens are crisp and easily read. I captured a live training session with Camtasia. The problem is that in the captured video resolution of very fine print is very poor...; readable, but just barely. I'm looking for a way to improve. I even tried using SnipIt to capture from my monitor a few screens while I was logged into their system. That gave me a PNG picture, which looked pretty good, but, when brought to the time line, it was no better than the Camtasia capture. I've applied EFX Brightness & Contrast plus Sharpen, which helps... but not much. Does anyone have a magic bullet approach that can help this situation? Many thanks.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:50 AM
The Camtasia video capture settings make a huge difference in quality. I'd start with those.

Fall back position is to set up a camera and simply videotape the screen. Drop that into your presentation.
Chienworks wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:50 AM
What's the resolution of your project? If you're using DVD resolution then the images all get resized to 655x480 (NTSC), so they're going to be blurry no matter what. You may have to consider cropping down to just the important part of the screen.
videoITguy wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:54 AM
There are actually several things that you want to happen and hopefully you can follow these suggestions.

1) You need a Windows 7 64bit installation platform
2) Use Mirillis Ltd. app Action! Version 1.20.1 - this is the best especially if you want the aero interface to do its best.
3) You want to use the app to capture into a high-quality codec that an NLE can munch on.. this might mean adjustment in frame rate, screen size, etc to get the best quality into the recorded codec.
4) Make sure you use lots of zoom-in to identify smaller screens for review - which can then even be supplemented with supers of additional text - always a good idea.
5) capture and rehearse the narrative - but actually do the final edit within the NLE
6) Output to a decent quality codec - MP4 ususally is not satisfactory - with low-bit rates.
7) try to do this where your video card outputs to a screen rez as high as it can go and then monitor with a good 24inch 16:10 aspect monitor to see what your results are actually creating.
SecondWind-SK wrote on 12/4/2014, 2:30 PM
Great information. Action is either a whole lot better than Camtasia or I really screwed up the parameters in Camtasia, when I recorded the original on-line training. Even rendered to a 1920x1080 4 mbs MP4 the quality is adequate and the file size manageable. Thank videoITguy. One question... I believe the action software I downloaded... and am now waiting for a product key after purchase.... is 32 bit. I am running Win 64 bit on an i7 5930K. Whatever 32 or 64 bit, it seems to work great. The narration is done. I plan to go on-line to the client's application and capture the screen, while duplicating the screen changes in sync (approximately) with the narration.