Show and Tell for Makers
Posted on Wednesday July 28, 2010 by Betsy Weber
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I'm a DIY kinda person. In my spare time, I'm knitting, crafting, cooking... making something... anything!
That's why I'm so excited that this weekend, Maker Faire is coming to Detroit, Michigan! Maker Faire is described as the ultimate DIY festival - "It's county fair meets science fair meets farmers market meets burning man for families! ..."
And, that got me thinking about how screencaptures and screencasts bring Maker projects to life by not just telling people about a project, but also showing.
I compiled a list of ways you can use Snagit, Jing, Camtasia and Screencast.com to make your DIY projects more visual. I'd love for some additional ideas. Please chime in on the comments with ways you're using screencaptures and screencasts with your DIY projects.
- Aim your Web camera at your hands for a true hands-on demonstration that is easily posted to your blog or website.
- Watermark and copyright your demonstrations and images with just a few clicks.
- Send your instructional screencast video directly to your YouTube channel.
- Archive an in-depth project step-by-step with screen captures and screen recordings.
- Narrate a video for online customers to navigate your online store.
- Annotate patterns and schematics with Snagit, the world's leading screen capture software.
- Use Snagit to convert your annotated pattern into a PDF to sell on Etsy.
- Use Snagit or Jing to collect and archive projects, tutorials and ideas on Screencast.com, TechSmith's free hosting solution.
Here are some great examples of Makers making projects visual:
- Sandal Woods moves to a 21st Century Toolbench with Camtasia Studio.
- Jon Bergmann and Aaron Sams from Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, CO use Camtasia's Picture-in-Picture feature to highlight lab experiments for their class in their screencasts.
- Nico DiMattia uses Camtasia to screencast his speed painting.
- Use Snagit or Jing to annotate a step-by-step recipe.
- Capture Online Templates for Pumpkin Carving Project.
And, if you're going to Maker Faire this weekend, please contact me (email or call/text 517.410.0030)! There will be lots of TechSmithies there. I'd love to meet-up. And, I'll have plenty TechSmith sporks to share. :-) You know you want one! Come find me!
Comments (4)
This is great, I wish I could attend. (Hope you can, and that you can do some interviews w/ folks there... it should be easy to find some Techsmith users!).
I noticed a recently announced Panasonic camcorder which might be interesting. It can attach (USB) to a computer and serve as the camera/mic for a Skype conversation, so it could serve as live-video input to Camtasia, yes? If so, this would be a much better camera (optical lens, zoom, etc) than most for Camtasia, and might be especially useful for creating DIY movies.
See
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Camcorders/1-MOS-High-Def-Camcorders/model.HDC-SDX1H.S_11002_7000000000000005702#tabsection
for the camera's specs. Enjoy the Faire, hope it's sunny and 70.
Posted by Mike Lougee | July 29, 2010 12:54 PM
Posted on July 29, 2010 12:54
Hi Mike - you *must* figure out a way to visit Michigan during Maker Faire! It was wonderful!
I posted some pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsyweber/sets/72157624633626212/with/4851401811/
I'll have to check out the camera. Thanks for posting!
Bets
Posted by Betsy Weber | August 2, 2010 10:00 PM
Posted on August 2, 2010 22:00
Thanks Betsy! I'll be exhibiting at the NYC Maker Faire in September and will try and implement some of your great tips.
Posted by Avi Solomon | August 6, 2010 11:38 PM
Posted on August 6, 2010 23:38
Avi - I'm going to try and get to the NYC Maker Faire in September. Please let me know if you end up using some of the tips above. I'd love to see what you make! Drop me an email: b.weber@techsmith.com
Are you based near NYC?
Bets
Posted by Betsy Weber | August 11, 2010 5:03 PM
Posted on August 11, 2010 17:03