Production Guidelines

PRE-Production Capture Settings

Note: For all Windows PC-based captures, please use Windows 11 unless there's a reason you need to show an earlier OS. If capturing Office desktop apps, make sure Office is updated so the most recent UI is shown.

Optimal settings for capturing user interface demo footage:

• Display setting on monitor: 150-250%

• UI setting: 150%-200%

• Camtasia capture dimensions: 16:9 ratio, as large as possible. Ideally, do your captures at 3840x2160 (4k full-screen)

If rendering an MP4 from Camtasia for post-production:

• In the Properties pane, set the Scale of the video track to 100%

• Under Project Settings, set the Canvas Dimensions to Fit to Visible

• Output format: MP4

• Output resolution: equal to capture

Accessibility

All text on screen must have a contrast ratio high enough to satisfy the WCAG AAA standard. The easiest way to ensure this is to test the color values of your text and its background using a color contrast checker such as WebAIM. By default, all Microsoft product colors satisfy the contrast requirement when paired with white.

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud: After Effects, Premiere, Audition, Illustrator. Please check before using any plugins or 3D software that might not be available to later editors who might need to update the video.

Deliverables

Note: Depending on the project, you may not be responsible for delivering all of these items. Or, there may be additional items requested that are not listed here. Check with the person requesting the video to learn which items you're expected to deliver.

• Final video file (MP4)

• Thumbnail image (JPG or PNG)

• ZIP file containing the following:

  • Project file + all asset files

  • Finished MP4 and thumbnail

  • Script/storyboard

  • Any other files/documents associated with the project