Using+Screen+Capture+Products

Have you ever wondered **how to capture an image on your MAC**? There are lots of ways to capture images. Read on to find out how.

1. How to capture a still image on a MAC select the whole screen or part of the screen. Picture 1, 2, 3...
 * Press CMD, SHIFT and the 4 key simultaneously
 * Use the touchpad and the click bar (part of the touchpad) to
 * Let go! Your image will appear on your desktop with the name

2. Jing Project http://www.jingproject.com/ Jing is a free application that allows users to snap a picture of the screen and record video of onscreen action which can be shared through an instant messaging (IM) service or email. The video at the address above gives an overview of the product.

Classroom Applications: The first application that comes to mind applies to NVS. Let's say you want to create a video that shows students how to use a certain computer application or Web site. Jing allows you to capture what's on your screen, including the movement of your mouse. Here's an example:

This part is under construction.

The folks at Techsmith, the promoters of Jing, give another example of an application: Comment on students' homework. My favorite Techsmith suggestion is using Jing to show Dad how to use iTunes. Now, thinking like an educator, apply this idea to NVS (hint: Virtual Week) and the rest of your teaching setting.

Pros: There's a free version Jing, and we all like free things. You get 5 minutes of screen recording. You get a free Screencast.com account with 2 GB of space.

Cons: Jing files are in .png format. How often have you seen the file extension .png? Files feature SWF video. What's that? I dunno. If you want more recognizable formats such as MPEG-4, you'll have to pay $14.95 per year.

Question: How do I get started? Answer: Go to the Web site and download the software for MAC.

3. Camtasia Studio http://www.techsmith.com/download/camtasiatrial.asp is another screen capture product from TechSmith. You the user decide which section of the screen or window you want to capture. You have the option of capturing the entire screen. What's more, you can talk and use a video camera.

Pros: It seems to have more post production capabilities than Jing. (I'm sure you can tell I haven't used Camtasia yet.) By post production capabilities I mean revising and editing. Users can overlay a voice or sound effects during capture or after capture. Camtasia files can be exported to common video formats such as MPEG-2 and MPEG 4.

Cons: It ain't free, although TechSmith offers a free 30-day trial and educator pricing. It's worth a go for 30 days anyway.