Whiteboard Animation Tip

Nifty VideoScribe Trick

Typically we develop all of our Whiteboard Animations using Sparkol’s VideoScribe, and Adobe Illustrator. Assets are built using illustrator, are exported and then imported into VideoScribe.  Inside of Videoscribe settings are set such as: animation speed, entrance type and direction, pause and hold times, as well as transitions.  The final step is applying everything to the desired audio, which can be either background music, or specific voice over, to better explain the subject matter.

Overall these two tools make the processes quite enjoyable with very few hiccups in the pipeline.  However I would like to share a specific setting that could make everyone’s use of the software a little easier.

Intermittently when importing .svg files into VideoScribe I would get graphical errors on the vectors. The errors would be at random and I was unable to pinpoint which factors are causing the glitch.  After all there are a while slew of factors that make up an image/filetype that could be potential factors.

But I found a solution that so far, is working consistently (knock on wood).  From Illustrator export your .svg and wait for the SVG Options dialogue box to appear.  Ensure that Embed is selected under Options and that Presentation Attributes is selected under CSS Properties.

See the image left, for a visual guide.

The setting indicated seem to perfectly correct the errors I was experiencing previously.

 

 

 

Take a look at a before and after from VideoScribe located below.

 

On left you can see the error that was occurring with my vector image.  It is worth noting that the error did not correct itself when previewed or published, and strangely the line size was also altered.  Regardless the solution posted has stopped this error for me. Hopefully it helps your workflow as well.

If you would like to see whiteboards animations that Pathways has created or to  learn about whiteboard animations check out www.pathwaysinc.ca

 

A Beginner’s Guide to Working With Vector Graphics for eLearning Modules

Sometimes, when you are producing an elearning module, you just can’t find the right image for your content. Or you might find an image that’s almost right, but not quite for the message you’re trying to convey. Maybe it’s the perfect image, but it’s not available in your client’s colour scheme.

Many of these issues can be fixed with even a basic knowledge of Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. In this article, we will be learning how to make simple edits of vector images with Illustrator.

First of all, what is the difference between vector and raster images? Raster graphics use an array of pixels to construct the graphics, typically used with photographic image graphics. Your computer display is made up from grids containing small rectangles called pixels. The smaller and closer the units are together, the better the quality of the output image, however it also means it will generate a bigger file to store the image output data. If the number of pixels remains the same, enlarging your image will stretch the size of each pixel and the image will become chunky and blocky (pixellated).

Vector format files store the lines, paths, points, shapes and colours that make up a graphic as a mathematical formula. A vector design program uses this formula to construct the output image on your screen, providing the best quality possible, given your screen resolution. Since the vector formula file can produce a graphic scalable to any size and detail, the quality of the graphic is limited only by the resolution of your monitor, and the file size of vector data rendering the graphic stays the same.

Most image libraries now have many of their graphics available in a vector format. Usually, the most common format you might find vector graphics in will be .eps (Encapsulated PostScript file). You can open and edit these files with graphics programs such as Inkscape (which is free), or Adobe Illustrator.

When you open this file with a graphics program, you will find that your image is composed of a number of objects. Each object has an outline, or path, which is composed of lines and points. These paths may be freestanding lines, or form closed shapes which may be filled with a colour.

First, find the selection tool. This is usually the first tool icon available at the top left corner of the tool menu – a black arrow. With this tool, you can select single objects or objects that are grouped. Once an object is selected, you can move the object around your page, edit the fill and outline colours by clicking on a colour swatch, and copy and paste your selected object or objects just as you would with text, with Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V. You can also apply transformations to scale, rotate, or flip the object. If you are feeling ambitious, you can also edit the shape of the object by changing the curves on the paths or at the anchor points. If you’ve made a mistake, you can undo any of the changes you just made with Ctrl-Z. And finally, you can get rid of the object if it’s not working for you by right clicking on it and selecting Cut or Delete.

Once you have edited your object to your liking, you can save the document in the program’s default format to continue editing later, or export it to a raster format (such as .jpg, or .png) to be used in your elearning.

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to edit a vector graphic! Keep an eye on this space for more tips and tricks with working in Illustrator. In the meantime, you can check out our other articles on graphics in elearning – Gamificaton – 5 Great Tools to Make Great Graphics for Learning Games, How to Avoid Filler Graphics in Your Elearning, or Good Infographic Design.