Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Text font, size, and color. This may vary by type of text but should
remain consistent for all similar text types.
Text phrasing and tense. Generally, use a command only when you
are inserting an interactive element and want to tell the viewer to
do something. If the caption is not for an interactive element, use a
statement. For example, if the viewer sees “Click this button to
advance to the next slide,” he or she is likely to try to click the
button. If it is simply a demonstration, consider using a phrase
such as “This button advances to the next slide.”
Timing issues. You don't want to have one slide go by too fast and
another too slow.
Spelling and grammar. Make a list of words that are unique to your
product or software or industry and use them consistently. And by
all means, use the Captivate spell checker (see Chapter 12)!
Animation. Though this can enliven a movie, too much animation
becomes distracting. If your words are flying all over the place, the
viewer will be watching the animation and not reading your impor-
tant message.
Color scheme. Make sure that the colors you pick for text boxes
and highlight boxes show up well on your background or on your
screen shots. For example, viewers may not be able to see a light
blue highlight box if it is highlighting a blue button.
Planning Is Everything
Okay, this isn't a new concept. Before you even start up the Captivate
software, you need to begin planning exactly what you want your view-
ers to take away from the experience. Some of the questions you'll
need to answer include:
Who will be watching this movie?
What is the audience's current skill level?
What hardware and software will they be using?
What do they need to know
right now
?
How much interactivity do they need?
What determines success or failure?
