Kris and I are busy updating our Photoshop Elements (PSE) Essentials classes. We’ve upgraded to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019, and my job was to create all new videos. If you’ve ever wanted to try video editing or capturing what’s on your monitor, Camtasia 2019 from Techsmith is the best thing since sliced bread. And I know my bread.
The Background
When we started teaching Photoshop Elements in 2011 (has it really been that long?!?), the wonderful and amazing Carla Barrett hosted our teaching platform. I remember Carla introduced us to the Camtasia 7 program so we could capture our screen for teaching. Neither Kris nor I had ever done any video editing, so we were a bit skeptical. Carla had faith in our abilities, so we decided to give it a whirl. By the way, if you’re wondering why Carla doesn’t host us anymore, it’s because she has taken off with her husband and grandson to sale the ocean blue on their boat, the SV Mahi. We still get to see her occasionally when she returns to Northern California during hurricane season. (How’s that for figuring out how to sneak a beach scene into this blog entry?!)
Camtasia
We thought we were big stuff because we could highlight our mouse cursor, add a few (very view!) video transitions, and edit the “uhs, ums, and oh craps.” Camtasia 7 was great. I’m sure it took me eighty hours to create eight minutes of video that first time, but it was worth it. We have taught hundreds of students via our online classes, and we are fortunate to have met some of them in person.
Fast forward eight years, and we’ve decided that the difference between Photoshop Elements Version 13 and 2019 was so great that we needed record all new videos. I decided it might be worth upgrading to Camtasia 2018 while we were at it. I found a great deal where I could upgrade to 2018 and when 2019 came out, I’d get that upgrade free. Whoopee! When I started up Camtasia 2018, it was like a whole new program. The interface was so much better! And the video tutorials—free from the Techsmith website—short and to the point. I was adding animated boxes in no time. Lest you think that sort of thing is just for show, Kris can tell you it’s not. When I showed her the first new video, she was jumping up and down for joy. She couldn’t help but look where I wanted her to look. No more trying to figure out where my cursor was (even if it was highlighted in our original videos). You can click on the link below to see some of the new features of Camtasia 2019.
Photoshop Elements Classes
Registration for our next series of classes has just opened. PSE 1 starts June 3 and PSE 2 July 8. Click here to read more about our classes and to register. Hope to “see” you in class.*
If you want to see a 1-minute video of me working with Camtasia and a clip from our newest class video, click on the image below. Kris just loves those green arrows and drawn squares!
* A short note to our former students: The same offer applies to these classes with new videos. If you’ve taken a class from us before, you can repeat that class at the 50% returning student rate. Just contact us to register. There are some new features in PSE that make creating much easier!