Camtasia Overview
Access Camtasia Software
System Requirements
Setup Your Computer Workspace
Create an Outline or Script

Camtasia Overview

Camtasia is a screen recording and video editing software. Use Camtasia to record your screen, or import your own media clips, images and PowerPoint presentation slides to create video content for your online courses or website.

Record it All
- Use Camtasia's powerful screen recorder to capture anything on your screen. You can also import videos, music, and photos to truly customize your videos.
Create Powerful Videos
- Edit and enhance your videos with Camtasia’s powerful editor, themes, animated backgrounds, graphics, callouts, and more.
Engage Your Audience
- Produce interactive videos and then share videos that your viewers can watch anywhere, anytime.
Provide Accessible Content
- Add captions to your videos to ensure all viewers can access the content.
Share your Videos
- Export your videos in an .mp4 format, to share in Canvas. Share video easily to your YouTube account or other video sharing site as needed.

Additional Resources

Video Tutorials for Mac and Windows Users - Techsmith tutorials for your specific operating system.
Screencasting: From Script to Screen
TechSmith Blog Camtasia
TechSmith Support

Access Camtasia

You can access Camtasia from Off-Campus Remote Computer Lab Access or from the IRT Campus Computer Labs (once student computer laps re-open).

Additional Resources:

System Requirements

These requirements are specific for Camtasia version 2019

Camtasia (Windows)

Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, and Windows 10 (Required: 64 Bit versions only)
2 GB of hard-disk space for program installation
4 GB RAM minimum
Dedicated Windows-compatible sound card, microphone, and speakers (Recommended)

Camtasia (Mac)

Mac OS 10.12 or later
4GB of available disk space (minimum)
4GB of RAM (memory) Recommended: 8GB of RAM or greater
PowerPoint import requires PowerPoint 2016, 2019 for Mac

Please see more details and Feature specific requirements for Windows on Techsmith's Camtasia System Requirements for Windows and Mac webpage.

Setup Your Computer Workspace

Stay organized, avoid losing content and record videos that contain only the necessary information, by preparing your computer. Designate a location to save the Camtasia project content you develop, video, audio, and other files. Clean up the recording areas e.g. browser toolbars, desktop areas to ensure a clean and organized screen capture.

Create a Project Folder

Start by designating a place on your computer where you will save all of your Camtasia project files which may include:

Script or outline
Images in the formats: .jpg, .png
.trec files (screen recording files recorded with Camtasia)
.cmproj file (Camtasia project file that contains the recordings, library files, and all edits completed for a video created in Camtasia)
.mp4 video files you imported from a camera or obtained elsewhere
.m4v or .mp3 audio files recorded using QuickTime, an external device or downloaded from a website.
PowerPoint .pptx, .ppt, presentations used for screen captures

Locate a place on computer to save content for example your “Documents” area. To create a Project Folder:

Open Finder (Mac) or Computer (windows)
Select Documents
Within Document area right click (control key and click Mac) and select New Folder option from menu to create a new folder
Name the new folder “Video Project” for example.
Everything related to your Camtasia project should be saved to this location. Saving files in separate locations can cause your project to not open correctly and will alert you of missing files.

Clean up your Recording Area

When you record screen captures, you may capture part of your desktop when accessing a program, you may record content in a browser window or other application. It’s important that you “clean up” those areas so any unnecessary content does not record in the screen capture. To “clean up”:

Your Desktop: Create a new folder where you can move over any stray files on your desktop that clutter the area
Your Browser: Hide your bookmarks bar and buttons that should not show up in recording.
- Safari: To hide toolbars: View Menu > Hide Side Bar, View Menu > Hide Favorites bar
- Chrome: To hide bookmarks bar go to View Menu > De-select “Always show bookmarks bar” option. To show bar follow same process.

Additional Resources

Moving Projects and Recordings between Camtasia on Mac and Windows.

Create an Outline or Script

You may already have a good idea of the areas you plan to cover in your video, but if you don’t creating an outline is helpful. An outline can help you determine the type of content and screens you need to record, the duration of the video, and help with keeping your recording sessions organized. Ideally your outline will contain the different sections that make up your video, main topics, subtopics, content type to use e.g. images, audio, recordings,

Create a script to help you while recording voiceovers and to add closed captions to your video. Camtasia studio has a script template that you can use to layout your content and capture the spoken content for your video.

Script Template Outline Sample

In the video below, the use of a script is explained as a starting point in the pre-production process:

Finally before you start recording, practice running through the process and content that you will record. Use your outline and/or script during your practice run to get familiarized with how you will navigate content as you record.

Need More Help?

Request Support from the IRT Service Desk: https://csus.service-now.com/service/

Email the IRT Service Desk: servicedesk@csus.edu