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ladastic
Participating Frequently
February 1, 2012
Answered

Adding Background to a Recorded Slide

  • February 1, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • 1603 views

Is there a way to add a background (like a Master slide) to a slide that was recorded in Adobe Captivate? If so, how? I used a set Master Slide, then I selected: "Insert --> Recording Slide..." I recorded the slide, but the interface seemed to clash with the background. Is there a way to rectify this?

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    Correct answer AndyKingInOC

    Yes.


    there isn't an easy way to do what you want, as far as I know, but it can be done.  To my knowledge, Cp doesn't allow you to resize the recording area so you can't adjust it to fit within the confines of your content area in your master slides.  The recording area is always the same size as your slides.

    When you record slides, the 'background' of whatever you're recording (that is, the static parts) are merged into the background of the slide, and all the other 'stuff' is on top of that background (mouse, captions, highlights, etc).

    If it was me, here is what I would do:

    1) I'd cut out the white space of your master slide background so it's transparent.

    2) I'd manipulate the application window (if that's even possible with your application) so it will fit inside the confines of my content area.

    3) When recording, move the recording area box (red outline) so there is the right amount of space above, below, and beside the content area so the recording fits within the now transparent 'window' of the master slide.

    Note, step 3 would probably take much trial and error to get it perfect.

    4) when the recording is done, use the master slide for the recording slide.  The graphics for your master slide will sit on top of the recorded background (which should only cover up either your desktop behind/around the application or parts of the application window you don't care about).

    Sorry I can't upload screenshots (information security) or I'd try to help more.  There may be a different/easier way, but I'm not always known for doing things the easy way.  Hope that makes sense, let me know if not.

    The other option is you could take a bunch of static screen shots and manually build the slides.  Kind of defeats the purpose of recording with captivate, and it can be time consuming, but it could also work.  I've had to do that before when we were building training for a system that wasn't built yet, we built it off mockups and wireframes from TI development and fabricated all the data with text boxes.

    1 reply

    RodWard
    Community Expert
    RodWardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 1, 2012

    A Master Slide is not automatically applied to all new slides you may add to a project.

    So if you just recorded some new slides, and you wanted a given Master Slide to be applied to them, you'd need to select the new slides and then choose the relevant Master Slide from the drop down list provided in the Preferences tab.

    Remember that unless you set the options for the Master Slide objects to be on top, anything on your slide will be covering the master slide, so you might not notice much difference.

    L
    ladasticAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 1, 2012

    Thank you for replying. I understand how to add the Master Slide and I actually have the Master Slide throughout my project. However, I wanted to use the template or background of the Master Slide to serve as a border (so to say) for the Recorded Slide. I recorded a slide on a Master Slide background. The Master slide seemed to overrun the recording and all that appeared was the movement of the mouse from the recording on the Master Slide. When the recorded slide progressed through the presentation, you could see the regular recording screen fading in and out as it seemed to clash with the background/Master Slide. Does this make more sense? If not, I can take a screen shot tomorrow and attach it to this message to show what I mean.

    I would like this Master Slide/background/border to appear on all of my Recorded Slides. Is this possible.

    RodWard
    Community Expert
    RodWardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 1, 2012

    If you record a slide in Captivate, you don't normally apply a Master Slide unless you have some elements on the Master Slide that you want to sit ON TOP of the recorded slide background.

    There are two checkboxes in the General tab > Master Slide section that you need to pay attention to.

    • If you have objects on the Master Slide that you want to have floating over the top of EVERYTHING in your captured content, you check the box for Master Slide Objects On Top.
    • If you want the objects on the Master Slide to be on top of your slide background, but still be able to add items above those Master Slide objects, leave Master Slide Objects On Top unchecked.
    • If you want to use the background of the Master Slide INSTEAD of the background of your current slide (even if it's a capture) then you tick the box for Use Master Slide Background.  However, this will mean that you DO NOT SEE the capture slide background at all.

    From what you describe, you seem to want to use the Master Slide to frame the content on your captured slides.  If so, rather than merging the frame into the background of the Master Slide, just add it as an element on the Master Slide, apply the Master to your captures, and then check the boxes for Master Slide Objects On Top.  That way, if you ever need to change the look and feel of the frame, you just have to change it in one place...the Master Slide..and the changes will ripple through all of the slides where that Master is applied.

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