Editing
Part of Screen recordings and software tutorials
Recording cursor actions at a readable pace
Show each cursor target, selection and result clearly, then check the exported software tutorial at its intended viewing size.
Record cursor actions so viewers can locate the target, see the selection and recognise the result. Move to one control at a time, pause before activating it, and leave the changed screen visible long enough to understand it.
Set the pace by the action and final viewing size. No fixed number of seconds per click is useful.
Orient the viewer
Begin on a screen the intended viewer can recognise. Show where the relevant area sits before moving to a closer view, and keep necessary labels readable in the final player. A pointer crossing tiny controls does little to identify the target.
If a keyboard shortcut is part of the task, name it in speech and text, and show the resulting change. Otherwise, consider showing the visible control, so the action does not appear to happen without explanation.
Give each action its own beat
Name the target, move to it, pause, select it and allow the interface to respond. Wait for a menu or page to settle before moving to the next control. When typing matters, show the entry and final value. A cut may shorten a long sample entry if it leaves every required choice visible.
Avoid circling the pointer or hovering over unrelated controls. Give a hard-to-find target context: “In the report settings, select Date range.” Naming the control and outcome also helps people who cannot see the pointer adequately. Do not rely on “here”, colour or position alone.
Moment / What to show
- Before moving
- Starting screen and relevant area
- Before selecting
- Label or recognisable target
- After selecting
- Menu, value or status that confirms the action
Check the exported pace
Play a trial export at normal speed in the intended page layout, including a narrow view. Check whether the label can be read before the pointer leaves, whether the selection is apparent and whether the result remains visible. A pace that works on a large editing monitor may need adjustment in a smaller player.
If a step is rushed, extend a still-valid view of its result or record the step again. Avoid freezing a frame when moving progress is information the viewer needs. Highlighting or zoom can help identify a target, but it cannot supply a missing action or outcome.
After trimming, check that speech, cursor, captions and written steps follow the same order. At each pause point, the viewer should be able to identify the next action.
