Visual Recording on the iPad

A brief overview of how to use the iPad for visual recording/notetaking. Includes things to consider when doing this; how this is different from traditional (paper-based) visual recording; and comparisons of four tools (Ideas, AirSketch, Brushes, and SketchbookPro).

For details about how I made this video, please see this blog post: http://ninmah.be/2010/08/02/ipad-visu...

For my TEDx talk, "Drawing in Class," about personal visual note-taking on the iPad, please see this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tJPeu...

All media used in this video are licensed under Creative Commons and are used in accordance with their respective licenses.

This video is licensed under a Creative Commons (by-nc-sa) 3.0 license.

• Category

  Education

[Shamblesguru Smith]

Rachel ... brilliant ... one of the best screencast presentations [visual recordings] I've seen ... have embedded the video in several areas on shambles dot net.

Envious of your skills ... and now on my "to-do" list to improve mine ..

Sorry the old "Brushes" is no longer available ... which of the others would you recommend that has multiple layers, I note that you must have used layers at the end of your video to do the background colour fills.

[Rachel Smith]

I did indeed use layers, and I use them a lot. The trouble is not finding an app that can do layers -- Sketchbook Pro and the new Brushes both have layers -- but if you want to make recordings, that's where it gets sticky. There are now a lot of apps that do sketch movies, but none that are mostly designed for drawing that also do recordings, like the old Brushes. You might look at VideoScribe or bContext, or something like Reflector that lets you mirror the iPad to a computer and record it.

[dabareh]

So, what is the best software to use now? And, surely you didn't draw as fast as you spoke, so how did you go back and synch the voice and draqing?

[Rachel Smith]

There isn't one that does exactly what the old Brushes did, but you might look at VideoScribe and bContext. Both of those allow drawing and audio recording/syncing right in the app. For the one posted here, I recorded the audio separately and used iMovie to produce the finished piece.

[redvelvetdrops]

Hey Rachel, im blown away by the neatness of your work on the iPad. Im one who utilizes my ipad for school and nite-taking. So im looking for the best stylus to buy. Which do you recommend? Youre really good! Thanks for sharing.

[Rachel Smith]

Hi Red,

I don't use a stylus -- I just use my finger. I've tried a lot of them and I just find it easier to draw with my finger. It's really a matter of personal preference, so I recommend you try out as many as you can and just pick the one that is most comfortable for you.

[Shamblesguru Smith]

I think the answer might be to use one of the screencasting Apps ... I've done a screenshot of those on my iPad which can be seen at url "t dot co slash fWy0qRHTVi" also just twittered @shamblesguru

What I've not done is check to see if any of them have a layers option ... never thought to look before ... will do so now ... but it's so obvious how useful that would be.

They all allow recording and some allow zooming ... I need to experiment.

[Ria Baeck]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[redvelvetdrops]

Hey Rachelm

[Rachel Smith]

I have tried the Jot, but not the Dagi. The ipen 2 looks very interesting -- I'll have to try that when it comes out. I still prefer to use my fingertip, though. It's always available, and I never leave it anywhere by accident ;-)