… but I just can’t. I *like* Sparkol’s VideoScribe, but I don’t *love* it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not lovable. I know people who have done very cool things with it, like Chipp Walters’ overview of Agilix xLi, along with many other examples — see the Sparkol YouTube channel for lots more. And I do think the “behind glass” hand is pretty neat.
I’ve only used the free trial versions (desktop and iPad app), so it’s also possible that the paid version is a whole different animal. I made a silly little movie about the beginning of the book Watership Down by Richard Adams, because I’m in the middle of reading that with my son and it’s on my mind. It took about 45 minutes to create this, starting from not really knowing how to use VideoScribe at all. If I were to make something similar now it would only take about 15 minutes. The learning curve isn’t bad at all.
Here’s my take on it:
When I compare it to my current workflow for creating this kind of movie, I find VideoScribe to be limiting. I’m used to being able to create images from scratch and control how they appear. I did create my own drawing in Illustrator (the image of the downs in the sample movie here), but as you can see, it didn’t come out quite the way I wanted it to in the video. I used the brush pen in Illustrator to get a brushy line quality, but in the movie you see the outline of each stroke and then all the strokes fill in at the end, so it looks odd.
I also wanted to add audio effects at different places in the movie, and I could not figure out how to do this. When I recorded an audio effect as a voiceover (just myself saying “Ta-da!”), it played at the very beginning, and I didn’t see a way to shift it to the point where I wanted it to be. It may be that there is a way to do it and I couldn’t find it, or it may be that this is only something you can do in the full-price version. Or it may not be possible at all.
However, it’s much less complicated to create a movie using VideoScribe than it is to do it the way I currently do it (with Brushes 1 and Final Cut Pro X). VideoScribe also has an advantage over Brushes 1 in that you can actually obtain it, which is significant for folks who are just starting out (the original Brushes is no longer available on the App Store, and the new one doesn’t let you work with the movie files in the same way). VideoScribe’s library of imagery seems to be extensive and can be supplemented by custom material, and it’s nice to have all the parts in one place: images, soundtrack, voiceover, and output. I use four different applications or services to achieve the same end.
Is VideoScribe right for you? Well, if you are looking for a relatively easy way to get into creating this kind of movie, and you don’t need an OCD-level of control over the output, and you’re willing to put in some time to learn the ins and outs of its unique user interface, then it might be. It’s certainly less complicated than working with a video crew — you can sit down and work on it any time, without reference to other people’s schedules, and you don’t need special lighting or space. The results are definitely polished enough to use for client work. It’s much easier to learn to use than Final Cut Pro X or even iMovie, and there are fewer moving parts to worry about. If you do decide to try it out, be aware that there’s a 7-day free trial. Don’t start until you have some time to devote to it, so you can give it a fair shot. I’d be curious to learn what you think if you try it.
Great post! I had the same feeling when trying out VideoScribe. As long as you use the stock images included with the program, it works fine. But using your own drawings just doesn’t work as I would like. In my opinion, VideoScribe is great for quick concept vids. For more custom drawings, I prefer DoodleCast. And when my OCD kicks in, I just go all out with an edited screenrecording of a Sketchbook Pro drawing.
Laurens, thanks for the comment. I haven’t tried DoodleCast, so there’s another to add to my list! I have tried editing screen recordings of Sketchbook Pro, but wow is that tedious. Maybe I just make more mistakes than most people, but it takes me ages to edit them out 😉
The images need to be svgs and they will draw perfectly. You can download these formats here http://www.svgdownloads.com
Actually, the images I used are SVGs, and they don’t draw perfectly because I used the calligraphy brush in Illustrator. I wanted the variable brushlike line. Unfortunately, the outline of each stroke renders first, and then they all fill in once the drawing is complete, which spoils the effect. So SVGs will work — if you use the right brush to create them.
There’s not much there at svgdownloads.com. Looks like a concept for a website and business that’s not finished. Disappointing.
That is disappointing. Thanks for checking it out and posting your comment, Tom.
Yes Rachel, I agree with your *like* not *love*. I bought the full thing and tried to love it but it was limiting on many fronts. I think it’s great for those who just need to get a sketch video together and not too worried about the output or control over it. I still use the old version of Brushes as you mention, and export the video file and that’s been working a treat. Inkflow is another app that’s proving to be helpful for video exports of sketches with more control. And while it’s great that these options are there for people choosing to communicate this way, I see how there are great sketch videos and average ones – we have to remember that the message is still key; for the mode of delivery or channel, well, we have many, many choices and visuals via a video are just one.
Thanks, Lynne — I have been meaning to give Inkflow a try. I’m still searching for what to recommend to folks who can’t get hold of the original Brushes.
You’re quite right about the message being key. Like anything else, just making something in this format does not automatically make it an effective message or delivery.
Hi Rachel!
Great write-up.
Here’s the secret for what you want to do…Use neu.Draw on the iPad to sketch your pictures, export them to Dropbox as SVG, then import them into VideoScribe (either the iPad or Desktop version). Works like a charm. It’s how I created the couple Agilix scribes you reference (thanks for that!).
Thanks, Chipp. I will add neu.Draw to my list of apps to try in combo with VideoScribe. I don’t suppose you’ve written an underlay stripper for neu.Draw, have you? 🙂
Hi Chipp
I like your videos and have downloaded neu.Draw on our iPad. May I ask if you use a touch-pen or your finger to draw on the iPad?
And thank you Rachel for the article (I also want to love videoScribe).
Thanks Rachel. As a non-techie I thought I was missing something awesome with VideoScribe, but your post confirmed by reservations about it. Very helpful, as usual! And thanks to the others for the recommendations about Inkflow and DoodleCast!
Hello i have been using video scribe for two weeks now and i figured out a little trick i also use sketchbook pro drawings but i first bring them into illustrator and then turn them in to vector images then i delete all the black lines creating a shell (you could do the same thing in photo shop just delete all the black color and have a transparent layer) then using strokes only i trace under the shell and only where black lines from sketchbook appear save it as an svg and wala you have a drawing that video scribe redraws perfectly the way you drew in in scetchbook
One of the best things about VideoScribe is that it’s a non-linear editor. For those of us who have been trying to do this in Brushes with underlayStripper, the process was extremely linear. Make a single mistake and it’s really hard to fix. And heaven forbid the client wants to change things!
With VideoScribe, you can change and tweak as you go. Truly, doing little sketches in neu.Draw on iPad and exporting them as SVG works really, really well. See my latest scribe: http://youtu.be/nGfpEt67s6M
All the drawings and hand-drawn text is my own. And it was much faster to create than any of my previous scribes. I write the script, order a voice over from VoiceJockeys.com ($295 if you keep it under 5 mins), add it into VS, then start adding drawing from my iPad. HTH!
Chipp, thanks for the additional detail. That is super helpful. I’ll give your method a try and report back — I’m perfectly ready to love VideoScribe if I possibly can!
Thanks for this excellent overview. I too have tried to use Videoscribe, following Chipp’s excellent advice, but up until now I haven’t had much luck… I’ll try again this summer. Recently filmed a hand-that-draws video and that is certainly more labor-intensive and requires a lot of time-consuming partnerships. So I suppose I’ll keep an open mind… There’s a French start-up called Explee that is also now offering something similar, but so far they’re by no means as flexible as Videoscribe.
What was Brushes thinking when they eliminated the screen capture function, one wonders…
Lynne, I was looking at Inkflow, and it looks like the same company (Qrayon) released a new app specifically for creating sketch videos called Vittle on May 9. Have you checked this out at all??
FWIW, I still find the process fairly straightforward. Perhaps you can look at this PDF (towards the end) and see if my workflow doesn’t help.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3788438/AgilixBusiness/Whitepapers/ScribeVideos.pdf
Thank you for the four-step process, really helpful.
Hi Rachel, Thanks for a great review! I’ve made a couple of videos in VideoScribe Pro, including a very detailed one for a client, and actually really like it, although there is the issue of having the illustrations (done in Adobe Illustrator mostly) “pop in” a bit at the end… I haven’t ever used a video editing program like Final Cut, and am wondering if that process is as intimidating as it seems to a newbie? Right now, I’m looking for an editing program that will import VideoScribe files so I can add other elements… By the way, thanks for hosting this conversation!
It’s late to respond to Martha, but I’ve been using AVS video editor ($40/year avs4you.com). It’s a well-featured home video editor. Certainly not a professional product, but I’ve used it to make some little videos for my business. I just purchased a new license, as my year was up, and I got a new computer. The main thing I don’t like about AVS is that they license to the motherboard on the computer. So, if you get a new computer, or have your motherboard replaced, you must pay for AVS again. They also throw in an Audio Editor (though I use Audacity) and photo editors. I wish they would include an easy to learn Graphics Editor that would save svg files.
Hi Martha and Tom (also responding late…). Martha, Final Cut Pro does have a bit of a learning curve. I actually started with iMovie, because it came free with my Mac, and I used it for my first several videos while I learned the process. Eventually, I hit a wall in terms of what I could make iMovie do, so that’s when I moved up to Final Cut Pro. The iMovie experience was helpful. I also recommend IzzyVideo’s tutorials (http://www.izzyvideo.com/final-cut-pro-x-tutorial/) if you go that route.
Thanks Tom and Rachel! I’ll check out AVS and Final Cut Pro. And the link to izzyvideo will be helpful. I appreciate the feedback!
Martha
I liked the fact that if you did not find an image, you can upload one from your files! I love it! Wish I could afford it!
If you would prefer to use the brush tool in your illustrator program, you will need to create a transparent second layer, which will allow VideoScribe to copy the original stroke that you added. To do this, you need to copy the original brush stroke and place it behind the original layer in your illustrator program. Then you’ll need to set the definition of the new stroke to basic. You will want to make sure that the thickness of the new basic stroke is slightly bigger than the original and that the transparency is set to 0%. VideoScribe will then be able to draw along the transparent stroke so that the original image is revealed. It’s a little trickier than the first method that was discussed, but is also one that can deliver fantastic results when done properly.
Rick, thanks for this tip! I’ll have to give it a try.