If you have been wanting to create your own video tutorials, but don't want to pay for software, there is a free alternative. While it takes a little to get used to... its great software.

Available for both windows and mac users.

Jing
http://www.jingproject.com/

I created a quick video myself just so you can see how it looks when you record something. It saves it out in a .swf automatically for web use. It isnt the best video (meaning I didnt bother to show every step), but it shows ya. Since it is video, if you make a long video, the video can be big in size, but thats just the nature of things. You can specify what size to make the dimentions, so you can make it as big or small as you want.

http://www.cibgraphics.com/tutorials/glossy_orb.swf (7.6MB)

Update. Since this is a "Project" (kinda like beta) It doesn't appear this will be free forever. One can only hope they release a free version once it releases.

can you also record audio so you can talk through each step? nice orb, by the way

You know what... I dont know. I didnt even try that. Let me find out.



Update. There is a Mute button which seems to say that there is audio, but it doesnt seem to work with my iMac microphone, hopefully they will add support later for it.

After I posted the question I realized.... I could have just gone and looked for myself!

But thanks for checking. That would REALLY come in handy if you can add audio. I am forever teaching people to do things and I feel like a broken record sometimes!! I could just say, "Go to "x" link and watch the tutorial for checking email in Outlook "

Thanks for the link CIB, I could really use this at work for our customers and cut the preflight time in half. Especially if you can get audio to work on it.

Like your tutorial as well. I now have to power to design orbs thanks to you.

You should also see http://www.debugmode.com
There free wink software is great for recording screen captures with or without audio.
First class free software.

The reason why i like JING, is because it is multi-platform. Windows has lots of free video screen capture software. On the mac side.. its a bit lacking.

As an update I was able to get the sounds working, but wont show you an example. I dont exactly have a great voice.

Great thanks, I could use that sometimes

Thanks!

This program is great!

Very nice...

ishowu

is another neat program. Not sure if its mac only or not. Its what I have used to put together my tutorials. I had to pay a little for the full version but only like 10 or so bucks. Records my voice and can capture full rez screen at 40 frames per second.

cibgraphics

That's weird it works with my Imac. The mic that is.

I tried making some videos but there was too much noise interference, like people opening and closing doors, dogs braking, and stuff like that. And, I don't know much about editing audio.

I actually bought iShowU HD Pro not too long ago and I hope to come out with a series of video tutorials. After I get over my fear of sounding like a moron.

I eventually got the sound to work, but when I started using it, It was very much still in beta mode. Now it is a full released program. I was also using OSX 10.4.11 at the time. Im not on OSX 10.6.1

The new QucikTime has a built in screen recorder.
The sound would have to be externally recorded.
It's free and works GREAT!