People have asked me some questions about screen capture and screencasting apps on other threads (including here: Debunking the Myth of “Mac as a Walled Garden”), but I haven’t had the chance to offer a “Screen Capture and Screencasting 101” manual for Mac users, so here it goes.
I generally need to take screen captures (static screen capture images) of my Mac daily for my work, as well as I regularly engage in producing screencast videos for my work. I have used a range of tools over the years, as well as a series of places to host screencasts. Here is an evaluation of what I’ve used and how well it works.
Screen Capture (static screen capture images):
For years, the Mac has included built-in screen capture tools, similar to Windows “Print Screen”. Command+Shift+3 would capture the entire screen, and Command+Shift+4 would capture a selected portion of the screen. The app backend that powered these tools was known as “Grab” (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grab_(software)).
In Mojave, Apple has also added some tools to a new keystroke, Command+Shift+5 that allows for more granular control of screen captures, plus it has added some of the post-capture markup tools similar to taking screen captures on iOS. Here are a couple of articles with instructions on using these tools:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201361
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/take-screenshot-mac/
The backend app is now called “Screenshot” instead of “Grab” (see: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2018/07/13/howto-take-screenshots-mac-mojave/)
For most Mac users, the built-in tools should be plenty enough for day-to-day screen captures, especially if you’re mainly a casual screen capture utility user.
For years, however, I used Snapz Pro X from Ambrosia Software as my go-to screen capture utility, especially since it made capturing objects (windows, menus, etc.) a breeze. The app hasn’t been updated in a while, however, and it seems to have broken in High Sierra. The built-in screen capture tools in Mojave essentially replace it, but it was once the “gold standard” of Mac screen capture tools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapz_Pro_X
I later used Techsmith’s Jing on the Mac (and PC when I was on a Windows PC) to capture my computer screen, especially since the built-in Mac screen capture tools didn’t offer post-capture markup tools at the time. I could easily take the capture in Jing, mark it up, and share it.
https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html
Jing hasn’t had a major update in years (I think it’s still 32 Bit), so I’ve upgraded onto its larger brother, Snagit. I’ve also used Snagit on a Windows PC, and I use it daily on a Mac now.
https://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.html
Even with the enhancements with the built-in screen capture tools in Mojave, I’m continuing to use Snagit, since I need more powerful and flexible capture options than the built-in tools for my workflow. I can more powerfully markup screenshots, and Snagit is working on additional outputs where I can send captures directly to various social media sites as well, saving me the trip from saving the file and uploading it to social media. There is also a discount for those involved in education (see: https://www.techsmith.com/education.html)
So my bottom line with screen capturing is: try the built-in screen capture tool on a Mac first, especially if you’re using Mojave. If it does everything you need, excellent. If you find that you need some additional power and flexibility, give Snagit a try.
Screencasting (screen recording videos):
Apple finally added built-in screencasting tools to QuickTime Player a while back (it might have been either Snow Leopard with QuickTime X or Lion, I can’t remember which release offered it). Here are the instructions for screencasting with QuickTime Player:
https://support.apple.com/guide/quicktime-player/record-your-screen-qtp97b08e666/mac
However, QuickTime Player has had a few issues when it comes to reliably producing screencasts (see the thread at the first of this post to read one AskWoody member’s issues with QuickTime Player and screencasting), plus screencasts produced in QuickTime Player have very basic editing, so those needing to edit them must utilize a separate video editing app such as iMovie or Final Cut Pro.
Mojave added a way to access screencasting from Command+Shift+5, but the functionality isn’t much different than what comes with QuickTime Player. Instructions are here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208721
When I first switched to a Mac, I purchased a cheap app from my local CompUSA (back when I had to drive to a store to buy Mac apps) called “MacCapture” and took it for a spin. It was horrible. I never could get the app to produce even a basic decent screencast, and I tossed it fast.
For years I used Snapz Pro X, which did produce very high-quality and smooth video files of my screen, and at one time, it was considered to be the “gold standard” screencasting tool. It hasn’t been updated in a while and it seems to have broken in High Sierra. Snapz Pro X still required users to use an additional editing app for editing the screencast (such as iMovie or Final Cut Pro), and QuickTime Player has essentially replaced what Snapz Pro X used to do.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapz_Pro_X
Techsmith’s Jing also offers screencasting, although it hasn’t been updated in a while (it is still 32 Bit I believe), plus screencasts are limited to five minutes in length, and I believe Jing can only export to Flash. There used to be a “Jing Pro” which could export to MP4, but that is long gone.
https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html
Techsmith’s Snagit also offers basic screencasting, but its functionality isn’t much different than what’s included with QuickTime Player. It is a good cost-effective tool for those needing powerful screen capture and simple screencasting in an all-in-one-tool.
https://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.html
The two new standards for screencasting on a Mac are Telestream’s ScreenFlow and Techsmith’s Camtasia:
http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm
https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html
I own and regularly use both in my screencasting workflow. Here is a rundown comparison of the two apps:
1. Both apps allow for easy screencasting of an entire screen or a portion of the screen, plus with more flexibility than the Mac’s built-in screencasting tools or Snagit.
2. Both apps offer the ability to record, edit, and export or share to various outlets, right from within a single app, which far streamlines the workflow versus using multiple apps.
3. Both apps are generally easy-to-use with similar interfaces, and I have become proficient in both. Of the two, I’ve found ScreenFlow to be easier to use (I can whip in and out of ScreenFlow quickly, although I am comfortable enough in Camtasia now where I can speed edit if need be), plus have a little faster performance over Camtasia. For personal projects, I’d likely shoot them in ScreenFlow over Camtasia.
4. ScreenFlow is Mac-only, whereas Camtasia is cross-platform (although Camtasia still recommends using File>Export for Mac or File>Export for Windows when sharing projects to ensure all media assets are included when sharing projects). For those working in a Mac-only environment, ScreenFlow is great. For those in a cross-platform environment or who need to share project files with PC users, Camtasia is the better choice (I work in a cross-platform environment, so I generally need to shoot and edit work projects in Camtasia).
5. ScreenFlow offers some of the highest-quality video files I’ve produced, whereas Camtasia offers high-quality videos with smaller file sizes (I’ve recorded over an hour in Camtasia before and exported about 200MB worth of video). When quality matters even with larger file sizes, ScreenFlow is great. When file sizes matter, Camtasia is ideal.
6. Camtasia does offer an educational discount, a bundle discount with Snagit, and offers features geared toward educational environments (the ability to add quizzes to videos, etc). However, ScreenFlow generally offers a little lower upfront cost and lower upgrade fees (even over Camtasia’s academic discounts), and ScreenFlow still works well in an educational setting.
https://www.techsmith.com/education.html
https://www.techsmith.com/store/bundle
So my bottom line is the Mac’s built-in tools are likely too flakey for general use. Snagit is decent if you only need basic capturing, but ScreenFlow or Camtasia is a worthy investment for those involved in regular screencasting. ScreenFlow is ideal for Mac-only environments, ease of use, and super high-quality videos. Camtasia is ideal for cross-platform environments, high-quality videos at smaller file sizes, and they offer some great tools for educators.
Techsmith also offers a premium lecture recording tool called Relay, although I haven’t personally used it. It is generally more purchased at the school-level, where Camtasia can be purchased at the individual level.
https://www.techsmith.com/lecture-capture.html
In terms of using assets in screencasting, both ScreenFlow and Camtasia offer some basic assets included. ScreenFlow used to offer a one-time additional purchase option called Flowtility, but that has been discontinued.
http://www.telestream.net/controls/flowtility/flowtility-resources.htm
ScreenFlow has replaced it with an annual subscription to their Stock Media Library, although the subscription price is reasonable for the content included:
http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm#sml
Camtasia also offers an annual subscription to their Assets library, although the subscription price is somewhat more than ScreenFlow’s:
https://www.techsmith.com/assets.html
I haven’t used either subscription yet (I have access to the included free media, plus I did purchase Flowtility). Since I work for a weather company and blog on a weather blog, I’m currently using a more specific media library, MetGraphics Premium.
https://www.metgraphics.net/metgraphics-premium/
The designer offer the ability to purchase his content on-demand or an annual subscription for everything. His content has been excellent at supercharging my weather graphics.
Another professional organization to look into background audio music is Stephen Arnold Music:
https://stephenarnoldmusic.com/
Sharing Screencast Videos:
When it comes to sharing screencast videos, most people likely share screencast videos on YouTube, and I’ve done this in the past and still do for certain clients. YouTube has the broadest reach when sharing screencasts with the world. However, YouTube also offers advertising on their videos, and I’ve run into cases where my videos where placed in-line with some questionable content from people with similar names to myself.
Therefore, I personally host most of my screencasts and professional content on Vimeo instead. Vimeo is ad-free, and it generally offers a more professional and pleasant experience over YouTube when it comes to viewing screencasts. There’s still a large enough audience on Vimeo (just not as large as YouTube), but I’ve had plenty of success with my screencasts on Vimeo. The only drawback is the free account is a little limited on how much you can upload per week, so I’ve found investing in Vimeo Plus each year to be sufficient for my video upload needs.
Techsmith also offers Screencast.com with basic limited storage for free and a Pro plan with additional storage. Camtasia users who need to use Camtasia-specific features may find Screencast.com a good place to host interactive screencasts, plus it’s a good solution for educational customers as well.
A few other niche-oriented video hosting services I have used in the past with clients are: ShareStream Media (ShareStream.com) and Microsoft Stream (Stream.Microsoft.com, part of Office 365) for educational use and E-Zekiel.tv, Sermon.net, and Faithlife Sermons (Sermons.Faithlife.com) for ministry clients. ShareStream Media and Microsoft Stream have been pretty solid for educational use, E-Zekiel.tv offers free hosting up to fifteen minutes in length, and Sermon.net and Faithlife Sermons has been solid for ministry clients.
For general use, I would likely recommend Vimeo Plus, and only recommend YouTube for those who care about wider audiences and don’t mind ads. For specific or niche-oriented video hosting, some of the above services I’ve mentioned have served my clients well.
That’s a rundown of screen capture and screencasting on the Mac. I hope it helps AskWoody members to know what they need to use in order to make the most of screen capturing and screencasting on the Mac.
Nathan Parker
