ActivePresenter

It is quite difficult to explain a complex procedure with words, so you may find yourself taking screenshots and adding various annotations to your pictures, such as "select this" or "click that". ActivePresenter is designed specifically for training courses, user manuals, demonstrations and so on. It does most of the work for you and it allows you to make numerous adjustments. The best part is that you can export your project as a video file, a PowerPoint presentation or in other formats.

A fully functional trial version is available, which can be used without any restrictions, until the evaluation period expires. The software can be downloaded and installed without any difficulties. It is compatible with the old, but popular Windows XP and all later editions, up to the recently released Windows 8.

ActivePresenter takes snapshots of your screen, but it also records full motion video, depending on your actions. For example, if you click something or hit a button on the keyboard, the software will take a screenshot. If you click and drag an object, the software will start recording.

When you start a new project, you may choose one of four predefined recording profiles or create and customize your own profile. Depending on the selected profile or your personal settings, the software will record the mouse cursor's movement, interactions, the objects you click and more. Screenshots and recordings are loaded automatically on the application's interface, when you stop capturing your actions.

The main interface resembles a video editor. Screenshots are listed as titles and thumbnails on separate tabs, in the right side of the window, where you can also find their properties. When you insert annotations, effects or other elements, they will appear in their own channels, in a timeline, just like on a video editor's interface. You can modify their duration, by clicking and dragging key frames or perform other similar actions, in the same timeline.

You can find numerous options for inserting annotations, interactions, highlights and more. If you opt for a smart capture profile, when starting a new project, the program will insert essential annotations automatically. Instructions like "Click the Yes button" or "Press the Del key" will be inserted by default, in the appropriate locations. The software can detect and insert file names as well. When you are done, you may export your project as a separate image, video file, PowerPoint presentation, PDF document and more.