Tech Tutorials and Handouts

Check out our collection of tutorials and downloadable reference documents. Tip sheets and how-to's are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.

Adjust Shadows and Highlights to Rescue a Dark Photograph with Photoshop

If you have a photo in which the subject is too dark, this handout might be the solution for which you are looking. Discover how to lighten dark areas and improve your pictures.

Digital Imaging
Adobe Premiere Export Project to MP4

Follow these steps to export the Premiere project to a video file viewable on most devices and the Web.

Video Editing
Animating an Element in PowerPoint

Discover how to apply animations to images, shapes, text boxes, and text. Very useful for adding action to a presentation.

Powerpoint
Audacity: Record, Import and Export

Learn how to record, import and edit audio. Use this open source application to create podcasts and edit research.

Audio Editing, Video Editing
Back Up Adobe Premiere Projects

Follow these steps to back up projects and associated media files.

Video Editing
Backing Up a Final Cut Pro Project

Follow these steps to back up the project and associated media files.

Video Editing
Basic Light Plot Diagrams: Starting diagrams for one and two person interview setups

Basic diagrams that show generic lighting fixture placement of key lights, backlights, and fill lights for one and two person interview setups.

Video Editing
Building Curved Text with Photoshop

Create text that follows curves, waves, or other convoluted forms.

Digital Imaging
Colorizing Black and White Photographs Using Photoshop

Discover how to convert black and white photos to color.

Digital Imaging
Convert MTS files to MP4 with Adobe Media Encoder

Easy step by step instructions to convert recordings from IMC camcorders into viewable and shareable mp4 files.

Video Editing
Create an MP4 File in Final Cut Pro

Discover what you need to know to take the final steps for preparing your Final Cut project for sharing.

Video Editing
Create Captions in Adobe Premiere

Follow these steps to create CC-closed captions and Open captions in Adobe Premiere.

Video Editing
Create Text Filled with a Photograph in Photoshop

Make interesting and exciting text that is filled with a photograph. Great artistic effects possible with this technique.

Digital Imaging
Create Text Inside a Shape with Photoshop

Learn how to create text that takes on the shape into which it is typed. Perfect for controlling layout or making designs for posters and similar projects.

Digital Imaging
Create Text that Follows a Path (such as a shape) with Photoshop

Create text that follows curves, waves, shapes (including rectangles and ovals) or other convoluted forms.

Digital Imaging
Creating Drop Shadows, Floating Objects, and Catalog Shots with Photoshop

Learn the step-by-step process for making custom drop shadows with Photoshop.

Digital Imaging
Creating Duotone Photographs with Photoshop

Discover how to create fascinating and artistic duotone photographs.

Digital Imaging
Downloadable Copyright Free Images

This is a list of websites that host Public Domain images that may be downloaded for free.

Digital Imaging
Downloadable Copyright Free Video Files

A list of websites that have copyright free video clips that are downloadable.

Video Editing
Green Screening with Adobe Premiere

Keying is process of removing the green background and replacing it with a different background. Use the tools in Premiere to apply a background of your choosing.

Video Editing
How to Choose a Microphone When Recording Video

Use this guide to select one of our microphones for use with a camcorder or handheld device.

Video Editing
Make a 'Zine

This .zip archive contains a Microsoft Publisher file that allows you to insert content into "panels" so that the printed document can be folded into a small pamphlet.

Digital Imaging
Making Color Swatches in Adobe Illustrator

Using UAlbany’s purple and gold color palette, learn on to make color swatches to save and apply in multiple documents.

Digital Imaging
Making Edits with Windows Video Editor

Step by step instructions for creating and editing Video using Windows 10's built in video editing software.

Video Editing
Making Posters with PowerPoint

Learn how to create a poster worthy of high quality printing using PowerPoint.

Powerpoint
Photoshop: Basic Tips & Tricks

Essential information on tools, file formats, pallets, and getting started with Adobe Photoshop.

Digital Imaging
Python Basics I

Running Scripts and Code

Python
Python Basics II

Statements 

Python
Python Game Design I

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Python
QGIS Basics - Part 1 - Loading Data

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, software can visualize and display spatial data to help solve problems that involve spatial variables and is useful for the relating, integrating, and analyzing of information of different themes of spatial information. In the following tutorial of the open source program QGIS, we’ll walk through some of the tools you can use to visualize your data and make maps.

GIS
QGIS Basics - Part 2 - Navigation and Visuals

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, software can visualize and display spatial data to help solve problems that involve spatial variables and is useful for the relating, integrating, and analyzing of information of different themes of spatial information. In the following tutorial of the open source program QGIS, we’ll walk through some of the tools you can use to visualize your data and make maps.

GIS
QGIS Basics - Part 3 - Labeling and Attributing Data

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, software can visualize and display spatial data to help solve problems that involve spatial variables and is useful for the relating, integrating, and analyzing of information of different themes of spatial information. In the following tutorial of the open source program QGIS, we’ll walk through some of the tools you can use to visualize your data and make maps.

GIS
QGIS Basics - Part 4 - Using Print Layout and Exporting

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, software can visualize and display spatial data to help solve problems that involve spatial variables and is useful for the relating, integrating, and analyzing of information of different themes of spatial information. In the following tutorial of the open source program QGIS, we’ll walk through some of the tools you can use to visualize your data and make maps.

GIS
Selecting Audio Equipment for Audio Recordings

Use this guide to select mics and recorders for audio recording.

Audio Editing
Selecting Audio Equipment for Live Presentations

Use this guide to select mics and speakers for projecting audio.

Audio Editing
Set Custom Colors for the Hyperlinks in a PowerPoint Presentation

Learn how to make custom hyperlink colors in PowerPoint.

Powerpoint
Tips for Formatting Page Numbers in a Dissertation & Thesis

This guide will provide step by step instructions for formatting page numbers.

Theses & Dissertations
Tips for Preparing Landscape Charts, Images, Tables and Pages

This guide provides tips for formatting graphics and landscape pages.

Theses & Dissertations
Tips for Preparing the Electronic Submission of a (Digital) Dissertation

This guide was prepared based on assistance provided to doctoral candidates in the IMC.

Theses & Dissertations
Upload and Share files with OneDrive for Business

Video files are almost always too large to share in an email. Use OneDrive to share files and control access.  This method works well to submit video projects to your instructor, as an alternative to uploading to YouTube.

Video Editing
Use QuickTime Player to Screen Record Online Videos

 Create a video clip from an online video

Video Editing
Using a Zoom H4n as a Two Person Podcasting Station

Use the Zoom H4N and external mics for two-person recording.  Split the recording into two tracks to edit each person separately.

Audio Editing
Using an External Microphone with a Mac

It is advisable to use an external microphone to improve the quality of a recording and to minimize ambient noise. When using an external microphone, the microphone must be selected in the System Preferences and, in most cases, the application. Follow the steps in this document.

Audio Editing
Using an External Microphone with a Windows computer

Using a USB microphone, for example, can be tricky to set up. This documents provides step-by-step instruction for setting up a microphone.

Audio Editing, Video Editing
Using Curves to Correct Colors in Photoshop

Discover how to use the Curves control panel to correct color properties and contrast in photographs.

Digital Imaging
Using HandBrake to convert video and address variable framerates

Handbrake is an open source application. Use it to convert video- especially useful for addressing video with variable frame rates and ripping copyright free DVD video.

Video Editing
Using OBS Studio to Record Your Screen for Instruction and Presentations

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is an open source program that is used for streaming and screen recording. Use for streaming on platforms. This is a guide to set up OBS for screen recording and voiceover.

 

Audio Editing, Video Editing
Using the H4 Zoom Audio Recorder as an External Mic.

Follow these steps to use the H4 Zoom recorder as an external mic with a camera/camcorder.  The H4 may be placed close to the subject when the camera is too far away to capture quality audio.

Audio Editing, Video Editing
Web Resources for Downloadable Copyright Free Audio Files

A list of websites that have copyright free sound bytes and music files that are downloadable for use.

Audio Editing
Working with SmartArt in PowerPoint

Learn the ins and outs of SmartArt and discover how it can make your chart and diagram building easy.

Powerpoint
Working with Sound in PowerPoint

Find out how to insert, customize, and use sound clips in your PowerPoint presentation. Includes using the record function.

Powerpoint