You are here: Home > News
JISC Digital Media News
New advice on accessibility issues for digital media
Wednesday 01 September 2010 10:05am
JISC Digital Media has published a new advice document titled Basic Guide to Accessibility.
Not surprisingly, this guide looks at the issue of accessibility, including the concept of ‘reasonable adjustment.’ The advantages of digital media for accessibility are discussed, followed by sets of guidelines and a basic accessibility check that can be performed on existing documents.
Note that this document is intended as a very basic introduction to the subject of accessibility. This vast subject is dealt with in depth by our sister service JISC TechDis. Pointers to various TechDis resources appear throughout our document: they should be considered a stepping-off point for exploration of the wealth of material TechDis supplies.
Read our Basic Guide to Accessibility.
Fixing it in the mix
Wednesday 25 August 2010 9:11am
We have just published a new advice document on Audio Post-Production Techniques for Spoken Word.
Post-production covers the treatment of digital files once a recording has been done to help improve the audible quality and cover up any flaws from the recording stage.
This paper introduces the concept of post-production and discusses some of the most common techniques used to improve spoken word audio with screen casting tutorials and audio examples to help you get the most out of your recordings.
Photo by Gerrysan on Flickr - used under a Creative Commons licence
New advice on free online screencasting tools
Wednesday 18 August 2010 9:30am
As part of our ongoing series of guides to free online media creation and editing tools, we’ve just added a new advice document Free Online Screencasting Tools.
Screencasting is a hot topic at the moment, with the explosion of digital video on the web, and this advice document looks at some of the free tools available online which will enable you to capture your screen, microphone and webcam, and start publishing simple screencasts online. These services are easy to use, and critically they don’t even require you to install any software at all beyond a web browser (which, if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you already have..)
Online services are also useful for experienced screencasters, as they’re accessible anywhere, on pretty much any machine, and they offer some quick and convenient methods for publishing and sharing your screencasts when time is of the essence, or resources are limited.
New training dates for Sep - Dec
Friday 13 August 2010 11:01am
We’ve just pubished our new training programme for September to December.
Photo by ant.photos on Flickr - used under a Creative Commons licence
JISC Digital Media courses are run in small groups, giving attendees plenty of opportunity to discuss individual issues with the tutors and other participants.
The courses focus on providing vital hands-on training supported with well structured technical information to give attendees the skills, knowledge and confidence required to work with digital media (still images, moving images and audio).
The Training page has all the details.
Introduction to the copystand
Wednesday 11 August 2010 9:49am
Digital SLRs are increasingly being used to capture 2D objects which until recently would have been digitised using a scanner. Recognising the increasing use of the copystand we have just published a new document which explains what it is and how to use it is used: The Copystand.
Copystand. Image courtesy of kaiser-fototechnik
Screencasting workshop - extra date
Friday 06 August 2010 3:52pm
We’re now taking bookings for our new Building Effective Screencasts workshop on September 16th. UPDATE: 16th Sep is now fully booked, but we have added an extra date Tuesday 12th October.
Creating successful screencasts requires a knowledge of the whole screencasting workflow, from planning, though production, to delivery. There are many elements that can go into a screencast, and in this workshop we’ll be looking at each stage of the process in turn, and how to maximise quality and consistency.
This is a hands-on session, and there’ll be plenty of practical exercises, guided by expert trainers with specific screencasting experience. If you want to know how to capture a voice-over narration, enhance your screen and highlight important elements, or tailor your screencast materials to your audience’s needs in any other way, then this is the workshop for you.
Workshop groups are small to enable more personal tuition, so places are limited.
If you’d like further information please email info@jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk, or you can book a place here.
New online tutorials on finding video and audio resources
Thursday 05 August 2010 10:13am
JISC Digital Media in conjunction with the Virtual Training Suite (VTS) have launched two new online tutorials: Internet for Audio Resources and Internet for Video and Moving Images.
The free-to-use tutorials have been designed to assist staff and students within the education sector to locate audio and video for use in teaching and learning.
Created as part of the Virtual Training Suite the tutorials have been funded by JISC Advance.
Internet for Audio Resources
Internet Audio Resources is a free online tutorial to help you learn how to use the Internet to find audio resources for your work quickly and efficiently.
Internet for Video and Moving Images
Internet for Video and Moving Image Resources is a free online tutorial to help you learn how to use the Internet to find video resources for your work quickly and efficiently.
Dave Kilbey, Training Coordinator at JISC Digital Media said, “the emphasis of the tutorials is on finding copyright-cleared resources, which are available free of charge; facilitating users with quick, hassle-free access to a vast range of online audio and video resources.”
These two new tutorials follow the launch 22 months ago of the very successful Internet for Image Searching tutorial.
Guide to GIMP image editor
Wednesday 04 August 2010 9:09am
Following our recent guide to free online image editors, we have updated our Introduction to GIMP Image Editing Software.
GIMP is a free open source image editing program that has a comprehensive set of tools comparable to those available in commercial software such as Adobe Photoshop.
Our guide shows how you can simulate a shallow depth of field to focus attention on a particular part of an image using GIMP’s Gaussian Blur filter
GIMP can help you with simple and advanced image editing tasks - this document looks at the GIMP features that are of most use to those wanting to edit images for use in teaching and research. Read our Introduction to GIMP Image Editing Software.
Free online audio editing tools
Wednesday 28 July 2010 3:53pm
A new advice document looking at free to use online tools for recording, editing and converting audio files.
Rather than downloading software and installing it on your computer, it is now possible to use web hosted services to edit and arrange many types of media files. Upload or record from any machine connected to the internet, and use these free online tools to manipulate, edit and convert your content, then download or publish the results. No special software necessary at all, and usually at no cost!
Our new advice document - Free Online Audio Editors - looks at some of these online tools designed specifically for manipulating digital audio, and examines at what you can do, and which service might be best suited to particular tasks. It is a companion document to our recent guide to Free Online Image Editing Tools, and we have a similar guide to online screencasting tools coming up soon too.
Summer issue of newsletter now available
Thursday 22 July 2010 11:37am
The fourth issue of our newsletter Intermedia is now available.
Operating your camera remotely
Wednesday 21 July 2010 12:43pm
We have just published a new advice document on Tethered Camera Operation.
The document looks at why a photographer might choose to work with their camera tethered to their computer and how they would go about doing it. It also looks at a variety of software applications that allow a camera to be used tethered.
Tethered camera photographing architectural detail 4 metres above the ground
Read our advice on Tethered Camera Operation.
Sign of the times
Thursday 15 July 2010 1:58pm
We’ve created a new a step-by-step guide to adding a sign language interpreter to your videos.
As part of our series of guides on improving accessibility using digital media, the latest instalment takes a hands-on approach to adding a signer to your videos using a technique known as ‘chromakeying’.
We’ve written this guide with the novice in mind and kept the equipment costs purposefully minimal as budgets become ever more elastic. This guide is the latest in a series that also contains Adding Closed Captions to Flash Video.
If you are reading this message, it’s in place of our Video Player which is not displaying as your browser may have Javascript disabled or no Flash player - please download the file using the link below instead.
Sample of video with signer added.
If you cannot see the video above, please use this link to download the video file (10.9MB)
Programme content ‘Lesson Starters’ used with the kind permission of Teachers’ TV.
See how we added the sign language interpreter to the above video by reading our guide: Adding Sign Language to a Video.
Presentation slides on where to find images, video and audio
Tuesday 06 July 2010 12:09pm
Here are the presentation slides from the session Sue and Ant gave on where to find images, video and audio at last week’s RSC Wales event: Learning in a Digital Wales. #ldw2010
It’s a popular topic - in addition to introductory sessions such as this one, we have detailed advice documents on Finding Video, Audio and Images Online, Finding Subject-Specific Digital Media Resources and Finding Images on Flickr.
If you are looking for more in-depth coverage of the subject, our training course on Finding Free-to-Use Images Online will be of interest - new dates to be confirmed soon.
You may also be interested in our free online tutorial Internet for Image Searching - and keep an eye out for our new online tutorials: Internet for Audio Resources and Internet for Video and Moving Images.
Free online image editing tools
Friday 02 July 2010 2:48pm
We’ve just published our latest advice document on Free Online Image Editors.
Photo by Phil Gyford on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons licence
You don’t need Photoshop if you want to edit your digital images. There are now countless alternatives. This advice document looks at free-to-use online image editors which let you work on images via your internet browser. As these free image editors are web-based, you don’t need to install anything on your computer.
New screencasting workshop
Friday 02 July 2010 8:02am
We are very pleased to announce a brand new screencasting workshop in our training programme.
Building Effective Screencasts will take place on Thursday 16 September 2010.
Screencasting - publishing and sharing recordings of on-screen computer activity, coupled with other media (voice-over, video etc) - continues to increase in popularity. Whether you want to narrate a presentation, demonstrate the use of software, or record and share your screen for any other reason, a screencast may be the answer.
Building Effective Screencasts is a practical one-day workshop that provides an opportunity to learn how to maximise the value of screencasting in presentation, demonstration and digital storytelling for teaching and learning.
Digital distribution of teaching presentations
Wednesday 09 June 2010 11:05am
Our latest advice document is a short guide to Distributing Teaching Presentations.
Photo from Library of Congress on Flickr: The Commons. No known copyright restrictions.
The advice document looks at the different ways teaching presentations can be digitally distributed to their end users: Distributing Teaching Presentations.
Using images for educational purposes
Wednesday 02 June 2010 12:33pm
We’ve just updated two advice documents on using images in education.
Using Images to Reinforce Learning looks at potential benefits and introduces some guidelines for the correct use of images.
Practical Ways to Use Digital Images in Teaching and Learning provides examples of ways in which digital images can be used in teaching and learning materials.
Cast your screen - new Screencasting Workflow advice
Wednesday 26 May 2010 9:12am
Screencasting Workflow gives a detailed overview of the workflow for creating screencasts - videos of computer screen activity with voice narration and additional content.
With the rise and rise of the computer as a teaching tool, elegant and effective ways of sharing and explaining on-screen activity are of rapidly growing interest throughout the education and training community. Everything from software demonstration and training, through web tours and walkthroughs, to pre-recorded presentations can be delivered as screencasts.
Composite image - Dish image by CSIRO under Creative Commons, combined with original material
In our new Screencasting Workflow advice document we take a detailed look at all stages of the screencast production and delivery workflow, with explanations and demonstrations of techniques, tips on software and hardware selection and use, planning, performance and more. Designed as a thorough introduction to screencast production, this new resource also features several embedded screencasts which explore different areas of the screencast lifecycle, and numerous links to further documents and resources.
Invaluable for the beginner wanting an overview of the process, as much as the experienced screencaster after advice on more advanced techniques, this is a comprehensive introduction to the technical business of broadcasting your screen.
Animated robots show how we can help
Monday 24 May 2010 2:25pm
The JISC Digital Media team have produced a short video to briefly explain the fundamentals of what we do: provide advice relating to the use of digital media within teaching, learning and research.
The film not only showcases what we do but also offers an example of how information can be presented in an innovative way to engage a viewer, in this case through the use of animation (JISC Digital Media benefit from in-house expertise in video production and animation).
The short film ‘Robotz’ was the result and you can watch it here:
JISC Digital Media - Robotz Promotional Film from JISC Digital Media on Vimeo.
The principles embodied in the film can be applied to any informational media. Powerpoint, VLE design or even selecting video clips to illustrate ‘real world’ lectures might all benefit from the approach we took when making ‘Robotz’.
You can read more about the making of ‘Robotz’ in our latest Intermedia newsletter.
Find out more about fonts and typefaces
Thursday 20 May 2010 9:23am
Our latest advice document is an Introduction to Fonts and Typefaces.
Photo by atomicShed on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons licence.
Our introductory guide to fonts shows you where you can find legitimate free fonts and defines some of the terminology used in typography. It is aimed at readers with little or no prior typographic knowledge who are interested in using fonts other than those supplied with their computer. It also looks at the recent developments in the use of non-standard fonts on the web.
Read our Introduction to Fonts and Typefaces here.
Online image size calculator
Wednesday 12 May 2010 9:41am
Our latest addition to the website is a Print Size and File Size Calculator.
Photo by ansik on Flickr. used under a Creative Commons licence
Use our Print Size and File Size Calculator to work out maximum print sizes you can expect from digital images. It will also work out approximate file sizes for Raw, TIFF and JPEG images.
Latest issue of newsletter now available
Friday 07 May 2010 12:00pm
We’ve just published the third issue of Intermedia.
New lens document just released
Thursday 06 May 2010 8:52am
We have just released a new introductory document on lenses, it describes the main components of the lens and what you should consider before choosing a lens for a task.
The document also explains focal length, aperture size and depth of field and how they contribute to the appearance of the picture. It also contains some frequently asked questions on the subject.
Read our Introduction to Lenses.
Camera lenses fitted with lens hood to reduce the risk of lens flare.
New optical character recognition (OCR) document
Wednesday 28 April 2010 9:11am
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the process of converting printed text into a computer readable format.
We have just produced a new introductory document on OCR which includes advice on how to capture the highest quality output.
Screenshot of OCR application reading damaged page of type. Screenshot used with kind permission of ABBYY
Recording audiovisual teaching materials
Wednesday 21 April 2010 9:05am
We have just published a new advice document: Basic Guide to Videoing Audiovisual Materials.
The guide is intended for users who wish to record teaching materials such as those used during a lecture. This includes both projected materials, materials shown on a television screen and printed materials. It covers everything the novice should need to know from the first step to the last. Read the guide here.
5th Plymouth e-learning conference
Friday 16 April 2010 8:00am
Last week I had the opportunity to speak at the 5th Plmouth e-Learning Conference held as you might imagine in Plymouth.
The 5th Plymouth e-Learning Conference will examine the theme of e-learning in a time of change, and will challenge notions of traditional boundaries, learning spaces and roles. We will focus on new practices, new technologies, new environments and new learning.
It was a great event with lots of food for thought. Others, listed below summed it up well so I will not tread over old ground. My session was (hopefully) well received and covered digital media strategy, looking at goals and producing workflows and can be found below:
In James Clay’s summing up of the event I get a mention at the 9min 30sec point
Steve Wheeler’s assessment on day 1 and day 2 should be of interest.
Recording video in the field
Wednesday 14 April 2010 10:49am
Our latest advice document is a Basic Guide to Field Video Recording.
The guide is intended for users who wish to record video ‘in the field’. This includes both the videoing of resources (animals, plants, sculpture, buildings, etc.) and the videoing of people (students, interview subjects, crowds). The common thread is that the work occurs ‘outside’ in a number of environments.
When recording video outdoors, you have less control of your environment - you need to think about the equipment you take, plan how and what you will shoot, and be prepared for adverse weather conditions. Read the guide here.
Font of all knowledge
Wednesday 07 April 2010 9:00am
We’ve just released a new advice document - Fonts: Basic Guide to Font Licensing.
Fonts are software for creating and displaying typefaces. As with any software, you need to license font software in order to use it. This document provides a simple guide to font licensing.
Our guide looks at what you’re allowed to do with the fonts already on your computer, the fonts you buy and ‘free’ fonts.
Photo by jmtimages on Flickr - used under a Creative Commons licence
A word in your ear - new headphone guide
Wednesday 31 March 2010 9:00am
We have just published a new Headphone Guide.
There is an ever-expanding range of designs to choose from when selecting headphones to use for listening to music and monitoring audio from your computer, stereo, phone or media player, or for use when recording digital audio and video.
Headworn, in-ear, circumaural, supra-aural… which is the right one for you? Our new Headphone Guide looks at all the various types of headphones, their strengths and weaknesses, and their suitability for the various roles which headphones perform in the audio lifecycle.
So, whether you’re looking to improve the sound from your MP3 player, find suitable phones for monitoring a voice-over recording or a live performance, or to invest in a pair of audiophile headphones to enhance enjoyment of your music collection, this is the place to start.
New training dates and details released
Monday 29 March 2010 12:39pm
We’ve just published our new training programme.
Full details for all courses between April and August 2010 are on the Training page.
Where to find video, images or sounds?
Wednesday 17 March 2010 8:30am
Our latest advice documents look at the most useful sites for finding digital media resources online.
Photo by alexkerhead on Flickr - used under a Creative Commons licence
The first - Finding Video, Audio and Images Online - looks at tools and strategies for finding digital resources, and highlights some of the general sources you can use to find images, video and audio to use in teaching, learning and research.
The second - Finding Subject-Specific Digital Media Resources - provides advice and pointers on where to look for particular types of still images, moving images and sound files. We have divided the guide into the following categories: art and architecture; news and current events; history; maps; and science, technology and medicine.
You are listening to…
Thursday 11 March 2010 8:05am
Our new advice document Creating an Audio Ident provides information on what an ident is, desiging an ident, and how-to create an ident using Audacity software.
Photo by robinfeder on Flickr - used under a Creative Commons licence
How to photograph or scan those tricky objects
Wednesday 03 March 2010 1:36pm
We have just published a new advice document on scanning and photography.
The document is called How Do I Digitise Difficult Objects? and it shows some simple ways to photograph or scan one-off atypical objects including glass plate negatives, small reflective objects and scans from magazines or books.
Axial lighting set up used to photograph coins or medals
Fight for your right (to create time-based media)
Thursday 18 February 2010 8:00am
We have just published a new advice document titled Copyright and Other Rights for Creating Time-based Media. The document aims to provide an introduction to what rights exist, how they are allocated, and how they need to be attained when creating time-based media such as audio or video productions.
AAC explained
Tuesday 16 February 2010 8:00am
A new advice document covering Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), an audio compression method designed to replace MP3.
AAC improves on the file compression technology behind MP3 and marries it with the flexible MPEG-4 standard to deliver audio in a package designed to offer users the widest range of delivery and playback tools.
Our new advice document AAC Audio and the MP4 Media Format explains the benefits of using AAC in teaching and learning, and how AAC relates to video and other enhanced learning resources. We also look at compatibility and the software which you or your users need to work with AAC audio, and some of the features it can offer.
The MPEG-4 standard, of which AAC is a part, is a large and potentially confusing collection of standards and formats, so we try also to cherry-pick some of the most salient features to enable those working with AAC audio in MP4 or M4A format to understand the place of AAC in the wider MPEG-4 family.
Catch a wave - uncompressed digital audio
Wednesday 10 February 2010 3:35pm
We’ve just published a new advice document covering uncompressed audio file formats.
This short guide to Uncompressed Audio File Formats summarises the essential features of common uncompressed digital audio formats, focussing particularly on the WAV family.
Suitable for archiving and working with high quality audio, uncompressed files are the best quality medium for digital audio, and figure prominently in the audio workflow at many stages. Here we examine their comparative strengths and how they have evolved to fill different needs, and take a look at the latest developments, including Multichannel Broadcast Wave Format and iXML metadata.
Watch this space - further advice on the AAC audio and the MP4 media format will be published shortly!
Happy 1st Birthday JISC Digital Media!
Tuesday 09 February 2010 8:00am
Today JISC Digital Media celebrates its first Birthday!
Although the service, previously known as TASI, has been in existence for more than ten years, the team re-branded last year to reflect the growth in the service offering increased support and advice to the FE and HE sector.
JISC Digital Media - a JISC Advance service - provides advice, training and guidance on the creation and use of digital media collections (still images, moving images and sound) and their use in learning, teaching and research within the UK FE and HE communities.
From help with finding and using the right media, to advice on creating and delivering digital formats or consultancy on managing a digitisation project, the team promotes good practice, technical expertise, the use of appropriate standards and the sharing of knowledge within education.
The achievements of the last 12 months have also given the team added cause for celebration - in addition to developing new advice documents and training courses for all media (audio, still image and moving image), the increase in team numbers has given us the opportunity to attend and participate in a wide range of both education and media specific conferences and exhibitions. We gained the platform at many events, promoting the JISC Digital Media team’s expertise and services.
In June 2009 the JISC funded project Video Assist was launched by the team. To date, four institutions have been successful in their bids for Video Assist and have benefited from the team’s film expertise. A final call for the third and final round of entries closes on 26 February 2010 - go to the Video Assist page for further details.
September saw two launches: firstly, our fortnightly on-line surgery - a one-hour online help and support session, with themes ranging from Basic Microphone Technique and Placement to Using Flickr as a Source of Free-to-Use Images. Secondly, the launch of the service’s first newsletter Intermedia - a quarterly update on the work undertaken by the service and happenings in the world of digital media.
Happy Birthday JISC Digital Media!
If you would like JISC Digital Media to attend or present at your event or require any further information please contact Karla Youngs, Director on 0117 331 4380; email info@jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk or call 0117 331 4447.
All you need to know about copyright
Wednesday 03 February 2010 1:47pm
We have just published three new advice documents on copyright and digital media.
Meadows in Imperial Valley, California. Photo from Oregon State University Archives on Flickr: The Commons. No known copyright restrictions
The first is Copyright: An Overview which provides a broad introduction to the subject: What is copyright? How long does it last? What are the exceptions that allow use of copyrighted works?
We also have Audiovisual Copyright: Frequently Asked Questions which answers the most common enquiries we receive through our helpdesk.
Finally there’s Copyright and Still Images: Frequently Asked Questions - these too are based on helpdesk questions.
Negative thinking
Wednesday 27 January 2010 1:27pm
We have just released a new advice document looking at the different materials used to make film for stills and moving images.
A lot of historic film footage was captured on stock which is highly unstable and may not be around much longer. Some collections are potentially explosive and so this document - Analogue Film Types Used for Still and Moving Images - is aimed at helping users identify older film negatives in their collection.
The iconic image of the ‘Migrant Mother’ by Dorothea Lange, 1936. Photo from The Library of Congress on Flickr: The Commons - No known copyright restrictions
This picture was initially photographed on highly unstable nitrate film.
Everything you need to know about MP3
Wednesday 20 January 2010 3:37pm
A new advice document looking at use and management of the popular MP3 audio format. From its suitability for use delivering audio in teaching and learning, to how to use ID3 tags to identify, catalogue and manage your MP3 resources, we look at all aspects of this most well known of sound file types.
If you use digital audio in any way at all, you have probably come across MP3s. Home and office computers, mobile phones, iPods, media players… even car stereos and games consoles all now offer facilities for playing back MP3 audio, as well as viewing cover art, lyrics and the myriad other tags which can accompany them. But while most people are at least familiar with what an MP3 is, many don’t know how MP3 works, and which of its many options to choose to get the best from it.
Our new User Guide to MP3 aims to explain the essentials of MP3 in an accessible way, as well as exploring its more esoteric audio options and extended capabilities for encapsulating rich metadata.
There is a huge range of tools for encoding, decoding and editing MP3, so as well as technical background we cover some common tasks and processes, and include links to resources to enable you to become an MP3 power user!
Two new lighting documents
Monday 11 January 2010 3:44pm
We have just released two advice documents which cover lighting for stills and video production.
The Taking Pictures under Available Light document provides a useful introduction to anyone using ambient light or other readily available light sources to illuminate a subject.
The Light Sources for Still and Moving Images document looks at a range of lighting from daylight through to specialist studio systems. It also looks at the different qualities and colour characteristics of each light type and how the light quality can be modified.
.
Describing your digital resources
Friday 08 January 2010 10:56am
We have just published our completely updated advice documents on metadata.
Photo by Fabrizio Sciami on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons licence
Metadata is essentially structured textual information that describes something about the creation, content or context of an individual file or collection of many digital files.
If you have a collection of digital resources - images, video or audio files - you and the users of those files will need metadata to describe, organise and find them.
There are eight documents in all - if you are new to metadata, we would recommend starting with An Introduction to Metadata.
- An Introduction to Metadata
- Metadata and Digital Images
- Metadata and Audio Resources
- Metadata and Digital Video
- Metadata Standards and Interoperability
- Putting Things in Order: a Directory of Metadata Schemas and Related Standards
- Controlling your Language: a Directory of Metadata Vocabularies
- Approaches to Describing Images
Latest newsletter now available
Tuesday 05 January 2010 2:15pm
The second issue of our newsletter Intermedia is now available.
*NEW* Acoustic Treatment advice document
Wednesday 16 December 2009 1:35pm
An overview of acoustic treatment methods and materials, and advice on identifying and meeting the acoustic needs of your room.
Acoustic treatment falls broadly into two categories:
- Improving the sound within your audio workspaces - your recording and listening rooms
- Soundproofing (cutting down on transmitted noise)
Our new advice document on Acoustic Treatment looks at a range of solutions to both requirements, from DIY and ‘quick-fix’ tips, to project and professional studio design.
If you need help reducing reverberation, or cutting out unwanted external noise, start here.
Flexible, scalable image formats
Tuesday 15 December 2009 3:34pm
Following our recently updated advice on File Formats and Compression, we have just released an updated Introduction to the Vector Image Format.
Unlike raster images (e.g. digital photos which are usually saved as JPEGs for the web), vector images are fully scalable which means they do not lose their clarity when resized.
This advice document takes a look at what makes vector images scalable and where they can be put to use: Introduction to the Vector Image Format.
Video, audio and image file formats
Friday 04 December 2009 9:01am
We’ve just released a fully updated version of our advice document on File Formats and Compression.
As well as examining still image file formats, our advice now looks at digital video and audio formats. The document uses sample images, videos and sound recordings to highlight the differences between uncompressed and compressed files.
Microphone technique screencast
Wednesday 02 December 2009 2:28pm
A new JISC Digital Media screencast offering advice on microphone technique and choice for voice-over. Recorded for today’s online surgery.
#6 Online surgery - Microphone technique and placement from JISC Digital Media on Vimeo.
The transcript from the online surgery session is also available.
Five new training courses for 2010
Tuesday 24 November 2009 9:48am
We’re very pleased to announce our training programme for January to April 2010… and we have no fewer than five brand new courses in the schedule!
Photo from Musée McCord Museum on Flickr: The Commons - No known copyright restrictions
The new courses are:
- Digitising Analogue Audio
- Digital Media Restoration
- Digitising Grooved Discs and Open Reel Media
- Managing Digital Media Collections
- Video Production 1: Lectures and Interviews 2-day course
To see the full programme of courses please visit our Training page.
Jon Moore is JISC Digital Media’s new service manager
Monday 23 November 2009 12:14pm
Jon Moore has recently joined the JISC Digital Media team as Service Manager.
Commencing his career in traditional print, Jon progressed to magazine publishing production at Future Plc in the early nineties. One of the early pioneers in the area of production, digitisation and colour management of still images in print, he later broadened his expertise into content management, metadata and workflow while managing service delivery and a diverse technical team. After a successful 16 years at Future and prior to joining JISC Digital Media as the Service Manager, Jon founded a tourism based video broadcast business (City TV).
Video Assist deadline is looming
Monday 16 November 2009 2:04pm
The deadline to apply for the next round of Video Assist consultation is less than two weeks away.
Video Assist is JISC Digital Media’s new scheme for bespoke consultation in the area of video production. Two FE or HE institutions are selected each term to receive 4 days’ worth of consulting on a specific project that they propose. Applications (MS Word doc) for the next round of Video Assist must be received by Friday the 27th of November. Successful applicants will be informed by the 18th of December and will receive their Video Assist consulting from the 4th of January to the 26th of March.
