Preparing your screen for screencasting

When it comes to screencasting, preparing your screen is crucial. The goal is to maintain viewer focus on your content, not on the clutter or distractions on your desktop. Whether using a Mac or Windows machine, the principle remains the same: keep your screen as clean as possible.

Hiding unnecessary distractions

Imagine this: you're watching a screencast, but instead of focusing on the content, your eyes are drawn to the clutter of desktop icons. It's distracting. Here are three elements that should definitely be hidden:

1. Desktop icons: These can become a distraction during the screencast.
2. The dock: If visible, it can pull focus away from your content.
3. The status bar: This should be hidden for a more professional look.

Thankfully, automation can help with this. I've devised a script that hides all these elements, making the process seamless and saving time. This script is for Mac users, but you can achieve similar results on Windows with different methods.

Here is my "hide everything" script. (This is an AppleScript, so it will only work on Mac).

tell application "System Events"
    -- Hide the menu bar
	tell dock preferences to set autohide menu bar to true
	-- Hide the dock
	tell dock preferences to set autohide to true
	-- Hide the icons
	do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool FALSE; killall Finder"
	-- Don't let the dock pop up when you mouse down
	do shell script "defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 100 && killall Dock"
end tell

Thanks to another script I’ve prepared, you can now set your wallpaper for recording too!

tell application "System Events"
	tell desktop 1
	    -- Set the desktop to my "recording" desktop image
		set picture to "/Users/aaron/Documents/Screencasting.com/desktop.png"
	end tell
end tell

When it's time to get back to not recording, here's a script to return your desktop to normal:

tell application "System Events"
    -- Show the menu bar
	tell dock preferences to set autohide menu bar to false
	-- Show the dock
	tell dock preferences to set autohide to false
	-- Show the icons
	do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.finder CreateDesktop; killall Finder"
end tell

Setting a neutral background

When recording, it's crucial to use a simple and neutral background. Avoid family photos, anime characters, or any other busy images that can distract from the material you're presenting. An abstract or branded background works well. You can set your wallpaper using tools like a stream deck to switch easily between different backgrounds.

Enabling Do Not Disturb mode

Before hitting "record," it's essential to activate "Do Not Disturb" mode. This prevents unwanted notifications from interrupting your screencast, allowing you to maintain focus and momentum. Interruptions not only disturb the flow but can also be challenging to edit out later.

Enhancing the viewer experience

Taking steps to hide distractions, choosing a simple background, and minimizing interruptions will enhance your screencasting quality. By optimizing your screen setup, you ensure your audience stays engaged with your content and not your desktop.

Ready to focus on content

Setting up your screencasting environment correctly is key to delivering high-quality recordings. By following these guidelines, you'll prevent distractions and interruptions, ensuring a smoother recording process and a better viewing experience for your audience.