ScreenFlow: The Killer Screencasting App - Free Giveaway!

Vara Software has allowed me to giveaway one free copy of ScreenFlow to one lucky MacTips user. See the bottom of the post for details.

Why is ScreenFlow the killer screencasting app?

ScreenFlow is the application I’ve been waiting for on the Mac. I’ve been using it recently for the MacTips Videos and I love it! It’s saves me so much time because I’m able to focus on creating valuable content rather than editing videos.

There are a couple other screencasting applications for the Mac, but ScreenFlow is the first professional level application to hit the market.

ScreenFlow has a lot of advanced features, but they’re presented in a way that allows anyone to learn them very quickly.

Creating a sample screencast

I’m going go through the process of creating a screencast to show you how easy it is.

1. Choose Your Inputs

When you first launch ScreenFlow, you’re given different ways to add input to your video. So far I’ve only used the Built-in iSight and Microphone, but both of these work as expected.

Press the record button and you’re given a few seconds to get ready. After this dialog disappears your screencast has begun.

2. Record your screencast

This part is very straight forward. Record your screencast by performing whichever actions you’d like to highlight. Speak into the camera as you see fit. You can easily switch back and forth between your screen and camera later while editing.

Tip: Don’t move too fast! This is one thing I always have issues with, I move the mouse very quickly. When people are watching your video your default speed is almost always too fast. Slow down.

To stop your screencast hit Command+Shift+2. You can also use the menubar icon if you forget the keyboard shortcut.

3. Editing your screencast

This is the best part of the entire process for me. ScreenFlow has such an intuitive way of editing your video you can literally be done in a couple of clicks. Below is the editing window. You have two inputs on the timeline below, iSight and screen recording:

One of my favorite features in ScreenFlow are the use of actions. Vera Software really took the time to think this through and the ease of use shows. You can have video, audio and mouse actions.

Video Actions

These are transitions in the video. Let’s say, for example, you’d like to zoom into a certain part of your screen 10 seconds into your video.

On the timeline, drag the slider to 10s, then click “Add Video Action.” Zoom in by either resizing the window or scroll up with your mouse. You’re done.

Your video will automatically zoom 10 seconds in and stay that way until you add another action to zoom out.

Screenflow does a lot more than zooming, however. It also does rotations, reflections, shadows to make your screencast look extremely professional.

Mouse Actions and Callouts

Another set of great feature are mouse callouts. If you’d like to highlight something your mouse is doing, add a callout. This makes the entire screen go dark and highlight only your mouse.

Cutting Unwanted Video

If you have parts of your video you don’t want, ScreenFlow has Ripple Delete and Trim to Scrubber.

Ripple Delete allows you delete the currently selected portion of your video, while Trim to Scrubber allows you to delete the video before or after your current selection.

I only found this feature while editing my last video, and I’m glad I did. It keeps you from having to re-start if you mess up on your video. Anyone whose ever created a video knows it rarely goes as planned your first take, so this feature is a huge time-saver.

Easy, Easy, Easy

Explaining how these features work is much more difficult than actually using these features. As a result I thought it would be nice if I created a short screencast on editing in screenflow. The bottom line is, editing is extremely easy and it looks very professional. All the effects you see in the video were created with ScreenFlow.

4. Exporting

Now all that’s left is exporting your video. Click File -> Export and the following dialog appears:

Give Screenflow a try

Vara Software recently released version 1.02 of Screenflow. This release fixes a couple different problems people were having with the software. If you haven’t tried the latest version, I would highly recommend downloading it.

This latest release is very stable and very fast. Considering the amount of video editing Screenflow handles, I’m surprised how quick it actually is.

Go Download ScreenFlow and try it out for yourself. The free version watermarks all of your exported videos, but is fully functional. So you can do everything I listed here and shown in the screencast.

Free ScreenFlow Giveaway

While writing this review, I had the idea to contact Vara Software to see if they would be interested in giving away a free copy of ScreenFlow to a lucky MacTips user. They agreed, and we quickly decided the best way to approach the giveaway.

To be eligible, you must enter your name and e-mail address into the comments below. You don’t need to enter them into the text field, but do enter them into the Name and Mail fields.

Your e-mail address will not be displayed on the site. This allows me to contact the winner with their serial number.

On April 2nd at 9PM CST I will randomly select a winner from the comments. If you failed to provide your e-mail address, I will choose another participant.

Unfortunately, MacTips staff is ineligible, sorry guys :).

I’d like to thank Vara Software for doing this, hopefully we’ll have more giveaways in the future.

Update: Jake Schieivnk won the license! Based on the response here (127 comments!) we’ll definitely be doing more of these. Stay tuned.

 
 

Submitted on March 29, 2008 at 6:56 pm - ScreenFlow: The Killer Screencasting App - Free Giveaway! was written by Brad Jasper - There have been 129 comments - Categorized in Cool OS X Apps, Free Giveaways, Intermediate Tips, Video Tips

129 Responses to “ScreenFlow: The Killer Screencasting App - Free Giveaway!”

1. 
   worksafe
   I need this. March 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
   
   
2. 
   mk1978
   comment March 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
   
   
3. 
   Prama
   Dude! You're Right! This is Wicked! Used to have one but I deleted it, fortunately it is still in the trash. Anyway, Wicked! March 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
   
   
4. 
   Chris Tracy
   That program looks Freakin Awesome! March 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
   
   
5. 
   Ale Muñoz
   ScreenFlow is, indeed, a thing of beauty. I've used Snapz Pro and iShowU, but ScreenFlow puts them to shame : )
   
   Here's hope I am the chosen one for the free license : ) March 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
   
   
6. 
   Brad Jasper
   Glad to see everyone excited about the giveaway!
   
   Prama, Make sure you have the most recent version. I was having issues with version 1.0 but version 1.02 runs solid as a rock for me. March 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
   
   
7. 
   hamsammich
   Great giveaway! Very nice, indeed!
   
   :) March 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
   
   
8. 
   Discerptor
   That app is incredibly cool. Have you by any chance found an option to adjust colors in the video? Also, how'd you get your Dock to look that way? March 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
   
   
9. 
   MacTipper
   Wow! Looks like a pretty nice video editor! March 29th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
   
   
10. 
    Brad Jasper
    Discerptor, You mean like adjust brightness, contrast, etc? No I haven't.
    
    To get your dock to look like mine: http://www.mactips.org/archives/2007/10/28/return-the-dock-to-the-old-style/ March 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
    
    
11. 
    Discerptor
    Yes, I did mean those kinds of settings. All's well in either case.
    
    And thanks a lot! It looks so nice and clean this way, I wonder why they don't put an option for the "no-glass" look in the Dock PreferencePane. March 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
    
    
12. 
    Phil Reardon
    want. March 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
    
    
13. 
    John
    Great App! March 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
    
    
14. 
    Gustavo Delfino
    Screenflow looks great. I guess that you can also combine it with OmniDazzle for great mouse effects:
    
    http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnidazzle/ March 29th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
    
    
15. 
    Joan Young
    Great giveaway! March 29th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
    
    
16. 
    Juan Bullos
    Great App! March 29th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
    
    
17. 
    Jeff Wadsworth
    Would be great to get this. March 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
    
    
18. 
    David Iriana
    Gotta love free stuff! March 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
    
    
19. 
    Ray Lyon
    me gusta free stuff March 29th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
    
    
20. 
    john holt
    pretty please pick me March 29th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
    
    
21. 
    Andrew Patrick
    Randomly pick me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
    
    
22. 
    Alex Hwang
    ScreenFlow definitely is a killer app!!! March 29th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
    
    
23. 
    Dika
    o la March 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
    
    
24. 
    Derek
    "... and your given ..."
    "Your done."
    Really? Now, I know there were quite a few correct "your"s in the article, but is it too much to ask for the correct contraction on occasion? :) Otherwise, interesting overview. I do like many of the described features; seems very well done.
    
    Cheers,
    Derek March 29th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
    
    
25. 
    Katie Berryhill
    This would be so cool to use for recording videos for my students (I teach for an online university). March 29th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
    
    
26. 
    Brad Jasper
    Derek, based on your own statement I do give the correct contraction on occasion, its all the time I seem to have the problem. ;)
    
    Contractions fixed. If you have any other grammar issues, please e-mail me in the future. March 30th, 2008 at 12:02 am
    
    
27. 
    Tom
    I've used this app before, and i was blown away by how easy it was to add effects and draw attention to each action i did March 30th, 2008 at 12:16 am
    
    
28. 
    Paul R. Pival
    One more entry to the list - thanks! March 30th, 2008 at 12:31 am
    
    
29. 
    Yohannes Wijaya
    I want one March 30th, 2008 at 1:42 am
    
    
30. 
    Paul
    Ooh, shiny! March 30th, 2008 at 1:55 am
    
    
31. 
    Alex
    here I am! :-) thanks mate! March 30th, 2008 at 2:38 am
    
    
32. 
    Oliver
    It looks great - can't wait to try it! :) March 30th, 2008 at 2:42 am
    
    
33. 
    Grant
    I can't wait to try ScreenFlow March 30th, 2008 at 2:42 am
    
    
34. 
    psiloiordinary
    hi March 30th, 2008 at 2:54 am
    
    
35. 
    PleanBean
    Wooow, always wanted this. March 30th, 2008 at 3:14 am
    
    
36. 
    Max
    I saw the presentation video at their site... I'm speechless...
    
    I love MacTips by the way ;) March 30th, 2008 at 3:22 am
    
    
37. 
    Phu Tran
    Pick me! March 30th, 2008 at 3:46 am
    
    
38. 
    Domino
    Very nice tool :) March 30th, 2008 at 3:53 am
    
    
39. 
    Zsolt Benke
    Really cool app, I like it. March 30th, 2008 at 4:14 am
    
    
40. 
    John Rowley
    Great App and Nice Giveaway. March 30th, 2008 at 4:46 am
    
    
41. 
    António Lopes
    Uh, uh, pick me, pick me! March 30th, 2008 at 4:52 am
    
    
42. 
    NOAH
    This software would be an awesome addition to my Mac. Mac/Apple all the way! March 30th, 2008 at 5:13 am
    
    
43. 
    Ayodh
    Looks awesome.. Would be really handy.. March 30th, 2008 at 5:42 am
    
    
44. 
    Colby Hess
    Looks like a cool app! March 30th, 2008 at 5:49 am
    
    
45. 
    Jack
    I tried out the demo of this, it is brilliant! I've already got Snapz Pro X from the MacHeist deal, but this is just so much better! I love how you can pan around the video.
    A killer app! Oh, and fingers crossed! :) March 30th, 2008 at 6:02 am
    
    
46. 
    Jane
    I never win anything!!! March 30th, 2008 at 6:20 am
    
    
47. 
    Matt
    Oo! Oo! Mr. Kotter! Mr. Kotter! Pick me! Pick me! March 30th, 2008 at 6:35 am
    
    
48. 
    Heinz Rohde
    I would be soooooooooooooo thankful, if I would get the copy... March 30th, 2008 at 6:47 am
    
    
49. 
    Gregory
    Usefull and very well done software, impressive ! March 30th, 2008 at 7:35 am
    
    
50. 
    Paul Watts
    It's a long way dowunder to Australia.
    
    Would love to win a copy down here.
    
    Thanks for organising the free give away. March 30th, 2008 at 7:52 am
    
    
51. 
    K M Tallman
    Thanks March 30th, 2008 at 7:57 am
    
    
52. 
    Timothy Armstrong
    Wow.. great demo! I've caught most of your tips and insights and appreciate them all! From a home office to bringing the family together, you've helped everyone with a mac do ordinary things extra-ordinarily well.
    Thanks,
    The Armstrongs March 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am
    
    
53. 
    Duke
    screenflow looks a great app. March 30th, 2008 at 9:28 am
    
    
54. 
    Leonard Janssen
    This is a great deal!
    Thanks for all the info, great site and content... March 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
    
    
55. 
    Robert
    I played around with the trial of his thing a while back and thought it was really cool and had a ton of great features just didn't really want to spend the money on it, a give away is a terrific idea!
    Keep up the tips too! I love to raed them March 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
    
    
56. 
    Gretchen
    Neat app! Thanks for the contest. March 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
    
    
57. 
    tonymccallie
    We already purchased one license of this and love it. I'd love to have another for my Children's Pastor as well. It really is great software for so many things other than the obvious uses. We use it for our video announcements at the church. Makes it soooo easy. March 30th, 2008 at 10:34 am
    
    
58. 
    Paolo
    choose me! March 30th, 2008 at 10:37 am
    
    
59. 
    Laura Sailas
    Oooh yeah I want! Thank you Vara Software!! March 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
    
    
60. 
    Charlie
    This program seems easy to use and the video that you made to show how to use it, shows just how easy it is. This program would be a fine addition to anyone's collection and highly used to edit videos. Vara Software has done an excellent job in creating such a video editing program. March 30th, 2008 at 10:59 am
    
    
61. 
    Janez
    Živ ;) March 30th, 2008 at 11:04 am
    
    
62. 
    Marco
    I need this too ! :) March 30th, 2008 at 11:28 am
    
    
63. 
    Michael Sisk
    This looks great! March 30th, 2008 at 11:31 am
    
    
64. 
    Joe Muckle
    Great giveaway! March 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
    
    
65. 
    Adrian T
    This app is brilliant, it's great to see some innovation in the Mac screen-recording market.
    
    I'd love to win a copy! March 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am
    
    
66. 
    Will Tardio
    count me in! March 30th, 2008 at 11:41 am
    
    
67. 
    Daryl Rossi
    Looks like a great app! March 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am
    
    
68. 
    Pierre Wouters
    Cool! March 30th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
    
    
69. 
    Kim Snider
    I have recently converted to Apple after years of PC. I love my Air so much I want to sleep with it under my pillow. This software would be a nice addition. Thanks for the review and giveaway. ~ New Apple FanGirl March 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
    
    
70. 
    Mike B
    I could see this application as a very useful tool in the educational arena.
    As a private tutor, I am always looking for new ideas to help students in their learning adventure. Great stuff - Vara Software March 30th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
    
    
71. 
    Barry Maloney
    saw a webcast of this app. Can't wait to use it. March 30th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
    
    
72. 
    Peter
    thank's for the tip's ; March 30th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
    
    
73. 
    Oli
    This looks like a great app to win! March 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
    
    
74. 
    Heather Heath
    i'd like a chance to win. March 30th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
    
    
75. 
    Kenta Hood
    That's a great giveaway. I'm glad you got this together. I'm a brand new Mac user so I'm excited to learn all the great things about the Mac. Thanks Vera Software for making this possible! March 30th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
    
    
76. 
    Bhavya Chugh
    Really nice App... March 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
    
    
77. 
    Frederick Tan
    Nice March 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
    
    
78. 
    Andrew Williams
    Struggling artist from the bottom. Keep my hope alive. March 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
    
    
79. 
    Sharee
    Thanks! March 30th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
    
    
80. 
    Donna Freiermuth
    Wow. Sounds great. March 30th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
    
    
81. 
    Robin Whitman
    Thanks for the mini tutorial. Everyone seems to love this new app. I'm looking forward to testing it. I wonder if you can make the video part first, and then add the sound later. March 30th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
    
    
82. 
    Dennis Golombek
    This would be great in a school environment for absentee students to catch up on lessons and directions. March 30th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
    
    
83. 
    Bill Toney
    Neat application. March 30th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
    
    
84. 
    William Ward
    You need to get a whole bunch of these giveaways. We all want one. I tried it and it worked so cool. March 30th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
    
    
85. 
    Therese
    You need to get more copies to give away! March 30th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
    
    
86. 
    Jeff Gardner
    Wow this looks really amazing. GJ to Vara Software! March 30th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
    
    
87. 
    Julio Morales
    Interesting App. March 30th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
    
    
88. 
    ERIC E MANN
    yes i am interested in your free macosx software March 30th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
    
    
89. 
    Teresa Johnston
    Well done Vara Software. You rock..!! March 30th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
    
    
90. 
    Dick Echols
    Sounds super! What are the odds?! March 30th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
    
    
91. 
    Travis Sadler
    Nice. March 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
    
    
92. 
    Pete
    Thanks for this review! Very useful. March 30th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
    
    
93. 
    Rainier Camara
    Hello MacTips.
    I am praying to win this free giveaway. Video editors are expensive and I wish to give my son who's entering college to have a great app like this so he can develop his skills in video editing. Thank you for your choice. God bless MacTips! March 30th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
    
    
94. 
    Puneet Arora
    Wow !.. I've always wondered if an app for this kinda work existed ! and here it is ! . if I get this, I can change the way I do my charity video tutorials ! March 30th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
    
    
95. 
    Steve Smith
    Free giveaway March 31st, 2008 at 1:34 am
    
    
96. 
    Krzysztof Maj
    Would be great to have one. BTW, review is very useful, but the whole webpage is awesome. March 31st, 2008 at 4:48 am
    
    
97. 
    Jörg Burbach
    Superb ;) March 31st, 2008 at 5:43 am
    
    
98. 
    Darren
    Looks like a great app March 31st, 2008 at 5:55 am
    
    
99. 
    Mary Nesset
    Loved the review! Thanks! March 31st, 2008 at 7:03 am
    
    
100. 
     Jirka Cech
     That program looks fairly good. March 31st, 2008 at 7:18 am
     
     
101. 
     Cheope
     Here I am. March 31st, 2008 at 9:39 am
     
     
102. 
     Allan Watson
     This app looks really nifty! I like nice looking icons too! March 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
     
     
103. 
     Lloyd Williams
     Free giveaway March 31st, 2008 at 10:04 am
     
     
104. 
     Mike Demaine
     golly, buttons! i hope i win! March 31st, 2008 at 10:14 am
     
     
105. 
     Xepha
     Very neat :) March 31st, 2008 at 10:29 am
     
     
106. 
     Max
     Randomly select me! :)
     
     Looks like a nice application!
     Great job with the site too! March 31st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
     
     
107. 
     Ayokunle
     Nice App! March 31st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
     
     
108. 
     Simon Douglas
     I've tried it and it rocks! Gee, I hope I win! March 31st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
     
     
109. 
     Matt
     I hope I win! if I do I plan on starting a podcast with it. March 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
     
     
110. 
     Ken Hallenius
     I wanna win! March 31st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
     
     
111. 
     Luis Matos
     Great app. Will surely find many uses for it at my shop.
     
     LM March 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
     
     
112. 
     Carl
     Gotta have it! March 31st, 2008 at 8:06 pm
     
     
113. 
     Agnes
     that is awesome, thank you!!!! April 1st, 2008 at 2:41 am
     
     
114. 
     Gerard
     This will be a great addition for my soon to be mine MBP! April 1st, 2008 at 3:22 am
     
     
115. 
     Rowan Haddow
     really canny app like, looks really nifty April 1st, 2008 at 6:19 am
     
     
116. 
     cebova
     nice. April 1st, 2008 at 7:48 am
     
     
117. 
     Jake Schieivnk
     This looks amazing April 1st, 2008 at 8:01 am
     
     
118. 
     Byrge Leeuwangh
     Nice program and nice to have a chance to get it for free ;-) April 1st, 2008 at 11:47 am
     
     
119. 
     somaia
     hi this looks great! pleeeaaaaaaaaaase pick me
     thanks alot for the tips and i really love your widget April 1st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
     
     
120. 
     susannah scranton
     Can't wait to give it a try, thanks. Also the give away is a nice idea to get us to try new things!!! April 1st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
     
     
121. 
     UberBean
     Wooooooooooh April 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
     
     
122. 
     Brett
     Looks like great software. April 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
     
     
123. 
     Michael Grace
     Sweet! That looks like a great tool! April 1st, 2008 at 6:41 pm
     
     
124. 
     Gary Snethen
     This is *exactly* what I've been looking for! I've been wanting to create presentation videos that combine slides, demos and video. ScreenFlow does all this -- and it does it incredibly well! I put together a professional looking mock-up presentation in just a few minutes.
     
     Much of the software I want to demo runs on Windows, but ScreenFlow works great with Parallels. I was able to put together a high-quality Windows screencast recorded and edited entirely on my Mac. April 1st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
     
     
125. 
     Eufemio
     Thanks! This is awesome. =) April 1st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
     
     
126. 
     Cooknice
     That was a great vid about ScreenFlow! April 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 am
     
     
127. 
     Brian Nall
     Great review! I have been looking into this software and have read reviews on other sites that just didn't do it justice. This review is complete and shows how easy screenflow can be to use. Thanks! April 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
     
     
128. 
     Score
     XD I want i want! April 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
     
     
129. 
     Alfredo
     Hey, very nice review! Hope I win the ScreenFlow App Giveway! April 9th, 2008 at 11:24 am
     
     

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