DIY Videoscribing and Other Awesome Techniques to Enhance Your Videos

I recently published a new video that includes some experimental video techniques that I’ve never used before.

After a post with that video embedded in it went live, within 24 hours I received over 100 emails from people asking how they could recreate the same effects.

Apparently, the effects made my videos look a lot more professional and it helped hold people’s attention, which is exactly what I was going for.

To help answer all the questions that were asked, I’ll go over each of the following for you today:

How to get a blurred background in your videos.
How to add pop-up text to your videos.
How to get an awesome intro / bumper for your videos.
How to DIY videoscribe (the sped up recording of writing or drawings that sync with your audio).

I also have a fun little blooper video that I shot with my son for you at the end of this post too 🙂

Let’s get to it…

The Video

I’ve re-embedded the video for you below and timestamped the various techniques I was using, for your reference. You can see everything within the first 21 seconds:

(or you can watch this video on YouTube by clicking here)

0:05: Pop-up Text
0:14: Video Bumper
0:21: Videoscribing

1. How to Get a Blurred Background in Your Videos

If the background is blurred (also known as “bokeh”) but you’re in focus, it adds a very professional feel to your videos.

Unfortunately, if you’re using a basic flip cam or handheld digital camera for your videos, you won’t be able to get this effect.

The secret is in the lens of the camera that you use, so you’re going to need a DSLR camera and an appropriate lens to get the aesthetic qualities of a blurred background in your videos.

A good DSLR camera isn’t cheap, and neither is the specific kind of lens you need to get this effect (the stock lenses usually won’t work as well), but if you’re going to be shooting professional videos for your business, it could be well worth the investment.

I’m using a Canon Rebel T3i DSLR camera ($499.00) and a Canon EF 50mm f1.4 ($379.00) lens in my most recent videos. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links.]

I won’t get into the technical details of how this kind of lens (with a larger aperture) works, but the most important thing to do is make sure that when you equip this lens, that you are in focus. The lens will take care of the rest.

With the Canon, you can flip the lcd screen out and around so you can look at yourself when recording, which is really nice. Move the arrows on the back of the cam until the white focus box is where your face will be—then unless you have someone to push record for you, use a remote, like this one, and you’re set. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

2. How to Add Pop-Up Text to Your Videos

Pop-up text are words that appear on the screen at the same time you say those words and it’s a very powerful way to engage your audience and really emphasize those important points of your video.

Do it too much, and it lessens the impact—so use this technique wisely.

Here’s a video explaining two methods you can use to create pop-up text on your videos:

(click here to watch the video on YouTube)

3. How to Get an Awesome Intro / Bumper for Your Videos

My biggest request was about how I added the cool little bumper, or SPI branded animation at the beginning of my video.

[Editor’s note: This video is no longer available.]

I wish I was talented enough to say that I created it on my own, but I’m definitely not!

This is all thanks to SplashEO, a relatively new company that was created by my good friend Gideon Shalwick who I believe is the master of online video. If you need professional looking bumpers and other cool things to enhance your videos, SplashEO is definitely my favorite resource.

I don’t know why it took 53 videos to finally consider using an intro like this, but I’m very happy with the response.

4. How to DIY Videoscribing

Videoscribing is eye-candy for video viewers.

My first experience with this was in 2010 when a viral video hit my Facebook feed—a lecture called The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

The content was pretty interesting, but what was special was what was shown in the video as this lecture was being spoken.

I’ve embedded the video for you below, but I warn you—it’s hard to stop watching once you start:

The sped up writing and drawing is just really really cool, and definitely keeps my attention the entire time.

I’m not an artist like the professionals who make these videos for a living, but I improvised a DIY way to get the same effect using my electronic white board technique.

I break it down for you in the video below: