Category: Video Tutorials

Become a Super Manager. Lynda will mentor you.

Many people know Lynda.com has hundreds of training videos for you to master the latest software. What is sometimes overlooked is that it is just as valuable a resource for sharpening your business skills. For example, Management Fundamentals with Britt Andreatta is a two hour course which covers all the essentials of good management – … Continue reading “Become a Super Manager. Lynda will mentor you.”


Many people know Lynda.com has hundreds of training videos for you to master the latest software. What is sometimes overlooked is that it is just as valuable a resource for sharpening your business skills. For example, Management Fundamentals with Britt Andreatta is a two hour course which covers all the essentials of good management – hiring, coaching, motivating and delegating. Lynda.com has dozens of training courses like this, taught by professionals in the field. 
As a current AU student, faculty or staff, you have access to all of Lynda.com’s tutorials and resources. First, go to www.american.edu/lynda and log in with your AU credentials. It may be the first step on your remarkable business career.

Learn Photoshop like a preschooler — with puppets!

The end of the semester is upon us, which means that term projects and presentations are rearing their ugly heads. If the activity in the New Media Center is anything to go by, professors from across campus are now expecting students to use media in their presentations. This is expected for graphic design, film, and … Continue reading “Learn Photoshop like a preschooler — with puppets!”

The end of the semester is upon us, which means that term projects and presentations are rearing their ugly heads. If the activity in the New Media Center is anything to go by, professors from across campus are now expecting students to use media in their presentations. This is expected for graphic design, film, and communications classes, but for a political science student who’s never touched Photoshop, it can be intimidating.

If you’re new to the world of media software and need someone to explain it to you like you’re a toddler, look no further than “Fafa’s Photoshop Tutorial,” a video tutorial on the basics of Photoshop as presented by puppets. It’s equal parts adorable and informative for first-time users.

Remember that if you need personal, human help with media software, the New Media Center staff are available to help out whenever we’re open.

The semester is over when? I need software training QUICK!

Lynda.com can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda This is the fastest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and … Continue reading “The semester is over when? I need software training QUICK!”


Lynda.com can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda
This is the fastest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and newsletter. AU students, faculty and staff have access to ALL the resources at Lynda.com. Just go to the url above not to www.lynda.com.

Green Screen in Final Cut Pro X

Are you looking to move to the next level in Final Cut Pro X? Here’s a great Youtube tutorial on using green screen effect in Final Cut Pro X. Final Cut Pro X – Chroma Key Green Screen 1. Place Video to be green-screened in the timeline – Tip: Object to be green-screened should be … Continue reading “Green Screen in Final Cut Pro X”

Are you looking to move to the next level in Final Cut Pro X? Here’s a great Youtube tutorial on using green screen effect in Final Cut Pro X.



Final Cut Pro X – Chroma Key Green Screen

1. Place Video to be green-screened in the timeline
– Tip: Object to be green-screened should be placed in front of a flat green space

2. Crop out part area of video that is not green with the crop tool in the viewer

3. Open Effects Browser in Toolbar – (shortcut F5)

4. Go to Keying – Keyer – apply to video
– Applies green screen keying right away

6. Open up Inspector (Cmd 4)

7. Refine Tool for specific edges
– See inspector for specific tools to assist in image
– Final Cut does a really nice job of eliminating any winkles, edges, etc.

Lynda has a new Foundations of Audio Series + more new audio courses!

Lynda.com has announced the release of many new Audio courses to help you create songs, soundtracks, and voice recordings while learning the basics of audio software. New courses for beginners include Audio Mixing Bootcamp, GarageBand ’11 Essential Training, and a brand-new Foundations of Audio series, including EQ and Filters and Compression and Dynamic Processing. Use … Continue reading “Lynda has a new Foundations of Audio Series + more new audio courses!”

Lynda.com has announced the release of many new Audio courses to help you create songs, soundtracks, and voice recordings while learning the basics of audio software.

New courses for beginners include Audio Mixing Bootcamp, GarageBand ’11 Essential Training, and a brand-new Foundations of Audio series, including EQ and Filters and Compression and Dynamic Processing. Use these courses to produce audio tracks for both personal and professional projects, including home movies and slideshow presentations.

View a list of audio courses.

Excerpted from Lynda.com

New URL creates easier access to Lynda!

Lynda can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda This is the easiest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and … Continue reading “New URL creates easier access to Lynda!”


Lynda can now be accessed from this url: http://www.american.edu/lynda
This is the easiest way to get to all the Lynda.com resources. It’s an easy to remember address and gives all the information a user would need – login requirements, products available, tech support information, mobile access, sample videos, and links to Lynda’s newest tutorials and newsletter. Check it out!

Lynda.com – + new features, – confusing interface

For a number of years, Lynda.com‘s online tutorials have been AU’s primary resource for software training. These excellent online training tutorials offer thousands of hours of instruction for AU faculty, students and staff. AU has a multi-year license to provide these, free of charge, to the AU community, whether they are on campus or off. … Continue reading “Lynda.com – + new features, – confusing interface”

For a number of years, Lynda.com‘s online tutorials have been AU’s primary resource for software training. These excellent online training tutorials offer thousands of hours of instruction for AU faculty, students and staff. AU has a multi-year license to provide these, free of charge, to the AU community, whether they are on campus or off.

Recently Lynda.com changed their interface as they introduced their Lynda Campus product. The good new is that for the first time this lets users track which videos they have watched, bookmark videos to review later, and save certificates of completion when they finish tutorials.

Unfortunately, to do this Lynda.com makes it mandatory for users to create a personal login before they can go to the tutorials. Poor design makes it look like a user is signing up for an individual account with Lynda.com. Don’t worry, once you create a login, you will still have access through your AU affiliation and there will be no charge.

For information about accessing Lynda.com, you can search ALADIN for Title = Lynda.com.

Remove Scratches from DVDs with Liquid Metal Polish

The Consumerist blog lead us to an old post on the Wise Bread blog which discusses several interesting methods for removing scratches from CDs or DVDs. Suggested methods include using tooth paste, a banana, chewing gum, and most effectively – Brasso, or any liquid metal polish. This video shows you how it’s done, but as … Continue reading “Remove Scratches from DVDs with Liquid Metal Polish”

The Consumerist blog lead us to an old post on the Wise Bread blog which discusses several interesting methods for removing scratches from CDs or DVDs. Suggested methods include using tooth paste, a banana, chewing gum, and most effectively – Brasso, or any liquid metal polish.

This video shows you how it’s done, but as a reminder, never try this at home with an American University Library Media Services DVD. Just return and report any problems you have, and leave the repairs to the trained professionals: us!

DMS Help: The “Sin City Effect”

The so-called “Sin City effect” is a color-correction technique in which a range of colors is left saturated with color while the rest of an image (can be still or video) is completely desaturated to black and white. The effect is called the “Sin City effect” because it was used widely in Robert Rodriguez’ film … Continue reading “DMS Help: The “Sin City Effect””

The so-called “Sin City effect” is a color-correction technique in which a range of colors is left saturated with color while the rest of an image (can be still or video) is completely desaturated to black and white. The effect is called the “Sin City effect” because it was used widely in Robert Rodriguez’ film “Sin City.”

But you don’t need a Hollywood post-production budget to do it. In fact, all you need is Final Cut Pro and a few minutes.

Check out the video below and stylize your next project: