Author: Kevin Siegel

I received an email from a fellow Captivate developer who had recently upgraded from Captivate Classic (CpC) to Captivate 13. She asked the following questions:

• Unable to select multiple objects at a time and can’t find a way to align them (say align top). I’m looking to select a series of text boxes and have them all align top. In Classic, I was able to select each by holding CTRL and clicking each, then selecting Align to Top.
  
• Not able to select more than one object a time.
• When selecting an object it doesn’t let it be moved by using the arrows, only via mouse.
• Reading order: I see the options to move the tab order, and I see the reading order pane, but there’s no option to change the reading order itself for screen readers. I searched through all of the Adobe documentation as well as internet and YouTube with no results. Could you confirm that is NOT a feature currently available?

These are excellent questions—and extremely common among developers transitioning from Adobe Captivate Classic. 

Selecting and Aligning Multiple Objects

In Captivate Classic, selecting multiple objects was simple: CTRL-clicking or SHIFT-clicking let you select several objects and apply alignment tools such as Align Top, Align Left, and others. In Captivate 13’s responsive projects, that workflow is no longer available:

• You cannot select multiple objects via CTRL-click or SHIFT-click

• Traditional alignment tools (Align Top, Center, Left, etc.) do not exist.

• Every object must be adjusted individually

This limitation is expected behavior in Captivate 13’s new responsive authoring environment.

Why You Can’t Freely Position Objects in Responsive Projects

Classic used a true freeform canvas—objects could be placed anywhere with pixel-perfect precision. Captivate 13’s default workflow uses a block-based responsive layout, meaning objects are no longer truly floating slide items. As a result:

• Objects exist inside stacking containers

• You can only drag them up or down relative to other blocks

• You cannot place items arbitrarily anywhere on the slide

• Arrow-key positioning (nudging) does not work

• Layout structure—not the developer—determines positioning

So yes—you are absolutely correct: you cannot freely position objects anywhere you want in Captivate 13’s responsive projects.

Exceptions: When Free Positioning Is Possible

There are two project types where Captivate 13 reverts to a fixed-layout workspace that behaves more like Classic:

1. Software Simulations

Captivate automatically uses fixed layout for sims.

This allows:

• Free movement of objects

• A more Classic-like slide environment

However, CTRL-clicking and SHIFT-clicking for multi-select are still not supported, and alignment tools remain limited.

2. PowerPoint Imports

Projects created by importing PowerPoint also use a fixed layout.

In this workspace:

• Objects can be moved more freely

• Placement is closer to the Classic experience

But just like software simulations, Multi-select via CTRL-click/SHIFT-click is still not available, and full alignment controls do not exist.

Moving Objects with the Arrow Keys

In Classic, the arrow keys allowed for fine nudging. In Captivate 13, the arrow keys do nothing.  Mouse movement is the primary method across all project types.

Reading Order vs. Tab Order

Captivate 13 provides a Reading Order panel and allows full control of tab order, but these two things are not the same.

Currently:

• There is no way to manually reorder the true screen-reader reading order

• The reading sequence is determined automatically by Captivate

• Developers have limited influence beyond grouping or rearranging blocks

So yes—the assumption was correct: Manual editing of screen-reader reading order is not available in Captivate 13.

Final Thoughts

Captivate 13 is powerful, but it represents a dramatic shift from Classic. Understanding the difference between Responsive projects (block-based, constrained layout) and Fixed-layout projects (software simulations and PowerPoint imports) is crucial when learning what you can—and cannot—do with object selection, positioning, alignment, and accessibility structure.

If you’d like hands-on guidance as you transition to the new Captivate, I teach comprehensive live, instructor-led Captivate vILT classes covering both Captivate Classic and Captivate 13. You can view available sessions here: https://www.iconlogic.com/adobe-captivate-training.html

If you have additional questions as you explore Captivate 13, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to help fellow developers navigate the new workflow.

QuarkXPress 2026 introduces a collection of updates aimed at improving everyday layout and production tasks. In my latest video demo, I highlight several new features and show how they work in practical design scenarios—whether you’re building print or digital projects. Below is a quick overview of what’s included in the demo and why these additions may be helpful in real-world workflows.

Redesigned Welcome Screen

The updated Welcome Screen gives you quicker access to recent projects, templates, and helpful resources. It’s cleaner, faster, and easier to navigate—especially if you’re jumping between multiple client jobs or publications.

All-New Workspace Feature

This is a significant addition to QuarkXPress 2026. Workspaces let you launch new projects based on common document properties such as page sizes, orientations, and frequently used presets. If you build similar documents repeatedly, this feature dramatically reduces setup time.

New Paste Into Feature

Paste Into is completely new, and it’s one of my favorite additions. You can now place images or grouped items inside any shape container. It behaves the way designers expect: think intuitive masking, cropping, and precise object control without extra manual steps. It’s especially useful for modern layouts, hero images, and layered compositions.

Integrated Math Equations (LaTeX & MathML)

QuarkXPress 2026 now includes native support for math equations. You can insert and edit formulas directly in your layout using LaTeX or MathML—no external editors or screenshots required. Equations can be inline with text or displayed in standalone frames, and the Math palette gives you full styling control. This is a major workflow improvement for technical, academic, STEM, and financial publications.

Paper Color Simulation

A new Paper Color setting allows you to preview how your design will look on different background tones. Whether you’re simulating uncoated stock, off-white paper, or dark backgrounds, this gives you a more accurate on-screen representation of final output. It’s also helpful when you need to evaluate contrast or verify accessibility.

Variable Fonts

Variable Fonts provide granular control over weight, width, and slant—all from a single optimized font file. Instead of switching among multiple font instances, you can adjust typography continuously and precisely from one panel. This results in a smoother, more flexible typographic workflow.

Watch the Full Demo

I walk through each of these features step-by-step in my QuarkXPress 2026 video demo so you can see exactly how they work and how they can streamline your production process.

Need QuarkXPress Training or Mentoring?

If you’d like hands-on, instructor-led QuarkXPress training, I offer public and private classes through IconLogic:

👉 https://www.iconlogic.com/quarkxpress-training.html

Adobe continues to impress with each Captivate update, and one of the most exciting new additions to Captivate 13 is AI Image Generation. With this feature, you can now create unique, high-quality images right inside Captivate—no Photoshop, no stock photo sites, and no external AI tools required.

Generate Custom Images Instantly

Whether you need a new background, a realistic character, or an abstract concept image, simply describe what you want in plain English. Captivate’s built-in AI instantly generates visuals that match your description. You can refine your prompt to change the style, tone, or composition until you get exactly what you need.

This capability is especially powerful for eLearning developers who often spend hours searching for just the right image. Now, you can create it on demand—right within your project.

Smarter, Faster eLearning Production

The AI Image Generation tool integrates seamlessly with Captivate’s interface. Once your image is generated, it’s immediately available for use in your slide. Combine it with Captivate’s other intelligent features—like the revamped timeline, responsive layout options, and built-in avatars—and you’ll be producing beautiful, engaging eLearning content faster than ever.

Watch the Demo

In my short video demo below, I show you exactly how the new AI Image Generation feature works, step by step. You’ll see how easy it is to go from a simple text prompt to a professional-quality image—without ever leaving Captivate.

Learn Captivate Live

If you’d like to go deeper with Captivate 13 and learn how to create modern, responsive eLearning projects efficiently, join me for my hands-on, instructor-led Adobe Captivate training. You’ll work alongside me in real time and walk away with practical, production-ready skills.

👉 https://www.iconlogic.com/adobe-captivate-training.html

If you’ve been exploring the reimagined Adobe Captivate 13, you’ve likely noticed how much faster and more intuitive the interface has become. But one of the most exciting improvements lies in three powerful new features that make it easier than ever to transform a PowerPoint deck into an engaging, narrated eLearning course.

In my latest video, I demonstrate how Captivate 13 lets you:

1. Import PowerPoint Presentations Effortlessly

Gone are the days of struggling with compatibility or losing animations. Captivate 13 allows you to import your PowerPoint slides directly—keeping your layouts, text, and visuals intact. This feature alone can save hours of production time, especially if your existing training materials already live in PowerPoint.

2. Add Avatars to Enhance Learner Engagement

Once your slides are in Captivate, you can instantly humanize your lessons by adding avatars. Whether you’re creating onboarding modules, compliance training, or product demos, avatars provide a friendly face that helps guide learners through content and keeps them focused on key messages.

3. Convert PowerPoint Notes into Voice-Over Audio

This might be my favorite new feature. Captivate 13 can automatically turn your PowerPoint speaker notes into voice-over narration—no recording required. You can choose from multiple built-in voices or easily tweak your narration script right inside the app. This automation not only speeds up development but also ensures consistency across projects.

Together, these three tools make Captivate 13 an even stronger solution for anyone building professional-quality eLearning. Whether you’re new to Captivate or a seasoned user, these updates help you work smarter—not harder.

🎥 Watch my video demonstration below

Do you need Captivate training or mentoring?

Join me for my hands-on, instructor-led Adobe Captivate training, where you’ll learn step-by-step how to create interactive, accessible, and visually stunning eLearning projects:
https://www.iconlogic.com/adobe-captivate-training.html

The definitive book supporting Adobe Captivate 13 and newer is on the way.

Hottest new features in this version:

• Generative AI
• Avatars
• Shapes
• MS PowerPoint Import

Easily Add Slide Interactivity with This Often-Overlooked Tool

If you want to draw attention to specific parts of an image in your eLearning project, the Zoom Picture feature in Articulate Storyline 360 makes it fast and easy. This built-in tool lets you create a simple zoom-in/zoom-out effect that helps learners focus on key details—no triggers or complex animations required.

Adding a Zoom Picture

To add a Zoom Picture to your slide:

1. Insert an image onto your slide.
2. Select the image.
3. On the Picture Tools Format tab, click Zoom Picture.

When previewed, the image will zoom in when clicked and return to its original size when clicked again.

This feature is perfect for screenshots, diagrams, and graphics where you want to let learners explore finer details without cluttering your slide.

Previewing the Effect

After adding the Zoom Picture, preview your project to see it in action. During playback, learners can click to zoom in on the image and click again to zoom back out. It’s a simple effect that adds a layer of interactivity and engagement to your eLearning content.

When to Use Zoom Picture

Use the Zoom Picture feature when you want to:

• Highlight a specific area within an image or screenshot
• Encourage learner exploration without extra navigation
• Add subtle interactivity to visual-heavy slides

It’s especially effective for software simulations, product tours, and process overviews where clarity and focus are key.

Here’s a quick video I created that demonstrates the Zoom Picture feature:

Learn More

To take your Storyline skills even further, enroll in our Articulate Storyline 360 vILT course:
https://www.iconlogic.com/articulate-storyline-360-certificate.html

Dickens once wrote, “It is a far, far better quiz that I write, than I have ever written before.”

Okay, fine. Dickens never wrote that. To set the record straight, he wrote: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

When I teach my eLearning classes, a common question is, “How many quiz questions should I include per minute of course content?” 

It’s a fair question, and while there’s no single formula, recent research provides clear guidance on how quiz frequency, quality, and placement affect learner outcomes.

Why Quiz Frequency Matters

Quizzes aren’t just a way to measure knowledge — they’re a way to strengthen it. By prompting learners to retrieve information, quizzes reinforce retention and help keep attention on track.

• Chan et al. (2025) found that inserting quizzes directly within online lectures improved learning outcomes for community college and university students. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965562/
• Knopps et al. (2023) reported that collaborative retrieval practice — learners answering quiz questions together — reduced mind-wandering and increased sustained focus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10929687/

Both studies highlight that quizzes aren’t interruptions — they’re active learning tools.

A Practical Rule of Thumb

When my clients ask for specifics, I recommend about one quiz question every 2–5 minutes of eLearning content. This pacing gives learners enough time to process information before being asked to retrieve it.

• Short modules (under 10 minutes): 1–2 targeted questions at the end may be enough.
• Longer modules (15–30 minutes): Break the lesson into smaller segments, each followed by a quick knowledge check.
• Complex or technical content: Use a higher density — closer to one question every 2 minutes.

This guidance aligns with Kim, Carozza & Sandford (2024), who showed that the frequency of quizzes and the accuracy of learner responses were strong predictors of final grades in online courses. https://osotl.org/osotl/article/view/82/139

Frequency, Stakes, and Quality

But frequency isn’t the whole story. The stakes and quality of questions matter too.

• Bulut (2025) demonstrated that the impact of formative assessments depends on both how often they’re used and whether they’re mandatory or optional. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcal.13087
• Pitt & Huebner (2022) ran a semester-long randomized controlled trial (plus a follow-up cohort comparison) and found that adding repeated review questions/quizzes improved exam averages by about 10–12 percentage points, independent of class format. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279296

These findings reinforce that it’s not about piling on questions but designing meaningful, well-placed interactions.

Best Practices

When designing quizzes for eLearning, I suggest:

1. Align each question with a learning objective — no filler or trivia.
2. Mix up formats — use multiple choice, drag-and-drop, or scenario-based items.
3. Deliver immediate feedback — let learners know why their answer is correct or incorrect.
4. Distribute quizzes throughout modules — don’t save them all for the end.
5. Focus on quality and alignment — frequency matters, but well-crafted questions make the difference.

The Bottom Line

When participants in my classes ask about quiz frequency, I remind them there’s no perfect number. That said, research supports aiming for one well-designed question every 2–5 minutes of eLearning content, adjusting based on complexity and learner needs. Ultimately, the goal is not just to test — to keep learners engaged, reinforce retrieval, and boost long-term retention.

See also: Don’t Write Trick Quiz Questions.

Creating engaging eLearning is only half the battle—ensuring your content is accessible to all learners is just as important. Until recently, providing accessibility in Articulate Storyline 360 meant a lot of manual checks, external reviews, and guesswork.

Now, with the introduction of the Accessibility Checker, Storyline puts accessibility front and center in the authoring workflow.

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What Is the Accessibility Checker?

The Accessibility Checker is a built-in tool that scans your course for potential accessibility issues—things that could prevent learners using screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technologies from having a smooth experience.

It reviews your project and flags items such as:

• Missing alt text for images
• Unlabeled buttons and interactive elements
• Poor color contrast between text and backgrounds
• Slides without proper focus order
• Media without closed captions

Instead of exporting your course and relying on trial-and-error, you can now catch issues inside Storyline.

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How It Works

• Open the Accessibility Checker
  At the bottom left of the Storyline application window, click Accessibility Issues.

• Review Issues in a Panel
  Storyline displays a list of the accessibility issues in the project.

• Fix as You Go
  I noticed a single issue listed in the Level AA group. When I clicked the issue, Storyline alerted me that I needed to use Upgraded Project Text.

No problem! I clicked the Fix it for me button, and the issue was resolved.

I let AI help fix some accessibility issues by clicking Fix with AI. I was then prompted to review the captions I had added, etc. Other issues were manually remediated.

In the end, I was able to resolve all of the accessibility issues.

Why It Matters

The Accessibility Checker is more than a convenience—it’s a shift in mindset. Surfacing issues early encourages developers to think inclusively at every stage of their projects.

That means:

• Learners using screen readers get clear, descriptive content.
• Learners with low vision benefit from high-contrast, readable slides.
• Learners who are hard of hearing aren’t left behind on video content.

Ultimately, you’re not just meeting compliance (like WCAG 2.1 or Section 508)—you’re creating better learning experiences for everyone.

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to make your courses accessible, Storyline 360’s Accessibility Checker is a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t replace the need for human review, but it gives you an easy starting point and ensures you’re not overlooking common pitfalls.

Next time you publish a course, run the checker—you might be surprised at what it catches!

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👉 Pro Tip: Combine the Accessibility Checker with the new AI-powered captioning and alt text generation in Storyline 360 to speed up your workflow even further.

If you’ve ever powered through a long, text-dense eLearning module only to discover you’ve forgotten most of it an hour later, you’re not alone. The challenge isn’t just laziness—it’s human attention itself, which is under more strain now than ever.

The Shrinking Attention Span — What the Research Shows

Research shows that attention spans are declining, especially in digital environments. For example:

• A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that attention is increasingly difficult to sustain in the digital age, with learners particularly vulnerable to distraction during online tasks (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6430174/).
• A 2024 paper on mobile short-video use found a negative correlation between “short-video addiction” and executive control of attention, meaning more exposure to rapid content formats actually weakens the ability to focus (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11236742/).
• Research on college students’ use of short-form video reels showed that higher consumption was associated with shorter attention spans and lower academic performance (Haliti-Sylaj & Sadiku, 2024: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1454296.pdf).
• According to Northeastern University, the average time a person can focus on a single task has dropped from about 2.5 minutes in the early 2000s to just 45 seconds today (https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/01/23/decreasing-attention-span/).
• A classic Stanford study on media multitasking revealed that heavy multitaskers are slower to switch tasks and more likely to get distracted by irrelevant information (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_multitasking).

These studies clarify one point: sustained focus is more complex than ever. Asking adult learners to sit through an hour-long eLearning module filled with dense text sets them up for disengagement.

Why Long eLearning Fails

Traditional eLearning often mimics classroom lectures—long, linear, and overloaded with information. But in an online setting, this approach falls apart:

• Cognitive overload overwhelms working memory.
• Forgetting curves wipe away large portions of unreinforced content within days.
• Skimming and skipping replace genuine engagement.
• Attention fatigue leads to disengagement well before the module ends.

In short: longer isn’t better. It’s ineffective.

The Case for Short and Visual

Shorter, visually engaging modules respect the learner’s limited attention span. Microlearning—delivering content in small, focused lessons—gives learners manageable chunks they can absorb and apply immediately. Strategic visuals reduce cognitive load and keep the learner anchored.

Imagine watching a 90-minute lecture instead of three 10-minute videos combining narration, visuals, and a short quiz. The latter is not only more digestible but also more memorable.

Designing for Success

To meet learners where they are today:

• Break content into bite-sized lessons (5–10 minutes max).
• Use visuals strategically—infographics, compelling images that are tightly cropped for dramatic effect, iconography, and diagrams reinforce key ideas.
• Minimize text—opt for stories, scenarios, and examples instead.
• Incorporate interaction—quizzes, drag-and-drops, or branching to keep learners active.
• Design mobile-first—short bursts of learning often happen on the go.

Final Thoughts

Attention spans may be shrinking, but learning outcomes don’t have to. Organizations can create training that learners finish, retain, and apply by embracing shorter, sharper, and more visually engaging eLearning.

I tend to cover these concepts during my training classes. If you’re seeking an eLearning audit or training on Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, or TechSmith Camtasia, check out my courses and mentoring options at www.iconlogic.com.