The updated book adds practical, hands-on content focused on features developers are asking about right now:
Upgrade Your Classic Projects If you’ve got legacy content, you don’t have to start over. New lessons walk you through how to bring Captivate Classic projects into the new Captivate, so you can reuse what you’ve already built and modernize your workflow.
Master the New Slider Widget The slider widget opens the door to interactive surveys and learner input. The new content shows you exactly how it works, how to configure it, and how to use it effectively in real-world projects.
Bonus: Branding Blocks Activities Consistency matters. The book now includes bonus, hands-on activities that teach you how to use branding blocks to add headers, footers, and a polished, consistent look across your project.
Same Project-Based Learning—With the Latest Features Built In
If you’ve used my books before, you know the approach: no fluff, no theory overload—just step-by-step, project-based learning.
You’ll still build a complete, real-world project from the ground up while learning how the new features fit into your workflow. The difference is that now, everything is aligned with Captivate 13.1.
You’ve already built the project. The question is: can you use it in Captivate 13.1 without rebuilding everything?
The short answer: yes—but expect some cleanup.
If you’re importing Adobe Captivate Classic (CpC) projects into Captivate 13.1, two things will almost always need your attention: click boxes and fonts. Handle those correctly, and you’ll save hours (or days) of redevelopment.
What to Expect During Import
The import process itself is straightforward. Open Captivate 13.1 and import your CpC project.
Here’s what typically comes through without issue:
Slide structure
Images and most visual assets
Text content (though not always styled correctly)
Where things get challenging is interactivity and formatting.
Fix #1: Replacing Click Box Functionality
Click boxes don’t translate cleanly into Captivate 13.1. After import, you may notice:
Interactions that no longer respond
Navigation that’s broken
Invisible or non-functional clickable areas
The Fix
Rebuild those interactions using supported objects:
Replace click boxes with buttons or interactive components
Reassign actions (Next Slide, Jump to Slide, Show/Hide, etc.)
Reconnect any logic tied to the original interaction
This step is manual, but it’s also a chance to simplify and modernize your design.
Fix #2: Updating Fonts Project-Wide
Font issues are common after import and can make your project look inconsistent.
What You’ll See
Fonts that don’t work as expected
Mismatched text styles
Layout shifts caused by font changes
The Fix
Update fonts globally instead of slide by slide:
Select a standard font for the project
Apply it across all slides
Review headings, captions, and interactive text for consistency
A quick global update can dramatically improve the final look.
Want to see the process?
Here’s a YouTube video that demonstrates the import process from Adobe Captivate Classic to Adobe Captivate.
Bottom Line
You don’t need to rebuild your Captivate Classic projects from scratch—but you do need a plan.
Focus on:
Replacing click box interactions
Standardizing fonts
Do that, and your legacy content can transition cleanly into Captivate 13.1.
Ready to Work Faster in Captivate?
If you’re using Captivate regularly, hands-on training can dramatically shorten your development time and improve your output.
If you’re the person on your team who knows Captivate Classic inside and out, you’ve probably earned that reputation the hard way. You’ve learned the quirks, solved the weird issues, and figured out how to get projects across the finish line even when the tool made things harder than they needed to be.
Now you’re looking at the new version of Adobe Captivate and wondering:
Should I upgrade?
How hard will this be?
What happens to my Captivate Classic projects? (Will I need to redo them?)
How do I convince management that leaving Classic for the new Captivate is the right move?
Those are exactly the right questions — and the good news is, the answers are better than most people expect.
First, yes — I strongly encourage the move from Captivate Classic (CpC) to Adobe Captivate (Cp13).
Captivate Classic had a long, successful run, but it’s clearly legacy software now. Captivate 13 is where active development is happening, especially around modern device compatibility and streamlined workflows. Adobe has also indicated that an upgrade path from Classic is planned, and I’m hopeful we’ll see meaningful progress on that this year. That’s a strong signal about long-term direction.
The next concern is usually difficulty. This is where teams are genuinely surprised.
Captivate 13 is far easier to use than Captivate Classic.
The interface is cleaner. Workflows are more logical. There’s less digging through panels and fewer “why is this so complicated?” moments. Tasks that once required deep Classic knowledge now feel more straightforward. Instead of wrestling with settings, you spend more time actually building learning experiences. That’s not just a usability win — it’s a productivity and morale win.
So how do you move forward without creating fear or disruption?
The most effective approach is not a big, dramatic cutover. It’s a smart, phased shift:
Keep maintaining legacy projects in Classic. There’s no need to disrupt what already works.
Start all new projects in Captivate 13. This prevents your Classic backlog from growing.
Choose one pilot project. Pick something important but low risk, and use it to build internal familiarity and standards.
Share the results. When others see smoother workflows and faster development, resistance tends to fade on its own.
That’s also how you make your case to management. This isn’t about chasing shiny new features. It’s about reducing risk long term, improving compatibility, and making your development team more efficient. When the tool is easier to use, projects move faster, and developers spend less time troubleshooting.
One important mindset shift: don’t try to force Cp13 to behave like Classic. It’s a different tool with a different design philosophy. The people who struggle are the ones trying to recreate old habits. The people who level up are the ones who learn the new workflow and lean into it.
That’s where confidence comes from — and that’s what turns someone into the go-to expert on a team.
Cp13 makes the tool easier. Learning how to use it efficiently is what really accelerates your growth. When you understand the workflow, structure, and design approach behind Cp13, you build faster, experiment more, and look like you’ve been using it for years.
If you want to shorten that learning curve and step into that role more quickly, my live, project-based Captivate training is built specifically to help developers make this transition smoothly and confidently.
If you create training videos, you already know the pain: you record your narration, build the entire video, and then discover the audio problems—background noise, static, uneven levels, or a line you flubbed. Re-recording the voiceover feels like starting over. That’s exactly why TechSmith Audiate is such a game-changer. It lets you fix (or even replace) narration by editing text—quickly, cleanly, and without re-recording—with the added benefit of switching to a different voice or even generating the same narration in a different language altogether.
Audiate allows you to edit narration the same way you’d edit a Word document. And now, with its AI features, you can take things much further: replace existing voiceover audio with AI narration, localize your audio by translating it into another language, and even add an avatar—then sync everything back into Camtasia.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the workflow.
Important note: Audiate is only available if you have a Camtasia Pro subscription or if you purchase Audiate as a standalone application.
Why This Workflow Matters
This isn’t just “cool tech.” It’s a legitimate production shortcut for anyone building:
eLearning and training videos
software demos
onboarding content
marketing or explainer videos
localized versions of existing content
Instead of recording new narration for every change (or every language), Audiate gives you a workflow that is faster, cleaner, and surprisingly easy.
Step 1: Start Your Project in Camtasia
Begin in Camtasia by creating a new project and recording or importing your audio narration.
Most of us do this as part of our normal process:
record narration
adjust pacing
add visuals
add callouts, animations, zooms, etc.
Once you have your audio on the timeline, you’re ready to send it to Audiate.
Step 2: Edit the Audio in Audiate (Text-Based Editing)
From Camtasia, send your audio to Audiate.
When Audiate opens, your narration appears as text—and this is where the magic starts.
You can edit your audio by editing the words:
delete filler words (“um,” “uh,” “you know”)
remove awkward pauses
fix mistakes
tighten up phrasing
Audiate automatically updates the audio as you edit the transcript.
Tip: This alone makes Audiate worth learning. It’s one of the fastest ways to clean up narration.
Step 3: Replace Your Voiceover with AI Audio
Now for the fun part.
Instead of using the original narration, you can replace it with AI-generated audio. This is incredibly useful when:
you don’t like how the voiceover turned out
your recording quality isn’t great
you need consistency across multiple videos
you’re revising old content without re-recording
Choose an AI voice, apply it to your script, and Audiate generates new narration—clean, consistent, and professional.
Step 4: Localize the Narration (Translate to a Different Language)
Once your script is in Audiate, localization is simple.
Audiate can translate the narration into another language and generate audio to match. That means you can create localized output without:
hiring translators and voice talent
recording separate audio sessions
rebuilding your Camtasia timeline from scratch
This is especially useful if your organization supports a global audience and you want the same content available in multiple languages.
Step 5: Add an AI Avatar
Audiate also gives you the ability to add an avatar. An avatar is an AI-generated on-screen presenter—a realistic “talking head” video that speaks your narration. Instead of filming yourself (or hiring talent), Audiate can generate a presenter that delivers your script automatically, with natural lip-sync and expressions. It’s an easy way to add a human presence to your training video—especially useful when you’re creating localized versions in multiple languages.
If you’re creating training or educational content, avatars can be an excellent way to:
increase viewer engagement
provide a “human presence” on screen
make localized content feel more natural
create consistent on-camera delivery without filming
Pick an avatar style, generate the avatar video, and Audiate produces a video clip that matches the narration.
Step 6: Sync Back to Camtasia
Once your audio (and avatar) are ready, sync the updated content back into Camtasia.
This workflow is especially powerful because you don’t lose your Camtasia production work—you simply swap the improved narration/video back into the project.
Final Thoughts
Audiate has quickly become one of the most exciting tools in the TechSmith ecosystem because it solves real production problems:
It saves time
It reduces rework
It makes revisions painless
It enables localization and avatars without a massive workflow change
If you create videos for training or eLearning, Audiate isn’t just “nice to have.” It can fundamentally improve the way you build content.
✅ Check out my YouTube video that demonstrates Audiate in less than 5 minutes.
Want Hands-On Camtasia Training?
If you’d like live, instructor-led training (or private mentoring), I offer Camtasia training classes designed for real-world production and professional-level results.
When it comes to accessible eLearning, tab order is one of those features that’s absolutely critical—and frequently misunderstood. If learners rely on a keyboard or assistive technology to navigate your course, the tab order determines the sequence in which interactive objects receive focus. If that order is wrong, the learner experience quickly breaks down.
In Adobe Captivate, tab order controls how buttons, click boxes, text entry fields, and other interactive elements are accessed when learners press the Tab key. Captivate does a reasonable job assigning a default order, but that order is not always logical—especially on complex slides or slides imported from PowerPoint. Reviewing and adjusting tab order is therefore an essential step in building accessible, professional-quality courses.
In this post, I focus on helping you understand what tab order is, why it matters, and how to approach it thoughtfully so learners experience your content in the intended sequence.
Watch the Video: Adobe Captivate Tab Order Explained
I’ve created a short video that walks through tab order in Captivate and explains what you need to know to manage it effectively. If you’ve ever wondered why certain objects appear inaccessible—or why keyboard navigation feels “off”—this video will help clarify what’s going on behind the scenes.
👉 Watch the video on YouTube:
Why Tab Order Matters
Accessibility isn’t just about checking a compliance box. It’s about making sure all learners can successfully complete your course. A logical tab order helps learners:
Navigate interactive content efficiently
Understand the intended flow of information
Avoid confusion and frustration when using a keyboard or screen reader
Ignoring tab order can result in skipped objects, confusing navigation, or interactions being accessed in an order that makes no instructional sense.
Need Help with Adobe Captivate?
If you’d like to go deeper than a single video or blog post, I offer live, instructor-led Adobe Captivate training for individuals and teams. My training is hands-on, project-based, and tailored to your real-world content—not canned examples.
Whether you’re focused on accessibility, interactivity, or building better Captivate projects overall, I’ll help you get there faster and with fewer headaches.
Layers are one of the most important organizational tools in QuarkXPress, especially as layouts become more complex. By using layers, you can separate background elements from editable content, protect finished artwork, and control what appears—or prints—on a page. Instead of managing objects one at a time, layers allow you to manage groups of items together.
What Are Layers?
A layer is a container that holds items such as text boxes, pictures, shapes, and lines. Layers stack on top of one another, much like transparent sheets. Each layer can be shown or hidden, locked or unlocked, and configured to print or not print. This makes layers ideal for organizing content and preventing accidental edits.
Opening the Layers Palette
To work with layers, choose Window > Layers. The Layers palette displays every layer in the project along with controls for visibility, locking, and output. This palette becomes the central control point for managing how content is organized on your layout.
Creating a New Layer
To create a layer, open the Layers palette and click the New Layer button. Give the layer a meaningful name, such as Background, Text, or Notes. Clear naming is essential, particularly when working on long documents or sharing files with others.
Adding Items to a Layer
Items are created on the currently selected layer. You can also move existing items to a different layer at any time. To do this, select the item on the layout, open the Layers palette menu, choose Move Item to Layer, and select the destination layer. Once moved, the item is fully controlled by that layer’s settings.
Locking and Hiding Layers
Locking a layer prevents its items from being selected or edited, while hiding a layer temporarily removes all of its items from view. These features are especially useful for background images, guides, or finalized design elements that should not be modified during normal editing.
Controlling Output with Layers
Layers can also control output. You can place notes or instructions on a layer that does not print, suppress output for an entire group of items, or manage alternate content without deleting anything. Adjusting output at the layer level is faster and safer than changing settings item by item.
Best Practices for Using Layers
For best results, create layers early in a project and use them consistently. Keep background elements on their own layer, lock layers once content is finalized, and maintain a dedicated notes layer for internal comments or reminders. These habits reduce errors and speed up production.
Final Thoughts
Layers make complex layouts easier to build, edit, and maintain. By grouping items, protecting finished content, and controlling output at the layer level, you can work more efficiently and with greater confidence in QuarkXPress.
Check out my video where I demonstrate QuarkXPress layers.
Looking for QuarkXPress Training?
If you’d like to go beyond tips and shortcuts and really master QuarkXPress, I offer private, instructor-led training tailored to your specific workflow. Whether you’re working in publishing, marketing, technical documentation, or long-document production, I customize each session to focus on the features and techniques you actually use—including layers, styles, automation, and layout efficiency.
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:
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.
