adobe captivate – The Logical Blog

September 9, 2025

Adobe Captivate: How to Use the Certificate Widget

One of the most common requests I hear from eLearning developers is, “Can I automatically provide learners with a certificate once they’ve completed my Captivate project?” The good news is—yes, you can! Adobe Captivate includes a Certificate Widget that makes it easy to recognize learner achievement with a polished, professional-looking certificate.

Why Use a Certificate?

Certificates give learners a sense of accomplishment, especially when completing compliance courses, corporate training, or skills-based modules. They’re also helpful for organizations that want to document training completion.

When to Use the Certificate Widget

If you publish your project to a web server or other non-LMS environment, the Certificate Widget is an excellent option for providing learners with proof of completion.

However, most platforms already offer built-in certificate functionality if your content is hosted on an LMS (Learning Management System). In those cases, using your LMS certificate feature instead of Captivate’s widget is usually better—this ensures tighter integration with completion tracking and reporting.

Adding a Certificate in Captivate

Here’s how to set it up:

Insert the Certificate Widget
- On the left toolbar, click the Widget icon.
- Select Certificate from the widget options.
- The certificate block will be added to your slide.
Customize Certificate Visual Properties
- With the certificate block selected, select the Visual Properties panel on the right.
- Choose from the available certificate designs.
- Update placeholder fields for learner name, course title, completion date, and signature.
- Adjust fonts and colors to better align with your branding.
Preview and Publish
- Preview your project to confirm the certificate looks correct.
- If you’re publishing to an LMS, test to ensure learner details (such as name and completion date) are displayed properly.

Best Practices

Only rely on the widget if you’re not using an LMS. For LMS-hosted courses, use the platform’s certificate feature whenever possible.
Keep the certificate design professional and straightforward.
Test your project thoroughly in the environment where learners will access it.
Use the built-in layouts as a foundation and apply branding updates through the Visual Properties panel.

Here’s a video I created that demonstrates the process of adding and formatting a certificate widget.

Final Thoughts

The Certificate Widget in Adobe Captivate provides a quick, no-code way to reward learners with proof of completion—especially when publishing to a web server or other non-LMS environment. For LMS-based courses, it’s usually better to let your LMS handle certificates so they’re fully integrated with your reporting system.

Need More Help with Captivate?

I offer live, project-based Adobe Captivate training and 1:1 mentoring for teams and individuals. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to master advanced features, I can help.

July 8, 2025

Adobe Captivate: Web Objects

If you want to make your eLearning content more dynamic and engaging, Adobe Captivate's Web Object feature is a powerful tool worth exploring. A Web Object allows you to embed external content directly into your Captivate project, integrating live web-based materials like websites, videos, maps, dashboards, and interactive widgets without inflating your project file size.

One of the biggest advantages of using Web Objects in Adobe Captivate is keeping your content current without republishing the course. For example, if your training references a company policy page or a frequently changing knowledge base, embedding it as a Web Object ensures learners always see the latest version. This is ideal for responsive eLearning development, where agility and up-to-date content are essential.

Web Objects also enable you to bring in content and interactivity that Captivate can’t natively create. Want to add a Google Form, a live YouTube video, or an HTML5 calculator built with JavaScript? With a Web Object, you can seamlessly include these components inside your Captivate slides. This can be a game-changer for interactive eLearning design, giving learners hands-on engagement with tools and platforms they’ll use.

In addition to improving interactivity, using Web Objects helps optimize your course performance. Because you're linking to externally hosted content rather than importing large media files, your Adobe Captivate project remains lightweight, which reduces loading times and improves the learner experience, especially on mobile devices or slower connections.

However, it’s important to understand when a Web Object might not be the right fit. Since the content is hosted externally, learners must be connected to the internet. Also, SCORM or xAPI tracking doesn’t extend to Web Objects, meaning you won’t be able to track user interactions within the embedded content unless you implement custom solutions. Additionally, browser and LMS compatibility may vary depending on the content you’re embedding.

Despite these limitations, embedding external content in eLearning using Web Objects offers tremendous flexibility. Whether linking to real-time dashboards, embedding secure intranet portals, or simply including a video hosted on Vimeo or YouTube, Web Objects provide a simple yet effective way to enhance your courses without adding complexity or bloat.

In conclusion, if you're an instructional designer, developer, or trainer looking to create engaging and scalable eLearning, Adobe Captivate’s Web Object feature can help you build modern, interactive courses that remain current and lightweight—an essential combination in today’s fast-paced training environment.

Here's a video I created that shows web objects in action.

If you need Adobe Captivate support, I offer training, mentoring, and development support.

I have a top-selling Captivate course on Udemy if you'd like training on demand.

May 9, 2025

Adobe Captivate 2025: Interactive Videos

In this Adobe Captivate 2025 (version 12.6) tutorial, you’ll learn how to create an interactive video that displays knowledge check questions as overlays—going far beyond a traditional play-and-pause video.

You’ll see how to add and configure knowledge checks, insert bookmarks at key points in the video, and trigger actions that display those questions as overlays when a bookmark is reached. You'll also learn how to use an action to resume the video timeline after the learner interacts.

This technique helps keep learners engaged while reinforcing key concepts without disrupting the flow of the video.

If you need help with Adobe Captivate, I offer public vILT classes and one-on-one mentoring.

Also, check out my Adobe Captivate 2025 course on Udemy.

February 14, 2025

Adobe Captivate 12: Auto-Advance Slides

In older versions of Adobe Captivate, slides automatically advanced from one to the next. If you wanted a slide to pause for learner engagement, you had to add an interactive component, such as a button or click box. This version of Captivate is as different from Captivate Classic as night is from day.

To make a Captivate 12 slide auto-advance, add a bookmark to the Timeline and set its action to go to the next slide.

This short video demonstrates the process.

If you need Adobe Captivate training, mentoring, or development support, we can help.

May 6, 2024

Adobe Captivate 12.3: Image Editing Improvements

The 12.3 update Adobe made to Adobe Captivate now provides some helpful image editing features. You learn how to add images to a project early on the first day of my two-day Adobe Captivate training class,

Once you have added an image to a slide, you can change the image focus and crop it via a single screen. What I love about the editing enhancements is that you can see how the edit will appear in multiple views without first having to close the editing screen and preview it in the browser.

To change the image focus, select the Visual Properties panel.

To the right of the Image drop-down menu, click the Edit icon to open the Edit Image options.

From the Image Focus area, select an alignment.

The three previews at the right provide a helpful indication of how the edit will appear on multiple displays.

To crop a Captivate image, at the left side of the Edit image screen, drag one of the corner circles a few inches

The preview area will show you how the cropped image will appear in the different screen sizes.

When finished, click the Save button.

Note: Once you have Adobe Captivate 12 installed on your computer, updates are free. To get the 12.3 update, go to the Help menu and click Check for Updates.

Looking for training or mentoring? I'm just an email away if you need help using Adobe Captivate or Adobe Captivate Classic.

April 25, 2024

Adobe Captivate 12.3: Hip hip hooray for Closed Caption Imports!

Closed captions support hearing-impaired learners by displaying text synchronized with the slide and/or video audio onscreen. Once the closed captions have been added to the Captivate project, learners click a CC button on the Playbar to display them.

On the first day of my two-day Adobe Captivate training class, I teach how to add closed captions to a project manually. This ability has existed in Captivate for years. What wasn't possible was importing the closed captions. I'm happy to report that in Captivate 12.3, you can now import caption files (SRT files). This awesome feature will save you hours of labor.

An SRT is a raw closed caption file containing the text from an audio or video file and the audio timing. Websites like REV (rev.com) allow you to upload audio and video files and receive downloadable SRT files for as little as $1.50 per minute of audio. You import the SRTs into Captivate, and, like magic, your captioning work is done.

Here is an example of an SRT that I added to a video in my project. Notice the time stamps that have been added to the file. You do not need to know how to add these time stamps; they are added automatically when the SRT file is created.

To import the SRT file, select a slide video, or if the audio has been added to the slide, click the Audio icon at the right of the Captivate window.

Click the Import Captions button, open the SRT file, and… you're done!

If you need Captivate support, help is just an email away.

April 18, 2024

Adobe Captivate 12.3: Share for Review

The Share for Review feature is one of the more compelling enhancements in the recently released 12.3 update for Captivate 12. Project stakeholders can now add slide-by-slide comments to your slides in one central location. Reviewers do not need to own Captivate or know how to use it. The review interface is clean and very intuitive.

To begin, ensure you're using the 12.3 build. You can get the free update by choosing Help > Check for Updates.

Create or open a project, and then click the Share for review icon at the lower right of the Captivate window.

You can accept or customize the default Title in the Share For Review screen. For instance, you might want to add a date or version number to the title. Otherwise, click the Create review button.

The project is published to a secure Adobe server.

From the Access type drop-down menu, you can choose between making your review Public (anyone with the link can access the review project) or Private (only people you invite can see the review project).

Invite people to the review by clicking Invite people and adding email addresses as appropriate.

Here is a sample email that your reviewers will receive once you click the Invite to view button:

Reviewers click the Open Review button and are taken to the project review screen. As mentioned, reviewers do not need Captivate or any special software to participate in the review process.

Once the review window is open, team members can add comments slide-by-slide.

What I like about the review feature is that people can add comments for each preview mode. In the image above, I added a comment in the Desktop view. I switched to tablet mode in the image below and added a comment.

As issues are resolved in Captivate, the developer clicks the Update review button, and the updated project is uploaded to the server. You do not need to create a new review; just let reviewers know an update is available.

Are you looking for Adobe Captivate mentoring or Adobe Captivate training? We offer one-on-one sessions, a step-by-step workbook, and private classes. And we love a classic. If you're still using Adobe Captivate Classic, we offer training and support on that version as well. Email me directly for more information.

January 16, 2024

Adobe Captivate: Export and Import Themes

Themes in Adobe Captivate 12 allow you to control such project attributes as colors, fonts, image presets, slide background colors, and UI components, including buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, input fields, and drop-downs.

You can edit a project's existing theme, export the settings, and import the theme into any Adobe Captivate 12.2 (or newer) project.

To begin, click the Project properties icon from the lower right of the Captivate window.

Click the Edit Theme button.

Select a category (such as Color Palette) from the left side of the Themes window.

Once you have finished editing the categories, click Export. You can save the file anywhere, even a network resource.

To use the exported theme in a new Captivate project, click the Project properties icon and then click Import.

Your theme is now available for use. Click the Change Theme button on the Project properties screen and select the imported theme. You can select the imported theme as the default theme by clicking the three dots and choosing Set as default.

If you're looking for Adobe Captivate 12 training, we've got you covered with this hands-on, project based vILT Captivate course.

November 12, 2023

Free eLearning calculator helps determine your development effort

One of the most common questions we hear during our live, online eLearning classes is, "How long does it typically take to create eLearning using Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, or TechSmith Camtasia?"

The answer depends upon several factors:

what is the total playtime for the course (in minutes)?
how much voiceover audio will there be (in minutes)?
what is your comfort level using the development tool?
how much access do you have to media such as images and videos?
how much interactivity will you have in the training?
how much help do you have?
is the training teaching a life skill, a software simulation, or a video demo?

We've created a calculator to help you estimate the effort necessary to develop eLearning content.

August 21, 2023

eLearning and Copyright: Are You at Risk?

Online training is more popular than ever. With powerful development tools such as Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, TechSmith Camtasia, Adobe Captivate, and Lectora, it’s never been easier to create relevant, highly interactive, and visually stunning eLearning.

Regarding the visually stunning part of eLearning… adding compelling images and videos to your training is a great idea. But where are you going to get those assets? A quick search on the internet finds this great image of Mickey Mouse. Another search finds a cute cat video that will add the perfect amount of humor to your module. The online options are endless, and the assets are easy to download and import into your project.

You publish and upload the project to your web server or Learning Management System. Along with the kudos from your learners comes a cease-and-desist letter from the lawyers at Disney. Worse, that cat video gets you sued for significant money. Even worse? You have to pay the fine, and it's painful.

According to copyright.gov, “anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner, that amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed.”

Let those numbers sink in for a moment… $30,000… $150,000…

As the boundaries between traditional and online education continue to blur, educators and institutions face unique challenges and opportunities to ensure that their eLearning content is effective and legally compliant. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of copyright law within the context of eLearning, enabling you to confidently create, distribute, and use digital educational materials while respecting the rights of content creators.

Give us 90 minutes, and we've got you covered!

Learn more about copyright as it pertains to training and eLearning during this 90-minute, live, instructor-led course. Throughout the course, we will explore key copyright concepts such as the fundamentals, fair use and its application in eLearning, open educational resources, licensing models, and strategies for obtaining proper permissions. We will also delve into real-world scenarios and case studies, providing practical insights to inform your eLearning endeavors.

Who Should Attend?

eLearning developers
Technical communicators
Educators
Instructional designers
Training managers
Trainers
Administrators