Multimedia authoring is the process of creating multimedia applications by assembling content of different elements such as graphics, animation, text, audio, and video.
It involves organizing and editing the elements, creating user interfaces, and designing interactivity.
Multimedia Authoring Tools
Multimedia authoring tools provide an integrated environment to join various elements together.
They offer a framework for organizing and editing elements, creating user interfaces, and designing interactivity.
Classification of Authoring Tools
Authoring tools are classified based on the style in which the multimedia presentation is created.
The three main types are:
Time-based authoring tools
Card-based authoring tools
Icon-based authoring tools
Time-Based Authoring Tools
Example: Macromedia Flash.
Allows developers to organize elements and events along a defined timeline.
Uses a movie metaphor, where the application starts to play until an action causes it to pause or stop.
Allows branching to different parts of the application and supports interactivity.
Suitable for creating animations.
Card-Based Authoring Tools
Example: PowerPoint.
Allows developers to organize elements and events as pages of a book or a stack of cards.
Uses a card stack metaphor, where each card contains different elements and cards are interrelated.
Allows jumping from card to card within the stack.
Icon-Based Authoring Tools
Example: Macromedia Authorware.
Allows developers to organize elements and events as icons/symbols in a flowchart.
Uses a flow-control metaphor, where each icon or symbol represents a particular event and performs a specific task.
For example, a Wait icon stops the process until the user responds via mouse or keyboard.
Icons are linked together to form a complete application.
Basic Features of Authoring Tools
Editing and Organizing Features
Programming Features
Interactivity Features
Playback Features
Cross-Platform Features
Internet Playability Features
Editing and Organizing Features
Creating and editing elements.
Visual flowcharting.
Programming Features
Visual programming.
Programming with scripting languages.
Interactivity Features
Providing controls for end users.
Simple branching and conditional branching (If-Then).
Playback Features
Allowing instant testing with playback.
Cross-Platform Features
Tools should facilitate easy transfer across platforms, particularly Mac and Windows.
Internet Playability Features
Providing means to convert output that can be delivered within the context of HTML.
Multimedia Editing Tools
Graphics Editing Tools
Animation Editing Tools
Text Editing Tools
Audio Editing Tools
Video Editing Tools
Graphics Editing Tools
Image Editor
Used to create and edit bitmap/raster graphics.
Example: Adobe Photoshop.
Drawing Program
Used to create and edit vector graphics.
Example: Adobe Illustrator.
Animation Editing Tools
Animation software allows for the creation of motion on a frame-by-frame basis.
Rendering may take longer on ordinary computers for advanced animation.
Examples of animation software: Adobe Flash, Macromedia Flash.
Text Editing Tools
Text Editor
Used to work with plain text without formatting.
Example: Notepad, Notepad++.
Word Processor
Used to compose, edit, format, and print text and other media.
Example: WordPad, MS Word.
Audio Editing Tools
Audio editors allow users to:
Record audio and store it as digital audio.
Mix multiple sound sources/tracks.
Apply simple or advanced effects or filters.
Convert between audio file formats.
Examples of audio editors: Adobe Audition, Audacity.
Video Editing Tools
Video editors are used to edit and assemble recorded raw materials (footage, sound, and graphics) into a finished product.
Examples of video editors: Adobe Premiere, Windows Movie Maker.