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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do ViewDos automatically get posted to the site?


A: No, every ViewDo is reviewed before it's posted. We try to post new ViewDos within 24 hours of being submitted. If it's taking longer then we are likely experiencing high ViewDo volume, please be patient and we'll make it live as soon as we can.



Q: What are your criteria when reviewing a ViewDo?


A: Most importantly we want ViewDos that teach our users something new. We prefer them to follow a repeatable series of steps to accomplish a specific task. We don't want the ViewDos to simply show off what you can do. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who's learning it for the first time and walk them through it.

We will not post ViewDos that are in violation of our Terms of Use.



Q: What makes a good ViewDo?


A: There are six keys to making a good ViewDo:


  • LIGHTING
    Can't emphasize this enough. You've all seen how dark and grainy a ViewDo can look in low light. The #1 thing you can do to improve any ViewDo is to properly light the scene. What this means is getting some extra light on your subject. Often a desk lamp or reading lamp is sufficient. It is very hard to have too much light, especially indoors. Consider it just like taking a photo, cast light on to your subject from the same direction you're shooting. Be mindful of shadows and hotspots. Florescent lights are the best at giving you a consistent diffused light, and of course your best source of light in general is the sun. When outdoors avoid shooting in partial sun/shadow. This tends to create some extemely harsh contrast making half the ViewDo look "blown out" (too much light, oversaturated) and the other half too dark. Believe it or not, overcast days are best for a consistent diffuse light.

  • HAVE A PLAN!
    Most of us are not good at improvising. There's always stuff we forget to say and we add a bunch of uhhhs and ummms. By just spending 5-10 minutes planning your shots and what your actors are going to say you will save HOURS of time editing later. Trust me on this. Don't learn the hard way. Wading through footage for the best takes is always the most time consuming part of the production process. Write a script, do storyboards, have your little sister work the clapboard. A little organization goes A LONG way toward saving you time and frustration.

  • BE DETAILED
    Keep in mind ViewDos are often viewed on smaller screens so it's really important to use that zoom and get the camera in tight on your hands or wherever the detail may be. Have fun and show yourself if you want, but remember your audience wants to learn how to do it too and they need to be able to see what you're doing.

  • THE TRIPOD IS YOUR FRIEND
    Next to lighting this is the next most important thing that goes toward making your production look clean and professional. Jittery camerawork can really turn the viewer off. You may have some great content, but no one will want to see it if it makes them sick. Tripods are cheap and you can usually use the same one for your still camera. Trust me, it's a worthwhile investment.

  • DONT FORGET THE AUDIO!
    You don't need a boom mic operator and an entire sound team to get decent audio. Things like shotgun mics and wireless lavalier mics are always nice, but not always practical. If you're using your camera's built in mics make sure you do a quick sound test to be sure it's picking up your voice okay. If it's not, move the camera closer and re-work the shot. Be aware of ambient noise. Traffic and lawnmowers in the background can be quite annoying to the viewer and turn them off to your masterpiece. You may want to consider doing voiceovers after the fact. It can take a little extra time, but you will always get much better audio in a controlled editable environment. Often a basic computer microphone will be more than sufficient. See Thanatos' ViewDo's on flipping for good examples of voiceovers during the detailed walkthrough parts.

  • YOU DON"T NEED A FANCY CAMERA, EDITING PROGRAMS, OR DIRECTING SKILLS!
    You can do pretty much everything you need with a standard consumer DV Camera and the free tools that come with your computer. Heck even some digital still cameras can now take decent footage in movie mode. For editing: iMovie is quite sufficient for Mac users. And Windows Movie Maker that comes with Windows XP will get the job done fine also. Even if you do eventually get a better editing program these are great places to start learning non-linear editing. We're currently working on ViewDos for each of these editing programs and hope to have them done soon to assist those who are just starting to learning about editing.



Q: Can I submit a ViewDo that is similar to one already on the site?


A: Yes, we encourage it. Everyone has a different approach to the same problem. The ratings system is in place to allow you to vote for which ViewDo you consider best and the "Preferred" answer will show up first in searches.



Q: My digital still camera has a movie mode. Can I record a ViewDo with it?


A: Most new digital point-and-shoot cameras have video capabilities that are more than adequate for filming ViewDos. If you plan on editing the video before submitting to ViewDo, (recommended) it is wise to test the video with your editing suite for compatibility issues. Some editing programs may not properly recognize the file format your digital camera records. Also, keep in mind that many digital cameras have limitations on the length of video you may record. Check your user manual for more details on this.



Q: I'm trying to access the site using Internet Explorer for Mac, but it doesn't seem to display correctly. What can I do?


A: ViewDo is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox at a resolution of at least 1024x768. For information on how to adjust your computer's resolution see your operating system's help file.



Q: How can I become a featured contributor?


A: We look for users who show passion for their ViewDos and have submitted multiple ViewDos in their area of interest. If you're excited about ViewDo we want you to be recognized for your talents. To become a contributor submit a few ViewDos of your own and you may request to have a bio and image posted.



Q: What file format do you prefer?


A: Compressing your DV or AVI files to iPod compliant .mp4 will reduce the file size, save us time, and get your ViewDo posted faster. However, you may submit your ViewDo in any major video format as long as it is less than 100MB in its entirety.



Q: How do I make an iPod compliant .MP4 file?


A: There are a number of great tools to do this that you can find by searching for "iPod mp4 maker" on your favorite search engine. Some common ones are: Quicktime Pro, Apollo iPod Video Converter, CucuSoft iPod Video Converter, etc.



Q: Is there a file size limitation of time limit on the ViewDos?


A: We currently have a maximum file size of 100MB on all submissions. When you submit a ViewDo, keep your own attention span in mind. Ideally, ViewDos are short and focused on the subject with times less than 5 minutes. A 5 minute ViewDo compressed to .mp4 @ 500Kb/s bitrate will be around 10MB.



Q: I have a great idea for a ViewDo, but I don't have any camera equipment, can you help me out?


A: Although we have filmed many ViewDos ourselves, we encourage users to use their own resources. We've had fun getting together with friends to film ViewDos. Have a ViewDo day. Get some friends together (your friends with cameras) and film away.



Q: I'm unable to download videos. What could be going wrong?


A: Well, this could honestly be any number of things. If you are experiencing downloading problems please let us know at support@viewdo.com so we can fix it for you, and anyone else that may be having the same problem.



Q: I'm unable to submit videos. What's up with that?


A: Well, this could honestly be any number of things. If you are experiencing submission problems please let us know at support@viewdo.com so we can fix it for you, and anyone else that may be having the same problem.