Adobe Captivate is one of the most widely used tools for creating eLearning content such as online training and computer simulations. Captivate went through a major change recently with the release of Adobe Captivate 2023, also known as 'New Captivate'. There are many differences between new Captivate and Captivate classic, as the new app includes significant changes which are intended to make it easier to create simple eLearning content, deliver content to more devices using a more modern user experience, while making Captivate faster, and providing functionality that is expected by those learning online using modern devices and browsers. This doesn't mean that the new Captivate is perfect for all projects, but it is good enough for many simply eLearning tasks as you will understand as we discuss the differences between the old and new Captivate.
New Captivate vs. Old Captivate User Interface (UI) Differences
Adobe Captivate 2023 is a new application for all users – even those with previous experience with Captivate classic., because the user interface and workflow has changed completely. While it shares the Captivate name, it is an entirely different approach to creating eLearning content. Adobe created a more modern UI and changed the navigation. The simplified navigation is an attempt to make it easier for more users to create eLearning content.
Captivate Classic, the legacy version of Captivate, has a more complex interface that provides access to a wide range of capabilities. The broad capabilities of Captivate Classic made it a more powerful tool for those creating content, but also required more time to learn and gain familiarity with its functionality. The new Captivate can be learned in two days of training, while Captivate Classic often required four days of training.
New workflow for new Captivate
Adobe Captivate 2023 has a new workflow that provides drag-and-drop to move add and reposition content which is designed to simplify the process of creating interactive content. Adding animations to content, creating transitions between video clips, and adding interactivity can be accomplished in a fewer number of steps, with some steps being automated. This simplification removes some of the customization and options previously available, as new Captivate appears to target those with more simplified projects rather than power-users who create complex eLearning projects.
Because the new Captivate is overly simplified, Adobe has maintained Captivate Classic for those who need to create more detailed and customizable projects with a high degree of control over each learning scenario. The more complex workflows in legacy Captivate are powerful and are a better choice for creating customized or complex eLearning content, although it does take longer to learn the legacy Captivate app.
Responsive Design for eLearning on mobile devices using Captivate
The new Adobe Captivate 2023 incorporates responsive design capabilities, recognizing that eLearning content consumers user modern devices that range from phones to tablets and desktop devices. New Captivate includes a number of pre-built responsive themes and layouts for eLearning projects, which makes it faster to create content that adjusts to different screen sizes and orientations. This makes it easier to create mobile-friendly eLearning content without requiring extensive manual adjustments that are needed in Captivate Classic. To create responsive content for mobile devices in Captivate classic, there is a great deal of manual configuration required for something that is now automatic in new Captivate.
New Captivate includes assets not found in Captivate Classic
New Adobe Captivate 2023 includes a library of ready-to-use assets such as templates, characters, backgrounds, and interactive elements. These can be customized, and save you the time, effort, and cost of locating or creating these items on your own. New Captivate also adds interactive elements that can be built into eLearning content Although Captivate classic included a limited asset library, it was not as comprehensive as what is included in new Captivate. Similarly, creating complex interactions in legacy Captivate required more advanced skills.
Video and multimedia in Captivate
New Adobe Captivate has broader support for more types of multimedia, which makes it easier to include video content directly within your eLearning projects. There are more options for working with animations and interactive video elements as well, which makes it easier to create customized and interactive eLearning projects, which helps with maintaining engagement of those who are learning from your projects. As with many other capabilities, video editing has been simplified in New Captivate, and it is designed to work with a wide range of video.
Making Captivate faster and more stable
While you don’t see the architecture of the new Adobe Captivate, you can tell it’s been updated when you work with larger files and more video. The new Captivate handles larger projects and complex interactivity with less time waiting. Those who have worked with the older Captivate classic know it could be slow to import or export projects, and when working with large video. These shortcomings have been mostly addressed in the new Captivate. Because it’s been updated for modern HTML5, output from new Captivate meets modern standards, including those for accessibility.
New Captivate price and licensing changes
The new Adobe Captivate is, not surprisingly, a subscription-based pricing, similar to what Adobe did many years ago with Creative Cloud. The subscription includes updates and access to new features as they are released, but the software stops working if you don’t renew your subscription. The legacy Captivate classic was sold as a perpetual license, so that you paid a one-time fee for a specific version and could use it as long as desired. This made it possible to avoid ongoing subscription costs. If you did not want a new version, you did not need to buy it. With new Captivate, you will always be paying.
Adobe Captivate AI and Automation Features
The new Adobe Captivate add some new AI-powered features, such as automated branching scenarios, AI-driven analytics, and content suggestions. These capabilities are still new, but are intended to make it easier to create learning that is personalized and adapts to the needs of individual learners. Automation is intended to make it easier to create complex interactions without repeated work..
Should you learn new Captivate or legacy Captivate Classic
If you are starting into eLearning for the first time, or have a simple eLearning project, then the new Adobe Captivate 2023 is easier to learn than the legacy Captivate classic. For simple projects, or responsive projects for sharing learning content on mobile devices, you’ll get your work completed more quickly in the new version. If you are creating more complex eLearning projects, or already own a license for Captivate classic, then using the older app makes sense, as it is still supported and can be used to create equally high-quality eLearning content.