Interactive Icon
Listen Icon
Read Icon
Watch Icon
Article Icon
Case Study Icon
Checklist Icon
Exercise Icon
How To Icon
Knowledge Check Icon
Policy Icon
Simulation Icon
Story Icon
Template Icon
Skip to main content (Press Enter).
Search
Menu
Explore by Resource
Reference
Toggle accordion
Checklist
Policy & Doctrine
Template
Learn
Toggle accordion
Article
Case Study
How To
Story
Practice
Toggle accordion
Exercise
Knowledge Check
Simulation
Explore Collections
Browse by Subject
Explore by Discipline
Public Affairs
Visual Information
Broadcasting
About
Contact
FAQ
Advance Your Skills In
Visual Information
Reimagine storytelling with images, video and other media while diving into policy, doctrine and the requirements of VI documentation.
Placeholder
How to Use Adobe After Effects for Character Ani...
How To
14 min
Watch how to use Adobe After Effects to develop motion-based graphics and animation.
What's New
How to Use 3D Lighting in Adobe After Effects
How To
10 min
Just Say No To Unethical Photo Edits
Article
4 min
DINFOS Live: Visual Storytelling
Article
54 min
Explore More
Explore by Subject
All Subjects
Iowa National Guard Best Warrior Competition
Photography
View
Paris Davis trains for Medal of Honor media interviews
Video Production
VIEW
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kelly Coats, a 35th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager, sketches a dragon in her dorm room for fun at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 23, 2017. Coats draws anything form dragons to knights in shining armor to the base’s comic strip, “Airmanitis.” She said drawing is what gets her up in the morning and what relaxes her at the end of the day—it’s how she maintains her resiliency as a warfighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)
Graphic Design
VIEW
Learn From These Lessons
View All
Close Up Lens Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Leave Them Laughing! Humor Makes the Spot Memorable
Case Study
8 min
Learn how MCC Mike DiMestico used comedic techniques to create a memorable spot on Operational Security.
Rear Adm. Edward Cashman Conducts a Radio Interview
Let Your Subjects Do the Talking
Case Study
10 min
Study this technique of letting your subjects get the message out in an informal yet informative tone.
The camera of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Deven Schultz, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs broadcast journalist records an interview with Tech. Sgt. Latosha Enoch, 17th Training Support Squadron military training flight chief, in the Military Training building, on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 4, 2020. Schultz collected historical documentation of how the different units around base responded to COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Abbey Rieves)
Choose Your Interview Location Wisely
Case Study
14 min
Watch the 1st Combat Camera Squadron demonstrate the value of carefully choosing an interview location.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jorge Rosales, a communication strategy and operations chief with Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, and a native of Winters, California, films an instructional media production at Camp Pendleton, California, July 24, 2024.
Keep Viewers Engaged with Creative Composition
Case Study
5 min
Watch as this short training reel from the Operations Group National Training Center delivers a lot of sizzle.
Lt. Cmdr. N. Cody Schaal is a Navy Industrial Hygiene Officer, Deputy Director of the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory, and the Occupational Environmental Health Department Head, Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-Dayton). Schaal is in one of NAMRU-Dayton’s operational exposure labs where scientists can simultaneously test chemical exposures with environmental stressors to assess potential health effects.
Achieving Good Lighting Outside the Studio
Case Study
5 min
Watch an example of good lighting achieved during an interview shot outside the studio by Defense Department...
South Korean youth eating ice cream cone at Grace Stables.
Understand the Why: Aligning the Message to Your...
Case Study
2 min
Learn the value of applying a communication strategy to your visual product.
A drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, introduces himself to new recruits on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., June 5, 2020.
Repurposing Gems from the Archives
Case Study
2 min
Watch a positive example of how some creative thinking and musical overlay helped this USMC tweet go viral.
A U.S. Marine puts on ear protection before shooting on the Weapon Training Simulation System at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, April 29.
Promote with Meaning
Case Study
2 min
A positive example of a Marine Corps video that compels the target audience to participate in the campaign in...
View More
Check It Off
View All
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Cranley, 423d Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operations Controller, monitors base operations at RAF Molesworth, England, Sept. 8, 2023. SFS members at the Base Defense Operations Center are responsible for coordinating security on the installation and remain ready to coordinate responses to ensure the safety and security of the community and mission.
508 Compliance Audit: Website or Application
Checklist
7 min
Ensure your website, web applications and software are 508 compliant with this checklist.
Close up of two hands typing on a laptop keyboard.
508 Compliance Audit: PDF Document
Checklist
3 min
Ensure your PDF is 508 compliant.
A mock aircraft crash is engulfed in flames at the firefighter training area as base firefighters respond during an exercise at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, April 25, 2024.
Aircraft Incident Response
Checklist
2 min
Be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to an aircraft accident or incident that occurs on or off base.
n/a
Hostage Situation Checklist
Checklist
2 min
Follow this guide when you're navigating a hostage situation to ensure you don't miss important tasks.
A sailor takes photos out the back of an open aircraft, with another aircraft flying nearby.
Aerial Photography Checklist
Checklist
2 min
Be prepared to capture the moment and remain in communication with the crew on aerial missions.
MRF-D conduct low-light, live-fire range
Low-Light Operations Checklist
Checklist
2 min
Prepare for low-light and night-time situations to effectively document your mission.
Reserve Soldiers train at Fort McCoy for Operation Cactus Gunnery
Convoy Operations Checklist
Checklist
2 min
Be prepared to handle a variety of situations to stay safe and get the imagery you need.
required_shots_crime_scene_hero
Sensitive Site Exploitation Guide
Checklist
5 min
Use this checklist to help document SSE investigations, such as mishaps, crime scenes and mass graves.
U.S. Marines with CLR-37 Conduct a MCCRE
COMCAM Train-Up Preparation Guide
Checklist
2 min
Follow this checklist to ensure you're ready and have completed all necessary tasks before deployment.
View More
Download Templates
View All
Lt. Cmdr. Beatriz Talerico, assigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific discuss daily tasks with a fellow Sailor. The Department of the Navy (DON) celebrates Women's History Month to commemorate the contributions of military and civilian women to the DON. (U.S. Navy photo by Anna Marie G. Gonzales)
Annex F Development
Template
1 min
Use this template to develop an Annex F to provide additional details and guidance for an OPLAN.
Isreali Defense Forces (IDF), Sgt. Yuval Italiano, left, and Sgt. Ofir Holzman, assigned to IDF Combat Camera Company, listen to instructions from Spc. Samantha Schaffling, assigned to 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), in “Technical Lanes” event, during the 2023 Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, May 24, 2023. The annual multi-day competition tests the physical, tactical, and technical proficiency of visual information and public affairs specialists across the DOD and participating international competitors. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Noah Martin)
Mission Strategy Worksheet
Template
2 min
Fill out this worksheet with the strategy and assets needed to ensure visual imagery is successfully captured.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Patrick Bracken (left), 92nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain and Tech. Sgt. Amanda Wilson (right), 92nd ARW religious affairs specialist, look over documents at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington March 2, 2023. Chaplains and religious affairs specialists advise Airmen and give religious and moral support to service members and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lillian Patterson)
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Template
Template
1 min
Easily create your own standard operating procedure with this Microsoft Word template.
Visual Information Specialist Cole Fraser works on a graphic design project.
Visual Information and Video Production Plan
Template
1 min
Use this template to craft a comprehensive VI Plan for the imagery and video strategy of your next mission.
22 ARW
During a Crisis: Events Log
Template
1 min
Use this template to stay organized and keep a record of PA/VI involvement during a crisis event.
Illustration of two people discussing the visual branding guide located between them.
Visual Branding Guide
Template
2 min
Use this template to document your product's branding criteria to ensure consistency in implementation.
Passport photos are cut into the required measurements by a 502nd Air Base Wing photographer prior to customer delivery at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Active-duty members and civilians who require passport photos must have an authorized agent at their location’s passport office sign a work order form before scheduling a passport photo appointment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua Rodriguez)
Passport Photo Template
Template
1 min
Use this Photoshop template to lay out a perfect passport photo.
Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler W. Vance, a boatswain mate from Coast Guard Station Mayport, conducts an interview with local media in Atlantic Beach, Florida, July 10, 2024. Vance was part of the Station Mayport rescue crew that saved five people after their boat capsized 11 miles offshore Mayport, Florida.
Media Ground Rules Agreement
Template
3 min
Use this template to cover media rules and expectations during ongoing operations.
909th ARS flight crew going over a pre-flight checklist
Visual Information Plan
Template
1 min
Use this template to craft a basic VI plan for the imagery needed for your next mission.
View More
Learn How
View All
Crossing guard with face blurred (masked)
How to Mask a Video in Adobe Premiere Pro
How To
6 min
Watch how to isolate and edit video elements through masking techniques.
A volleyball player spikes a volleyball, and an overlay of yellow boxes, arrows, crosshairs and dotted lines trace the path of movement of the player and ball.
How to Use Motion Tracking in Adobe After Effects
How To
14 min
Watch how to use three motion-tracking techniques in After Effects for text, callouts and screen replacement.
A gridded three-dimensional space with text "3D" that looks three dimensional.
How to Create 3D Text with Adobe After Effects
How To
15 min
Watch this School of Motion video to see three simple ways to add 3D text using Adobe After Effects tools.
Photo of two service members holding and reviewing paper documentation. Yellow strokes outline the border of the papers and a yellow arrow is pointing from the paper to an illustration of a computer with a mouse pointer on an empty data entry field.
How to Create Your Own SOP Document
How To
10 min
Follow these simple steps to author any standard operating procedure or SOP document.
A silhouetted person throwing a ball in a park. Movement is indicated by arrows, angles and dots.
How to Use Adobe After Effects for Character Ani...
How To
14 min
Watch how to use Adobe After Effects to develop motion-based graphics and animation.
Illustration of 3D shapes floating in space lit up by two different colored lights and an ambient light. Sketches on top of the illustration show the direction and angle of the lights. One 3D square is outlined in sketch lines to show where the light creates reflection and shadow.
How to Use 3D Lighting in Adobe After Effects
How To
10 min
Watch and learn how to manipulate 3D lights and cameras in Adobe After Effects to enhance 2D motion graphics.
Graphic image of a service member running. A purple wall is in the background with a door that says "Not an exit" and a graphic image of a target.
How to Use Adobe After Effects to Track a 3D Camera
How To
4 min
Watch how to use the 3D tracking camera in Adobe After Effects to develop motion graphics and animation.
Illustration of reports with a large letter A and B labeled over them. A grid pattern, check marks, line graphs, pie charts and arrows float behind the reports in the background.
Optimize Your Content With A/B Testing
How To
6 min
Follow these steps to user-test your social media content and better reach your public.
Future operations officer participates in a COVID-19 virtual subject matter expert exchange
How to Read an OPORD
How To
5 min
Walkthrough a sample Operations Order (OPORD) and understand the key takeaways of the situation or mission.
View More
Sharpen Your Skills
View All
Person using editing software on laptop. (Photo by Thanzi Thanzeer on Unsplash.com)
Oh, Crop. Does This Layout Work?
Exercise
3 min
Practice your knowledge of fundamentals by identifying the errors and improvements in two design layouts.
JNYMS Senior Leaders Meeting
9 Chances to Get It Write
Knowledge Check
9 min
Test your knowledge of grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Watch out for "gotchas!"
U.S. and foreign service members watch on a dirt hill as a floating causeway approaches.
What Does the Commander Actually Want
Exercise
5 min
Practice how well you can deduce commander's intent by reviewing a memo sent to your office.
Navy Recruiter Saves Lives through Social Media
What's Wrong With This Post?
Knowledge Check
5 min
Analyze social media posts and see if you can detect what's wrong.
View More
Review Policy & Doctrine
View All
Cyber Yankee prepares DoD, government, and business for potential cyber threats
DoDI 5535.12
Policy & Doctrine
15 min
Reference DoD Instruction 5535.12 DoD Branding and Trademark Licensing Program Implementation (29 April 2020).
Maj. Gen. Denise M. Donnell, New York Air National Guard Commander and Assistant Adjutant General, and Master Sgt. Elliot Butler, 313th Recruiting Squadron C Flight Flight Chief, talk to Air Force delayed entry program members before a ribbon cutting ceremony at the C Flight office in Brooklyn, N.Y., May 24, 2023.
DoDD 5535.09
Policy & Doctrine
5 min
Reference DoD Directive 5535.09 DoD Branding and Trademark Licensing Program (19 December 2007).
Dr. William Burnett, Technical Director of Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC), and Mr. James Griffith, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Director, Source Operations and Management Directorate—along with other NGA personnel—received a detailed overview of CNMOC with a full brief and engagements with subject matter experts. CNMOC directs and oversees more than 2,500 globally-distributed military and civilian personnel who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to make better decisions faster than the adversary.
DoD Directive 5105.60
Policy & Doctrine
25 min
Reference the DoD Directive 5105.60 National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) (July 29, 2009).
14&15 July l MC Symposium
DoD Directive 5160.48
Policy & Doctrine
8 min
Reference DoDD 5160.48 Public Affairs & Visual Information (PA & VI) Education & Training (Nov. 20, 2017).
La. National Guard monitors Medical Supply Data [Image 11 of 13]
DoD Data Strategy
Policy & Doctrine
21 min
Reference Executive Summary: DoD Data Strategy (30 September 2020).
Sailors assigned to Defense Media Activity operate cameras during Vice Adm. John Nowell, Chief of Naval Personnel, and Fleet Master Chief Wes Koshoffer's town hall event
DoD Directive 5105.74
Policy & Doctrine
14 min
Reference the DoD Directive 5105.74 Defense Media Activity (DMA) (Change 1) (August 29, 2017).
Photo of knowledge management center Airman
DoD Directive 5400.07
Policy & Doctrine
6 min
Reference the DoD Directive 5400.07 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program (April 5, 2019).
Senior Airman Oriana Beard, American Forces Network Kunsan broadcast journalist, prepares to go live on the radio at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 6, 2020. AFN broadcast journalists are expected to host four hours of live radio and produce content for social media and television daily.
DoDI 5120.20
Policy & Doctrine
15 min
Reference DoD Instruction 5120.20 American Forces Network Program (January 18, 2023).
Newest DINFOS Graduate
DoD Military Communicator Competency Model
Policy & Doctrine
1 min
Reference the DoD MCCM (21 January 2021) for a comprehensive list of training and education requirements.
View More
Explore More