New Mail Message with Video Snapshot

Here's a simple workflow for personalizing your electronic correspondence. Using Automator, Mail's new HTML template feature, and your computer's built-in iSight camera, you can add your likeness to a new stylized mail message.

Create the Workflow

In a new Automator window, locate and add the Take Video Snapshot action to the workflow. After entering the default name for the video image file and choosing its destination folder, you may select the option to have the snapshot taken automatically when the workflow is run. If you choose this option, a short 3-second countdown will occur while the video window is displayed by the computer.

Next, locate and add the New Mail Message action to the end of the workflow. This action will create a new mail message and automatically add the new video snapshot to the new outgoing message.

Now, add the Apply Mail Stationery Template action you installed before beginning this tutorial. In the action's view, enter the name of the Mail stationery template category, and template name to apply to the new Mail message. This information is shown in the Stationery Template Chooser pane displayed in the message window by clicking Show Stationery toolbar button at the top of a message window.

Run the Workflow

Position yourself infront of the iSight camera and run the workflow. The video snapshot window will appear and the snapshot taken. A new outgoing Mail message window, containing the new snapshot, will be created. And after a 2-second delay, the chosen stationery template will be applied. Your now ready to add your message and send!

Save the Workflow

To make the workflow available whenever you need it, choose Save As Plug-in... from Automator's File menu. In the drop-down sheet attached to the workflow window, choose Script Menu as the destination and name the workflow: New Mail Message with Snapshot

Once saved, the workflow will be available to be run from the system-wide Script Menu at the top right of the menu bar.