Zoom Editing
Learn how to use SmartZoom and create manual zoom regions.
What is SmartZoom?
SmartZoom automatically detects where you click in your recording and creates zoom regions to highlight those moments. It analyzes mouse clicks, keyboard input, and UI element focus to determine the best zoom points.
Philosophy: Less is More
Excessive zooming makes viewers tired. Cameo's SmartZoom is conservative by default — it only zooms when there's clear user intent. When in doubt, it keeps the current view.
Zoom Modes
Disabled
No automatic zoom. Video plays at original scale.
Auto
SmartZoom analyzes your clicks and creates zoom regions automatically.
Manual
Only your manually created zoom keyframes are used.
Combined
RecommendedAuto-detected zooms + your manual adjustments. Best of both worlds.
Adding Zoom Regions
Open the Zoom Panel
Click the Zoom icon (🔍) in the left sidebar to open zoom settings.
Add a Zoom Region
Click the + button on the zoom track, or right-click on the timeline and select "Add Zoom".
Adjust the Center Point
In the preview area, drag to position where the zoom should focus. The zoom will center on this point.
Set Zoom Level
Use the scale slider in the Inspector panel. Range: 1.0x (no zoom) to 4.0x (maximum zoom).
Adjust Duration
Drag the edges of the zoom region on the timeline to set when it starts and ends.
Zoom Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Zoom magnification level | 2.0x |
| Transition | Duration of zoom in/out animation | 300ms |
| Easing | Animation curve style | easeInOut |
| Hold Duration | How long to stay zoomed after click | 1.5s |
Click Markers
SmartZoom shows detected clicks as markers on the timeline. You can toggle their importance to control which ones trigger zooms.
Important Click ✓
Creates a zoom region at this location
Unimportant Click
Ignored by SmartZoom
Parallax Effects
Add cinematic depth to your zooms with parallax. Different layers move at different speeds during zoom transitions.
Video Layer Zoom
While content zoom magnifies the video content itself, Video Layer Zoom scales and positions the entire video frame independently. Perfect for adding dynamic camera-like movements.
Two Independent Zoom Systems
Each zoom region supports both content zoom (zooms into video content) and video layer zoom (scales/pans the entire frame). Both work simultaneously with independent easing curves.
Layer Scale
Scale the entire video layer from 0.5x (zoom out) to 2.0x (zoom in). Use values below 1.0 to reveal more of the canvas background.
Layer Pan (Offset)
Pan the video layer horizontally and vertically. Range: -1.0 to 1.0 for both X and Y axes.
Horizontal (X)
-1.0 (left) → 0 (center) → 1.0 (right)
Vertical (Y)
-1.0 (top) → 0 (center) → 1.0 (bottom)
Independent Easing
Video layer zoom can use different easing curves than content zoom, allowing you to create sophisticated multi-layered movements.
⚠️ Annotations Stay Fixed
Text overlays and spotlight annotations remain in their original positions when using video layer zoom. Only the video content moves, ensuring your annotations stay perfectly aligned.
Pro Tips
Use Loop Playback
Press I and O to set loop points, then L to loop. Great for fine-tuning zoom timing.
Linked to Video
Zoom regions are linked to video clips. Moving a clip will move its associated zoom regions too.
Cooldown System
SmartZoom has a 1.5 second cooldown between zooms to prevent jittery transitions. This is intentional!