Video:Camtasia Zoom and Pan Tool

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Transcript:Camtasia Zoom and Pan Tool

Hi. I'm Don Schechter for About.com Computing. Today I'll teach you how to use the zoom and pan tools in Camtasia.

Choose your Camtasia Project

I've already got a Camtasia project open with clips on my timeline. You can open a project, or create a new one and import clips to place on your timeline.

Why Zoom with Camtasia?

The zoom and pan tools are useful when working with Camtasia screen capture footage. If you're trying to create a tutorial video about software programs it helps to zoom into footage to draw the viewers attention to small details.

Zoom and Pan Toolbar

I've got a screen capture footage that I want to zoom and pan on. To zoom and pan I'll click on Edit, Zoom and Pan on the task list on the left. If you cant see the task list click on View, Task List. You could also click on Edit, Zoom and Pan on the topbar. This brings up the zoomnpan window.

Use Camtasia Zoom and Pan

To use the zoom and pan tool we need to set keyframes. Keyframes are reference points where you can adjust the settings for the effect. I'll click Add zoom and pan keyframe to set my first keyframe. I'll only change the zoom speed to instant and click ok. I set this first keyframe to show my whole screen.

My next keyframe will be to zoom in closer. Now I'll move the play circle on the preview window forward a few seconds and hit the add a zoom and pan keyframe again.

Camtasia Custom Zoom

This time I'll select custom zoom size. A green zoom line surrounds the small preview screen. I'll click on the edge and drag it inwards. I can click in the middle of the rectangle and move it anywhere on my screen. This defines the zoom area for my clip.

I'll move it towards the middle. I'll make sure keep aspect ratio is checked. I'll change the zoom speed to instant and click OK. And I'll click Finished.

Adjust Camtasia Zoom Speed

Now I'll move my play circle to the beginning of the timeline in the preview window and hit play. Theres a fullscreen shot and theres my instant zoom.

If you want to change the effect, click on the keyframes on the timeline. I'll click the second keyframe, and change the zoom speed to slow. I'll click OK, and finished.

Now I'll position the play circle to the beginning in the preview window and hit play. By changing the zoom setting I can change the zoom from an instant, to a slow, or fast movement.

Using the zoom and pan tool in camtasia is a useful way to make your tutorial movies more interesting and easier to view.

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