Zoom in on screen recordings

Using zooms in Tella to enhance your videos

Zoom effects allow you to zoom in on a subject—in this case, a screen recording—to draw your viewers’ attention to important details. This feature not only highlights key information but also makes your videos more engaging and interesting to watch.

Introduction to zooms

Zooms can be used in various types of videos:

• Short Demos: Ideal for social media to quickly capture attention.

• Long-Form Videos: Great for deep-dive demonstrations or tutorials.

Accessing zoom mode

1. Open your video in the Tella editor.

2. Click on the Zoom button to enter Zoom Mode.

Using auto zoom (Mac App only)

Tella’s Auto Zoom feature automatically applies zooms to your video.

Availability: Only for videos recorded using the Tella Mac app.

How to use:

1. In Zoom Mode select your preferred style. The difference is as follows;

   1. Subtle will get your less zooms overall, but they will stay around longer, and it will zoom in less

   2. Intense will get you more shorter zooms, where it may choose to zoom-out and zoom-back-in to a spot where Subtle would have stayed zoomed-in. It will also zoom in further than Subtle

2. Click on Generate.

3. Tella will analyze your video and add zoom effects along the timeline.

Note: Even if you don’t use the Mac app, you can still manually add and edit zooms.

Adding zooms manually

Adding a zoom

1. In Zoom Mode, click and drag on the timeline to add a zoom, or click on Add Zoom on the timeline.

   1. Hold down shift while moving your mouse over the timeline to accurately scrub before dragging to create a Zoom.

2. A zoom section will appear on the timeline, indicating the start and end points of the zoom effect.

3. Adjust the zoom’s position and duration by dragging it along the timeline or adjusting the start and end handles.

Adding multiple zooms

You can add as many zooms as needed by repeating the steps above.

Cut, Copy & Paste

You can cut, copy, and paste zooms within, and outside of the current video. Make sure to be in Zoom Mode, hit ctrl+c (or cmd+c on a Mac) for copy, ctrl+x ( cmd+x on Mac) for cut, and ctrl+p ( cmd+p ) for paste.

Adjusting zoom scale

The zoom scale determines how much the screen recording zooms in.

1. Select the zoom effect on the timeline.

2. On the right-hand panel, adjust the Scale slider:

   1. 100%: Original size.

   2. Up to 350%: Zooms in up to 3.5 times the original size.

3. Set the scale according to the detail you want to highlight.

Tip: Higher zoom levels may reduce video quality if the original recording resolution is low.

Setting the zoom target and tracking

Manual targeting

1. In the right-hand panel, adjust the Target by clicking and dragging the focal point.

2. This sets the area of the screen you want to zoom into.

3. Useful for directing attention to a fixed spot, such as where your cursor is pointing.

Auto tracking (Mac App only)

• Switch the tracking option to Auto.

• The zoom will automatically follow your cursor and clicks throughout the zoom duration.

• Ideal when the cursor moves frequently, and you want the zoom to follow.

Using connected zooms

Connected zooms allow for smooth panning between different zoom targets without zooming out.

1. Add a zoom effect.

2. Add another zoom effect immediately after, ensuring they touch on the timeline.

3. Set different targets for each zoom.

4. The zoom will pan from one target to the next seamlessly.

Managing zooms

• Deleting Zooms: Select the zoom and click the Delete button or press the Delete key.

• Undo/Redo: Use the undo and redo buttons if you make a mistake.

• Reset Timeline: Click Reset to remove all zooms and start over.

Combining zooms with layouts

Enhance your video further by combining zooms with Tella’s layouts.

1. Switch to the Layouts panel.

2. Choose different layouts for different parts of your video.

3. Overlap zoom effects with layout changes for dynamic transitions.

Tips and best practices

• Plan Your Zooms: Decide where to focus your zooms to best highlight important information.

• Maintain Quality: Be cautious with high zoom levels if your screen recording resolution is low.

• Engage Viewers: Use zooms to make your content more engaging and maintain viewer interest.

• Experiment: Try different combinations of manual and auto tracking to see what works best for your content.

By effectively using zoom effects in Tella, you can create professional, engaging videos that highlight key details and keep your audience captivated.