Customize Your Cursor and Path

In this tutorial:

• Replace or Import a Cursor
• Edit a Recorded Cursor Path
• Create a New Cursor Path
• Restore the Original Cursor Path

Camtasia allows you to add or edit cursor paths and upload custom cursors to create professional looking videos such as:

• Software or product demos
• Instructional or how-to videos
• Business presentations and recorded slideshows

Cursors are used to tell a story, draw viewers’ attention to key parts of the screen, or add polish to a video.

Emphasize a button or link with your cursor, match your voice narration with the on-screen cursor movement, correct a mistake made with the cursor during recording, and much more.

Replace or Import a Cursor

Adjust the cursor size and style, or add a custom cursor to improve your videos and reduce distractions.

1. Select a Camtasia recording (TREC) on the timeline or canvas.
   

   Note: You can only edit the cursor path on screen recordings captured with Camtasia (TREC) or after a new cursor path is added. To create a new cursor path in a video or image imported into Camtasia, see Create a New Cursor Path.

2. On the cursor tab in the Properties panel, click the Edit Cursor Path button.
   
3. In the Edit Cursor Path dialog, select Simplify Existing Path or Create New Path in the dropdown and click Continue.
   
   

   Note: You only need to complete this step the first time that you edit the cursor path.

4. Click to select a point to edit on the timeline.
   
   You can also click the keyframe arrows in the cursor Properties panel to move your selection between cursor keyframes on the timeline.
   
5. Click the cursor dropdown and select one of the Replace Cursor Image options.
   • Current: Edit only the cursor at the playhead.
   • Similar: Edit all cursors of the same style as the cursor at the playhead.
   • All: Edit all cursors on the timeline.
6. To replace the cursor, complete one of the following:
   • Click one of the available cursor images found in the recording.
     
   • Click the Recorded Cursors dropdown and select a different category of available cursors. Then select your desired cursor.
   • Click the + icon to import a new cursor image. Available file types for imported cursors are BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIF, and TIFF.
     

     Note: To select the location of the pointer for the imported cursor, move the crosshairs in the image. Click Save Cursor Edits to apply.

7. Click and drag the Scale control to adjust the size of the cursor on the canvas.

The newly edited cursor is visible during video playback.

Edit a Recorded Cursor Path

Edit a recorded cursor path to improve your cursor flow from location to location in your video.

1. Select a Camtasia recording (TREC) on the timeline or canvas.
   

   Note: You can only edit the cursor path on screen recordings captured with Camtasia (TREC) or after a new cursor path is added. To create a new cursor path in a video or image imported into Camtasia, see Create a New Cursor Path.

2. On the cursor tab in the Properties panel, click the Edit Cursor Path button.
   
3. In the Edit Cursor Path dialog, select Simplify Existing Path or Create New Path in the dropdown and click Continue.
   
   

   Note: You only need to complete this step the first time that you edit the cursor path.

4. The cursor path and points appear on the canvas and timeline.
   
5. Click to select a point to edit, then complete any of the following options:
   • Right-click a point on the timeline and select Delete to remove that point.
   • Click and drag a point on the canvas to adjust where the cursor moves in the recording.
     
   • Click and drag a point on the timeline to extend or reduce the duration of the cursor movement to that point. To extend the duration, drag the point to the right. To reduce the duration, drag the point to the left.
     
   • Select a Line Type in the Properties panel to set straight or curved cursor movements in and out of the point.
     
     

     Note: After selecting a line type, click and drag the handle of the point on the canvas to manually adjust the curve of the cursor movement if desired.

   • Select an option from the Easing dropdown to set the cursor speed as it passes through the selected point for a more natural look.
     
6. Click and drag the playhead on the timeline to the location to edit. Right-click the playhead line, then select one of the following options to edit the cursor path:
   • Add Cursor Point at Playhead: Adds another point to the path to allow for more detailed control over the cursor movement and look.
   • Split Cursor Path at Playhead: Adds a new path segment and two new points to the timeline. This is useful if you want the cursor to pause at a location before continuing on its path.
   • Extend Cursor Path to Playhead: Extends the path duration to the selected location and adds two new cursor points on the timeline.
     

     Note: The Extend Cursor Path to Playhead menu option is only available if the playhead is on a cursor keyframe and there is no timeline cursor path in that location.

7. If you have split cursor paths after editing, click the Smooth cursor across edits checkbox in the Properties panel to improve the cursor flow.
8. Click and drag the Scale control to adjust the size of the cursor on the canvas.
9. Click Finish Editing to exit cursor path editing.
   

Create a New Cursor Path

Add a cursor to images or videos in Camtasia.

1. Drag the Cursor Path Creator effect from the Cursor Effects or Visual Effects tab on to an image or video on the canvas or timeline.
   
2. The cursor path and points appear on the canvas and timeline. Click to select a point to edit, then complete any of the following options:
   • Right-click a point on the timeline and select Delete to remove that point.
   • Click and drag a point on the canvas to adjust where the cursor moves in the recording.
     
   • Click and drag a point on the timeline to extend or reduce the duration of the cursor movement to that point. To extend the duration, drag the point to the right. To reduce the duration, drag the point to the left.
     
   • Select a Line Type in the Properties panel to set straight or curved cursor movements in and out of the point.
     
     

     Note: After selecting a line type, click and drag the handle of the point on the canvas to manually adjust the curve of the cursor movement if desired.

   • Select an option from the Easing dropdown to set the cursor speed as it passes through the selected point for a more natural look.
     
3. Click and drag the playhead on the timeline to the location to edit. Right-click the playhead line, then select one of the following options to edit the cursor path:
   • Add Cursor Point at Playhead: Adds another point to the cursor path to allow for more detailed control over the cursor movement and easing of the cursor path.
   • Split Cursor Path at Playhead: Adds a new path segment and two new cursor points to the timeline. This is useful if you want the cursor to pause at a location before continuing on it’s path.
   • Extend Cursor Path to Playhead: Extends the path duration to the selected location and adds two new cursor points on the timeline.
     

     Note: The Extend Cursor Path to Playhead is only available if the playhead is on a cursor keyframe and there is no timeline cursor path in that location.

4. If you have split cursor paths after editing, click the Smooth cursor across edits checkbox in the Properties panel to improve the cursor flow.
5. Click and drag the Scale control to adjust the size of the cursor on the canvas.
6. Click Finish Editing to exit cursor path editing.
   

Restore the Original Cursor Path

To restore the original cursor path, click Restore Path in the Properties panel.