Add Cursor Effects
Learn how to add cursor effects to emphasize the cursor and edit cursor clicks.
Introduction
Most videos have the cursor burned into the recording file. Camtasia records the screen and cursor data separately in the Camtasia Recording file format (TREC). This allows you to edit the cursor and eliminates the need to re-record to perfect cursor movement or position.
Camtasia’s cursor editing and effects help to:
- Smooth jumpy cursor movements.
- Fix the cursor position when it doesn’t match the narration.
- Emphasize the cursor to support the message in your videos.
- Add or edit cursor clicks.
If you want to add a cursor to a still image or a video not recorded in Camtasia, you can add the Cursor Path Creator effect to design the cursor path. Add a Left Click or Right Click effect to add cursor click keyframes to simulate clicks. See Add a Click Effect & Edit Cursor Clicks.
Add Quick Cursor Effects in Rev
If you recorded with Camtasia Rev turned on, you can change the layout or effects anytime.
- Click the Modify button to open the media in Camtasia Rev.
- On the Screen tab, make the desired changes to the Cursor effect selections in Rev.
- Click the Save button.
The Rev media is updated on the timeline with the latest changes.
See Introduction to Rev Media.
Add a Cursor Effect in Camtasia Editor
Add a cursor effect to a Camtasia Recording file (TREC) on the timeline to emphasize the cursor to support the message in your videos.
To apply Cursor effects and edit the properties in Camtasia Editor, you must unpack Rev media. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) the Rev media on the timeline and select Unpack Rev Media. See Introduction to Rev Media.
- Select Cursor Effects tab > Cursor Effects subtab.
- Drag an effect onto the Camtasia Recording file (TREC) on the timeline. See Cursor Effect Types.
- Click the arrow to open the Effects tray.
- By default, the effect is applied to the entire duration of the media. To adjust the duration, click to select the effect and drag the ends to adjust when the effect starts and ends during the clip.
- In the Properties panel, customize the properties available for the effect.
Add a Click Effect & Edit Cursor Clicks
In the Camtasia Recording file format (TREC), you can add or edit mouse clicks at any time. Apply a cursor click effect to visually emphasize a click. You can also add new cursor keyframes to simulate a click in an image, video, or recording file.
To apply Cursor effects and edit the properties in Camtasia Editor, you must unpack Rev media. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) the Rev media on the timeline and select Unpack Rev Media. See Introduction to Rev Media.
For Camtasia Recordings (TREC Files)
- Select Cursor Effects tab > Left Click or Right Click subtab.
- Drag an effect onto the Camtasia Recording file (TREC) on the timeline. See Cursor Effect Types.
- Click the arrow to open the Effects tray.
- By default, the effect is applied to the entire duration of the media. To adjust the duration, click to select the effect and drag the ends to adjust when the effect starts and ends during the clip.
- In the Properties panel, customize the properties available for the effect.
- The circles on the effect show where clicks occur in the media. Click the Previous and Next buttons to navigate through the cursor clicks.
- To add a new cursor click, drag the playhead on the timeline to the desired location and click the Cursor Keyframe button in the properties.
- To remove a cursor click, click the Previous and Next buttons to navigate to the desired cursor click and click the Cursor Keyframe button to remove the selected click.
- To add a new cursor click, drag the playhead on the timeline to the desired location and click the Cursor Keyframe button in the properties.
For Images or Videos Created in Other Applications
- Click the Cursor Effects tab.
- On the Cursor Effects subtab, drag the Cursor Path Creator effect onto media on the timeline and set up the cursor path. See Customize Your Cursor and Path.
- Select Cursor Effects tab > Left Click or Right Click subtab.
- Drag an effect onto the media on the timeline. See Cursor Effect Types.
- Click the arrow to open the Effects tray.
- By default, the effect is applied to the entire duration of the media. To adjust the duration, click to select the effect and drag the ends to adjust when the effect starts and ends during the clip.
- In the Properties panel, customize the properties available for the effect.
- To add a new cursor click, drag the playhead on the timeline to the desired location and click the Cursor Keyframe button in the properties.
- The circles on the effect show where clicks occur in the media. To remove a cursor click, click the Previous and Next buttons to navigate to the desired cursor click and click the Cursor Keyframe button to remove the selected click.
Cursor Effect Types
General Cursor Effects
Cursor Color
Edit the cursor fill and outline colors to match the video aesthetic or to stand out from the screen content.
Cursor Glow
Emphasize the cursor with a glow effect. Give your cursor a glow effect to stand out on the screen and grab viewers’ attention.
Cursor Highlight
Add a circle of color to draw viewers’ attention to the cursor.
Cursor Isolation
Hide the screen video to only display the cursor track.
Cursor Magnify
Enlarge the cursor area to show detail.
Cursor Motion Blur
Add a blur cursor movement to simulate a fast-moving cursor across the screen.
Cursor Path Creator
Add to images or videos recorded outside of Camtasia to design your own cursor path to simulate a demo or recording. Combine with left or right click effects to build click actions on anything! See Customize Your Cursor and Path.
Cursor Shadow
Add a visual effect that makes your cursor appear to float above the screen.
Cursor Smoothing
Transform distracting, jumpy cursor movements into smooth lines. See Quickly Smooth Cursor Movements.
Cursor Spotlight
Dim and blur the area outside of the highlighted cursor area to emphasize specific actions and cursor movements.
Gradient
Add a circular gradient highlight to emphasize specific actions and cursor movements and to match the video ascetic.
Kinetic Cursor
Add momentum to cursor movement to appear as if it is being pulled and pushed across the screen.
Lens
Enlarge the cursor area to emphasize cursor movements and show detail. Lens appears as though the cursor is viewed through a magnifying glass with no frame.
Negative
Invert the colors within the cursor area to emphasize specific actions and cursor movements.
Left Click & Right Click Effects
Click effects help to visually emphasize the action of a click within a video.
Click Burst 1-4
Select any of the four click burst animations to display around the mouse click area.
Click Zoom
Add a zoom lens over the mouse click area.
Rings
Add an expanding ring over the mouse click area.
Ripple
Add a transparent ripple over the mouse click area.
Scaling
Automatically scale the cursor down and up again to simulate the mouse click on the screen.
Scope
Add a visual target over the mouse click area.
Sound
Combine with other click effects to emphasize a cursor click.
Target
Add a circular visual target over the mouse click area.
Warp
Add a transparent visual effect to emphasize the mouse click that appears to push in the area around the mouse click.
Tip: Combine the Sound and the Scaling click effects to emphasize a click.
You can add multiple cursor effects to a clip. These two click effects pair perfectly together to emphasize the action of a click.
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