Enhance Your Video Overview

Add enhancements to apply effects, animations, behaviors, transitions, and annotations that can make your video look more polished and professional.

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In this tutorial:

Video Enhancement Types

TypeDescription
AnimationsAnimations add interesting focal points to your video such as:
  • A talking head that smoothly transitions or trades places with a screen recording.
  • An image that enters the video from the left, pauses, then flies off the canvas to the right.
  • Callouts that animate in various ways on the canvas to draw attention to an area in the video.
  • Zooming in or out on important parts of your video to draw attention to key actions or enhance difficult to view parts within a video.
Add animations to images, video clips, and annotations. To learn more about editing annotations, see Edit Enhancements.
Annotations and TextGraphics or text overlaid on a video to draw viewers’ attention to important objects or processes. To learn more about editing annotations, see Edit Enhancements.
BehaviorsBehaviors are animated presets to drag and drop on text and media to liven it up and engage your viewers. Apply behaviors to any visual object on the timeline.

These might include:
  • Plain text that gently pulsates where you want viewers to click a link.
  • Image or a logo that enters the screen then swings back and forth on a hinge.
  • Callouts that animate in various ways on the canvas to draw attention to an area in the video.
See Animate Text & Images with Behaviors and Add Annotations, Callouts, & Titles.
Cursor EffectsCamtasia Recorder collects and stores cursor data in the TREC recording file. Add cursor effects to enhance or edit the cursor in your recording.
TransitionsTransitions add a visual effect between the end of a clip and the beginning of the next clip. Use transitions to indicate the passage of time, change in location, or to create a smooth flow between clips.
Visual EffectsVisual effects can improve the look and quality of your video. Apply an effect to an entire clip or adjust the duration to a portion of a clip.
Gesture Effects (Mac only)Gesture effects add visual effects that simulate taps, swipes, and pinches on mobile devices. See Record iOS Devices.

Add an Enhancement

Steps to add an enhancement
  1. Click an enhancement tab, such as the Annotations tab or Behaviors tab.
  2. Select an enhancement from the subtabs or dropdowns.
  3. Drag the enhancement onto the timeline. For some enhancements, Camtasia highlights where the selection can be applied.
  4. To edit the properties, see Discover the Properties Panel.

Tip: Save custom enhancements to reduce editing time.

Save custom enhancements as presets or favorites to streamline your workflow. See Customize Camtasia.

Edit Enhancements

TypeDetails
AnimationsClick to select the animation arrow to edit. The selected animation arrow turns yellow.
  • Change duration: Drag the end of the animation in either direction.
    Drag the end of the animation arrow to adjust duration
  • Move: Click and drag the animation arrow onto another location on the media on the timeline.
    Drag the animation arrow on the timeline
  • Restore: Drag the Restore animation onto a clip after another animation to reverse the previous animation to its previous state.
    Drag Restore animation to the timeline
  • Delete: Press the Delete key.
For more editing help, see Animations In-Depth and Zoom In to Focus Attention.
Annotations and TextClick to select the annotation to edit.
  • Edit text: Double-click the annotation on the canvas and enter the desired text.
  • Move: Click and drag the annotation to new location on the canvas.
  • Resize: Click and drag a handle in any direction.
  • Rotate: Click and drag the center handle.
  • Delete: Press the Delete key.
For more editing help, see Add Annotations, Callouts, & Titles.
BehaviorsClick the Effects tray on the media and click to select the behavior. The selected behavior turns yellow.
Select a Behavior in the Effects tray
In the properties panel:
  • Turn on/off: Click the toggle to turn the behavior on or off.
    Behavior toggle
  • Delete: Click the X icon to remove the behavior.
    Delete behavior icon
  • In tab: Customize how the behavior enters the canvas.
  • During tab: Customize the behavior while it is on the canvas.
  • Out tab: Customize how the behavior exits the canvas.
For more editing help, see Animate Text & Images with Behaviors and Add Annotations, Callouts, & Titles.
Cursor Effects, Gesture Effects, and Visual EffectsClick the Effects tray on the media and click to select the effect. The effect turns yellow.
Open the effects tray Select an effect
  • Change duration: Drag the effect handles to adjust when the effect starts and ends during the clip.
    Drag effect handle to change the duration
  • Delete: Press the Delete key to remove the behavior or effect.
  • Edit properties: Adjust the settings in the properties panel.
  • Turn on/off: Click the toggle in the properties panel.
For more editing help, see Edit the Cursor with Effects, Record iOS Devices (Mac), and Visual Effects Overview.
TransitionsClick to select the transition on the timeline. The transition turns yellow.
  • Change duration: Drag the transition handles on the timeline to adjust when the transition starts and ends.
    Drag transition handles to adjust duration
  • Edit properties: Adjust the settings in the properties panel.
  • Turn on/off: Click the toggle in the properties panel.
  • Delete: Press the Delete key.

Tip: Improve editing performance with Proxy Video.

If you experience lag, particularly when playing back or scrubbing through high-resolution video, create a Proxy Video to improve performance. See Import & Manage Your Media (Media Bin).