What is Auto Zoom?
Auto Zoom is a signature ScreenKite feature that automatically detects cursor activity in your recording and generates smooth zoom animations to keep the viewer's attention focused on the action.
After capture, ScreenKite processes your recording and generates zoom effect clips on the Zoom & Pan track in the timeline automatically.
How It Works
- Record your screen normally — Auto Zoom does not affect the raw capture
- Open your project in the Project Editor
- ScreenKite analyzes cursor movement and click patterns
- Zoom effects are generated and placed on the Zoom & Pan effect track in the timeline
- Preview the result in real-time and adjust as needed
Follow Cursor uses comfort-zone tracking with smooth ease-in and ease-out — the canvas pans naturally to keep the cursor in a comfortable viewing zone without abrupt jumps, closely matching the feel of top-tier screen recorders.
Auto Zoom Settings
Configure Auto Zoom behavior in the Project Editor or in Settings → Recorder:
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom Multiplier | How much to zoom in (1.0×–10.0×) | 2.0× |
| Cam Zoom | Zoom-out factor for wide shots (≥ 1.0) | 1.43× |
| Minimum Idle Time | How long the cursor must pause before zoom resets | — |
| Minimum Interval | Minimum time between zoom events | — |
| Movement Threshold | Cursor distance threshold to trigger a new zoom | — |
| Zoom Out Delay | Delay before zooming back out | — |
Controls in the Editor
From the Project Editor, you can:
- Generate zoom effects (runs auto-analysis)
- Pick zoom center — select a zoom clip on the timeline, then use the embedded viewport picker in the Target section of the Auto Zoom inspector. The picker shows a live video thumbnail with a draggable bounding box you can reposition over the exact area you want to keep in frame. Dragging the box commits the change as the undo action Edit Zoom Focus.
- Re-enable Follow Cursor — re-enabling the Follow Cursor toggle in the Target section resets the focus point back to the default canvas center and resumes automatic cursor tracking for that clip.
- Edit zoom scale per individual clip
- Edit zoom-out factor for wide shots
- Enable/disable Auto Zoom per project
Auto Zoom inspector Target section showing the embedded viewport picker with a live video thumbnail and draggable focus rectangle
Zoom Effect Track
Auto Zoom generates zoom clips automatically and places them on the Zoom & Pan track in the timeline. You can also add, trim, or delete clips on this track manually to fine-tune exactly when the camera zooms in and out.
Motion Presets
The Motion row in the Auto Zoom inspector controls the spring animation used for zoom transitions. Three presets are available:
| Preset | Character |
|---|---|
| Focused (default) | Animation stabilizes quickly, making it easier to follow and read content. |
| Smooth | Animation is more fluid. Great for creative content not focused on reading. |
| Snappy | Animation has a quick bounce. Use for energetic demos where overshoot adds character. |
Auto Zoom inspector Motion row showing the Focused, Smooth, and Snappy segmented preset picker with the description text beneath
Per-clip motion overrides are available in the Motion section of the inspector when a zoom clip is selected. Set the Curve picker to Inherit to follow the project preset, or choose a specific preset to override it for that clip only.
Motion Blur
Motion blur softens fast camera movements during zoom transitions and cursor travel, making the final export feel more cinematic.
Auto Zoom inspector Motion Blur section with the Enable toggle on, Amount slider, Quality picker, and the Advanced disclosure group expanded showing Cursor, Screen, and Zoom per-component sliders
Enable
Toggle Enable in the Motion Blur section to turn motion blur on or off for the entire project. Motion blur is on by default for new projects.
Amount
The Amount slider (default 80%) controls the overall blur intensity. Drag it toward 0% to reduce blur everywhere, or toward 100% for a heavier, more cinematic look.
Quality
The Quality segmented picker sets the render quality:
| Option | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Fast | Lower quality; faster export. Good for drafts. |
| Balanced (default) | Balanced quality and performance. |
| High | Highest quality; slower export. Use for final delivery. |
Advanced
Expand the Advanced disclosure group to adjust blur per component independently:
| Component | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor | 100% | Applied during export only — preview playback skips cursor blur to stay responsive. |
| Screen | 80% | Blur applied to screen content during zoom and pan. |
| Zoom | 100% | Blur applied to the zoom transition animation itself. |