TECHSMITH CAMTASIA: Cursor Smoothing: A Cure For the Over-Caffeinated

Any eLearning developer knows that coffee by the gallon helps get the job done. Of course, too much coffee can lead to the jitters and, by extension, a jittery mouse while recording a video demonstration.   Such was the case for me during a recent project. I was recording a series of clicks in a client's software using Camtasia Recorder. After importing the video in the Camtasia Editor and adding the video to the Timeline, I was dismayed to see that my mouse was all over the screen... not smooth at all.   Under normal circumstances, a herky-jerky cursor in a recording requires a re-record (once the effects of the caffeine have worn off). Fortunately, the recently released Camtasia 2019 has a solution: Cursor Smoothing.   Add your Camtasia recording to the Timeline. From the list of tools at the left of the Camtasia Editor, select Cursor Effects.

There are three options at the top of Cursor Effects: Cursor Effects, Left Click Cursor Effects, and Right Click Cursor Effects. Select Cursor Effects.

With the video on the Timeline selected, right-click Cursor Smoothing and choose Add to Selected Media.

Just like that, you've been decaffeinated. And while you'll likely find that Camtasia's built-in smoothing settings have settled your mouse motions nicely, you can also explore the Cursor Smoothing Properties for some fine-tuning.

Looking for TechSmith Camtasia training or support? Check out these hands-on, instructor-led classes. If you prefer something a little more private, we also offer one-on-one Camtasia mentoring.