How-to guides · Updated
How to use punch-ins and zooms
Short answer
A punch-in is a quick crop into the frame that adds emphasis or hides a cut. Use it on key words or after a jump cut, keep the move small and consistent and avoid doing it on every sentence. Smooth, intentional zooms feel deliberate; random ones feel jittery.
When should you use them?
- On the key word of a sentence
- To hide a jump cut
- To change the look every few seconds
How large and how often?
Small enough that quality holds, and rare enough that each one means something. Bold pushes in slowly and punches on every key word, which gives rhythm without manual keyframes.
What goes wrong?
Over-zooming softens the image, and zooming on every beat is tiring.
Frequently asked questions
Do zooms reduce quality?
Large crops can soften the picture.
How often should I punch in?
On emphasis, not every line.
Can I animate zoom smoothly?
Use easing in your editor.
Are zooms the same as camera moves?
They look similar but are cropped in post.
Do I need 4K for zooms?
Higher resolution gives room to crop.
Skills mentioned on this page
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