Compositing and Picture-in-Picture
Layer clips together — webcam PiP, zoom callouts, screen highlights, and logo overlays — the professional screencast touch.
Core Idea
Compositing = multiple clips visible at the same time. Higher video tracks (V2, V3) appear on top of lower tracks (V1). Use Composite+Transform to position, scale, and blend the top layer.
Picture-in-Picture (Webcam Overlay)
The most common screencast composition:
V3 [Webcam clip] ← small box, corner position
V2 [Lower-third title]
V1 [Screen recording] ← main content, full frame
Step-by-Step PiP Setup
1. Import webcam recording to Project Bin
2. Drag webcam clip to V3 (above screen recording on V1)
→ Place it at the same time position as the screen recording
3. Right-click webcam clip → Insert a Composition
→ Choose "Composite and Transform"
4. Click the composition bar to select it
→ Effect Stack shows Composite and Transform parameters
5. Adjust in Effect Stack:
Position X: -38% (bottom-right corner)
Position Y: +38%
Size: 25% (quarter-screen PiP)
6. Preview with Space → webcam appears in bottom-right corner
PiP Position Presets
Bottom-right: X: +75% Y: +75% Size: 22%
Bottom-left: X: -75% Y: +75% Size: 22%
Top-right: X: +75% Y: -75% Size: 22%
Top-left: X: -75% Y: -75% Size: 22%
Zoom Callout (Highlight a Screen Region)
Zoom in on part of your screen recording to highlight a UI element:
Method 1: Composite + Transform with keyframes
1. Duplicate your screen recording to V2:
Click clip → Ctrl+C → click V2 at same position → Ctrl+V
2. Add Composite+Transform to V2 clip:
Right-click → Insert a Composition → Composite and Transform
3. In Effect Stack:
Enable keyframes
At start: Size 100%, Position 0%,0%
At highlight moment: Size 200%, Position centered on target region
At end: Size 100%, Position 0%,0%
Method 2: Zoom/Pan effect (simpler)
1. Select V1 clip
2. Effects → search "zoom"
3. Add "Zoom/Pan" effect
4. Set keyframes for zoom in/out
Logo / Watermark Overlay
Add a persistent logo or watermark to your screencast:
1. Import logo.png to Project Bin (needs transparency = PNG with alpha)
2. Drag logo to V2 for the full duration of the video
3. Right-click logo clip → Insert a Composition → Composite and Transform
4. In Effect Stack:
Mode: Alpha Over (respects transparency)
Position: top-right corner
Size: 8–10%
Opacity: 70% (semi-transparent for professionalism)
Screen Highlight / Color Overlay
Draw attention to a specific area with a color overlay:
1. Menu → Project → Add Color Clip
→ Choose semi-transparent red/yellow
2. Drag color clip to V2, position to cover only the highlight region
3. Add Composite and Transform:
Size: match the screen region
Mode: Screen or Overlay blend mode
Opacity: 30–40%
Alpha Channel Overlays (PNG Assets)
For callout arrows, highlights, icons:
1. Import PNG with transparency to Project Bin
2. Drag to V3 (above content)
3. Composition is added automatically for PNG files
→ Adjust position in Effect Stack
Blend Modes for Compositions
| Blend Mode | Effect | Screencast use |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Top clips shows entirely | Webcam PiP |
| Alpha Over | Respects alpha channel | PNG overlays |
| Screen | Lightens underlying layer | Highlight overlays |
| Multiply | Darkens underlying layer | Shadow overlays |
| Overlay | Contrast boost blend | Color grading |
Keyboard Reference for Compositing
| Action | Method |
|---|---|
| Add composition | Right-click clip → Insert Composition |
| Select composition | Click composition bar |
| Delete composition | Select → Del |
| Reset transform parameter | MMB (middle-click) on slider |
| Preview composition | Space |
| Undo composition change | Ctrl+Z |
| Add keyframe | Click keyframe icon in Effect Stack |
Hands-On Practice
1. Open project with screen recording on V1
2. If you have a webcam clip, import it
If not, use any small video clip as a substitute
3. Drag webcam clip to V3
4. Right-click → Insert Composition → Composite and Transform
5. In Effect Stack:
Set Size to 22%
Set X position to +75% (right side)
Set Y position to +75% (bottom)
Preview → PiP should appear bottom-right
6. Add a PNG logo (or any PNG file):
Drag to V2 across full duration
Composition applied automatically
Set Opacity to 70%
7. Preview the full composition with Space
8. Ctrl+S → save