Motion designer's guide to camera paths

Camera motion defines the mood of any sequence. By balancing movement types and easing, you can guide attention without disorienting viewers.

Build a move library

Start with three core moves: dolly in, orbit, and tilt reveal. Chain them with carefully spaced keyframes and preview transitions at half speed to catch abrupt shifts.

Use easing for intention

Ease-in curves suit destination reveals, while ease-out keeps the focus on an exit point. Mapimator's custom easing editor lets you mirror familiar NLE behaviors.

• Align the horizon before orbiting to avoid sudden pitch jumps.
• Favor wide lenses when highlighting geographic context.
• Preview the move from multiple zoom levels to confirm transitions hold up.

With practice, layered camera paths become second nature - your audience experiences a guided tour through the story rather than a series of disconnected shots.