> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://captions.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using Keyframes for Dynamic Captions > Animate your captions across the screen using keyframes. Set a start position and end position, and Captions handles the motion between them. Keyframes let you animate captions and image overlays by setting a starting position and an ending position. Captions automatically generates the motion between them. The result is captions that fly in, drift across the screen, zoom out, or move to follow the action. ## How keyframes work Think of a keyframe as a marker in time with a position attached. You set two keyframes: 1. **Keyframe 1:** where the caption starts (position, size, rotation) 2. **Keyframe 2:** where the caption ends Captions animates the transition between the two over the duration of the segment. You choose the animation curve: linear, ease, or instant. ## When to use keyframes * **Hook moments:** animate your opening caption to fly in for impact * **Emphasis:** move a caption to point toward something in the frame * **Reaction shots:** have a word zoom out as it's spoken for emphasis * **Dynamic storytelling:** keep the viewer's eye moving across the screen * **Logo or brand element animation:** make an image overlay drift across the frame ## Adding a keyframe Tap the caption or image overlay in the editor. Make sure you're on the segment you want to animate. In the caption editor, tap **Keyframes** to open the keyframe panel. Move the playhead to the moment where you want the animation to start. Drag the caption to the starting position. Pinch to resize if needed. This is Keyframe 1. Move the playhead to where you want the animation to end. Drag the caption to the ending position. This is Keyframe 2. Select from three options: * **Linear:** constant speed throughout * **Ease:** starts slow, accelerates, then slows at the end. Feels natural for most movements. * **Instant:** snaps from position to position with no transition. Good for cuts or emphasis. Tap **Apply** to preview the animation. Scrub through the timeline to see it in motion. ## Tips for effective keyframe animation * **Less is more.** One or two animated moments per video is impactful. Every caption animating is chaotic. * **Use ease for natural movement.** Linear animation looks mechanical. Ease almost always feels better. * **Match the energy of the content.** A calm, educational video calls for subtle drift. A high-energy short clip can handle a bigger, faster move. * **Animate the hook caption.** The opening caption is the highest-value animation in any video. A caption that comes in with purpose makes the viewer feel like something is happening. * **Use keyframes on image overlays too.** A product image that drifts slowly across the frame is more engaging than a static one. ## Example: hook caption animation This is one of the most common and effective uses of keyframes: 1. Place your hook caption in the lower third of the screen 2. Set Keyframe 1 at the very start of the video, with the caption positioned just off-screen at the bottom 3. Set Keyframe 2 at 0.5 seconds, with the caption in its final position in the lower third 4. Choose **Ease** curve 5. The caption slides up into frame at the start of the video Result: the viewer's eye is drawn to the caption the moment the video starts. Full feature documentation. Style and position captions before adding keyframes. Choose your caption style first. Manually position captions.