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This guide will walk you through creating your first screen recording with OpenScreen, from launching the app to exporting a polished video. You’ll learn the essential workflow and key features.

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Your First Recording

1

Launch OpenScreen

Open OpenScreen from your Applications folder, Start menu, or by running the AppImage.The source selector window will appear, showing all available screens and application windows.
2

Select your recording source

Choose what you want to record:
  • Entire Screen - Capture everything on your monitor
  • Specific Window - Record a single application (recommended for focused demos)
Click on the source you want to record to select it.
Recording a specific window gives you cleaner results and better performance than recording the entire screen.
3

Start recording

Click the Record button to begin capturing.OpenScreen will start recording immediately. A recording indicator will appear in your system tray showing that recording is in progress.
Perform your actions naturally. You’ll be able to trim, zoom, and enhance the video in the editor.
4

Stop recording

When you’re done, stop the recording by:
  • Clicking the Stop button in the system tray
  • Using the keyboard shortcut (if configured)
OpenScreen will automatically process your recording and open it in the video editor.

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Editing Your Video

Once recording stops, the video editor opens with your footage ready to enhance.

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Understanding the Editor Interface

The video editor has three main areas:
  • Preview window (center) - Watch your video with real-time effects
  • Timeline (bottom) - Edit timing, add zooms, annotations, and trims
  • Settings panel (right) - Customize backgrounds, effects, and export options

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Adding Zoom Effects

Zoom effects help focus attention on important parts of your recording.
1

Position the playhead

Drag the playhead (red vertical line) on the timeline to where you want the zoom to start.
2

Add a zoom region

Right-click on the Zoom track in the timeline and select Add Zoom (or use the keyboard shortcut).A zoom region appears on the timeline.
3

Adjust zoom duration

Drag the edges of the zoom region to control how long the zoom lasts.
4

Set zoom depth

With the zoom region selected, use the Zoom Depth slider in the settings panel to choose magnification:
  • 1.25× - Subtle emphasis
  • 1.5× - Gentle zoom
  • 1.8× - Moderate zoom (default)
  • 2.2× - Strong zoom
  • 3.5× - Very close
  • 5× - Maximum magnification
5

Position the zoom focus

Click on the preview window where you want the zoom to center. The zoom will smoothly transition to focus on that area.
OpenScreen applies smooth motion blur to zoom transitions automatically, creating professional-looking movement.

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Customizing the Background

Replace your boring desktop with a beautiful background.
1

Open the Style tab

In the settings panel, click the Style tab.
2

Choose a background type

Select from four background options:
  • Wallpapers - 18 pre-designed backgrounds
  • Gradients - 24 colorful gradient options
  • Solid Color - Pick any solid color using the color picker
  • Custom Image - Upload your own background image
3

Adjust window styling

Customize how your recorded window looks:
  • Shadow Intensity - Add depth with shadows (0-100)
  • Border Radius - Round the corners (0-50px)
  • Padding - Control spacing around the window (0-200px)
  • Blur - Apply background blur for depth of field

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Adding Annotations

Annotations help highlight important information in your video.
1

Position the playhead

Move to where you want the annotation to appear.
2

Add an annotation

Right-click the Annotations track and select Add Annotation.
3

Choose annotation type

In the settings panel, select:
  • Text - Add labels, callouts, or explanations
  • Arrow - Point to specific UI elements (8 directions available)
  • Image - Insert custom graphics or icons
4

Customize the annotation

For text annotations:
  • Enter your text content
  • Choose font family, size, and weight
  • Set text color and background color
  • Adjust alignment (left, center, right)
For arrows:
  • Pick direction (up, down, left, right, or diagonals)
  • Choose color and stroke width
For images:
  • Upload your image file
5

Position and resize

Drag the annotation in the preview window to position it, then drag the corners to resize.

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Trimming Unwanted Sections

Remove mistakes or dead time from your recording.
1

Find the section to trim

Scrub through your video to identify unwanted sections.
2

Add a trim region

Right-click on the Trim track and select Add Trim.
3

Set trim boundaries

Drag the edges of the trim region to mark exactly what to remove. The trimmed section will be cut from the final export.
Trimmed sections are permanently removed from exports but don’t affect your original recording file.

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Cropping the Video

Hide parts of your screen you don’t want to show.
1

Open crop settings

Click the Crop button in the toolbar or settings panel.
2

Adjust crop region

In the preview window, drag the crop handles to define the visible area. Everything outside this region will be hidden.
3

Fine-tune with controls

Use the numeric controls in the settings panel for precise cropping:
  • X position
  • Y position
  • Width
  • Height

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Adjusting Playback Speed

Speed up or slow down sections of your video.
1

Add a speed region

Position the playhead, right-click the Speed track, and select Add Speed Change.
2

Choose speed

Select from 7 speed options:
  • 0.25× - Very slow
  • 0.5× - Half speed
  • 0.75× - Slightly slow
  • 1.25× - Slightly fast
  • 1.5× - Medium fast (default)
  • 1.75× - Fast
  • 2× - Double speed
3

Set duration

Drag the edges of the speed region to control which section plays at the modified speed.

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Exporting Your Video

Once you’re happy with your edits, export the final video.
1

Choose export format

In the Export tab of the settings panel, select your format:
  • MP4 - Standard video format (recommended)
  • GIF - Animated image for web sharing
2

Configure MP4 settings

For MP4 exports:
  • Aspect Ratio - Choose 16:9, 9:16 (vertical), 1:1 (square), 4:3, 21:9, or custom
  • Quality - Select Medium, Good, or Source (highest)
Source quality maintains your original recording quality but creates larger files. Good quality offers the best balance.
3

Configure GIF settings

For GIF exports:
  • Frame Rate - 15, 20, 25, or 30 FPS (higher = smoother but larger)
  • Size Preset - Medium (720p), Large (1080p), or Original
  • Loop - Enable to make the GIF loop continuously
GIFs create much larger files than MP4s. Use lower frame rates and smaller sizes for web sharing.
4

Start export

Click the Export button at the bottom of the settings panel.OpenScreen will show a progress dialog while rendering your video with all effects applied.
5

Save the file

When export completes, choose where to save your video. The file is ready to share!

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Saving and Loading Projects

Save your work to continue editing later.

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Saving a Project

  1. Click the Save Project button (floppy disk icon) in the toolbar
  2. Choose a location and name for your project file
  3. OpenScreen saves all your edits, settings, and timeline data
Project files don’t include the original video - they only store edit information. Keep your recording file in the same location.

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Loading a Project

  1. Click the Load Project button (folder icon) in the toolbar
  2. Select your saved project file
  3. OpenScreen restores all your edits exactly as you left them

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with keyboard shortcuts:
  • Space - Play/Pause
  • Left/Right Arrow - Step forward/backward one frame
  • Home - Jump to start
  • End - Jump to end
  • Delete - Remove selected timeline item
To view all shortcuts or customize them, click the Keyboard Shortcuts button (keyboard icon) in the toolbar.

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Tips for Better Videos

Plan your recording

Outline what you’ll demonstrate before recording. This reduces editing time and creates smoother content.

Use zooms sparingly

Only zoom to highlight important actions. Too many zooms can be distracting.

Match your aspect ratio to the platform

  • 16:9 for YouTube, tutorials, and presentations
  • 9:16 for Instagram Stories, TikTok, and mobile
  • 1:1 for Instagram feed and Twitter

Test your export settings

Export a short section first to check quality and file size before rendering the full video.

Keep backgrounds simple

Solid colors or subtle gradients work better than busy wallpapers for professional demos.

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Next Steps

You’ve learned the basics of OpenScreen! Here are some ways to continue:
  • Experiment with different background styles and effects
  • Try combining multiple zoom levels in one video
  • Explore annotation styling options for branded content
  • Check the GitHub issues to report bugs or request features
  • Contribute to the project if you’re a developer
Join the OpenScreen community on GitHub to share your creations, get help, and suggest improvements!

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