ZELLACallouts in Zella: Arrows, Spotlight & Blur
Quick answer: Open the Callouts tab in Zella’s editor and add one of 8 callout types — Arrow, Box, Ellipse, Label, Keystroke, Spotlight, Number, Blur — then set its time and position. Use arrows/boxes to point, spotlights to force focus, keystroke callouts to show shortcuts, number badges for steps, and blur to censor secrets. Callouts survive transitions and save with the project.
On this page: open the tab · the 8 types · position · transitions & persistence · where & when · impact · FAQ
How to add a callout
- Open the Callouts tab (right inspector).
- Add a callout and choose its kind.
- Set its time (when it appears) and duration.
- Position and size it; style its color and thickness.
Figure: the 8 callout types. ① add a callout and pick its kind, then set time, duration, and position.
What are the 8 callout types?
| Callout | What it does | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Arrow | Points at something | ”Click here” |
| Box | Outlined rectangle | Highlight a menu/section |
| Ellipse | Outlined circle/oval | Circle a button or field |
| Label | Text tag with a leader | Name a UI element |
| Keystroke | Shows pressed keys (⌘S) | Demoing shortcuts |
| Spotlight | Dims everything except a region | Force focus on one area |
| Number | Numbered badge | Step-by-step “1, 2, 3” |
| Blur | Censors a region | Hide keys, faces, emails |
Each renders its shape over the footage and bakes into the export. (Blur is also covered in Effects.)
How to position and move a callout
- On an Original-aspect preview, drag the callout’s handles to reposition it directly.
- On a cropped/reframed preview, use the position sliders (dragging on a cropped canvas is ambiguous, so sliders give precise control).
Do callouts survive transitions and reopening?
Yes — a callout placed across a transition is present on both sides of the cut, and callouts are saved with the project, surviving a close/reopen with their kind, position, timing, and style intact (chapter 22).
Where and when to use callouts
- Tutorials: Arrow at each click, Number badges for steps, Keystroke when you use a shortcut.
- Demos: Spotlight the one panel that matters; Box/Ellipse to highlight.
- Anything with private data: Blur over API keys, emails, customer info.
- When: add callouts after the cut is locked, so their timing lands on the right moments.
What impact callouts have
For content creators and video editors, callouts make a video impossible to misread:
- Lower confusion, higher completion — an arrow at the exact button means viewers don’t get lost and re-watch or quit.
- Faster learning — number badges and spotlights chunk a process into obvious steps, which is why tutorials with callouts feel “easy to follow.”
- Safe public demos — blur callouts let you show real, logged-in software without leaking secrets, removing the main reason teams hesitate to publish demos.
- Professional polish — keystroke and label callouts signal a produced, intentional tutorial.
Callouts FAQ
How do I point an arrow at something in a video? Callouts tab → add an Arrow, set its time, and position it.
How do I show which keyboard shortcut I pressed? Add a Keystroke callout (e.g. ⌘S) at that moment.
How do I blur out a password or email in a recording? Add a Blur callout over the area — it’s censored in the exported file. (See Effects.)
How do I move a callout on a vertical/cropped video? Use the position sliders in the Callouts tab (dragging is for the Original preview).
Do callouts disappear during a transition? No — they render on both sides of the cut.
Pro tips & gotchas
- Eight kinds: arrow, box, ellipse, label, keystroke, spotlight, number, blur — pick the one that names the action.
- Use blur to hide sensitive info (emails, keys); it renders in place on the frame.
- Position callouts with the sliders in the Callouts tab (dragging works on the Original preview).
- Callouts render on both sides of a transition, so they won’t vanish at a cut.
Related: Titles → · Effects (blur, masks) → · Reframe → · Workflow recipes →