How to make an app promo video in minutes.

A great promo video tells a story in 10-15 seconds. Sketch a simple storyboard before opening Protato. A classic structure:

• 0-3s — Establish the scene: device centered, clean background, app name visible
• 3-7s — Camera orbits to reveal the screen: device fills more of the frame
• 7-12s — Screen recording plays on the device showing the key feature in action
• 12-15s — Pull back to show the full device with a tagline overlay

Build your static mockup before entering animation mode. Pick a device, import your app screenshot or a frame from your screen recording, choose a background, and set the lighting.

Use a clean background style — a subtle gradient or solid color. Busy backgrounds are distracting in motion. The Studio lighting preset works well for video because it illuminates the device evenly from all angles.

Set your aspect ratio to 16:9 for widescreen promo videos or 9:16 for vertical social video. The 16:9 ratio is standard for App Store previews and YouTube.

Tap the Photo/Animation toggle in the toolbar to switch to Animation mode. The timeline appears at the bottom of the canvas.

Position the camera at your opening angle (slightly zoomed out, showing the full device). Tap Animate View to set the first keyframe at 0 seconds.

Move the playhead to 3 seconds. Orbit the camera closer to the device or to a different angle. Tap Animate View again. Protato creates a smooth transition between the two keyframes.

Continue adding keyframes every 3-5 seconds to build your camera path. Each keyframe captures both the camera position and device layout at that moment.

For the section where you want to show your app in action, use a screen recording instead of a static image. Record your app on your iPhone simulator or real device, then transfer the video to Protato.

On the timeline at the point where you want the video to start, tap Add Clip. Select your screen recording from Files or Photos. The video appears on the device screen and plays during that section of the timeline.

The screen recording automatically syncs to the timeline — trim the clip by dragging its edges on the timeline to match your desired duration.

Text overlays in animation mode can fade in and out at specific points. Add a text element (your app name or tagline) at the beginning of the scene.

In the Layout tab, set Opacity to 0 at the start keyframe, then to 1 at a keyframe 0.5 seconds later. The text fades in smoothly. This works for any text element — headlines, feature labels, or CTAs.

For the ending call-to-action, add a text overlay that fades in during the last 2 seconds of the video. Keep it short: "Available now on the App Store" or "Get started free."

Tap Play to preview your full animation. Watch for awkward camera movements, text that appears too quickly, or screen recordings that don't sync properly.

Adjust timing by dragging keyframe diamonds left or right on the timeline. Use the timeline zoom slider to get a closer view of your keyframes for precise adjustments.

When you're happy with the preview, tap Export. Choose your resolution — 1080p is standard for most use cases, 1440p for premium quality. Do not close the app while rendering. When complete, save or share your promo video.