How to create a product reveal video with keyframe animation.
A still mockup is clean. An animated one is unforgettable. Record camera moves across your scene, layer keyframes with easing, and export a cinematic product reveal video — all inside Protato, no video editor needed.
What you'll build
A short product reveal animation — the camera orbits around a device (or multi-device scene) with smooth motion, synced to a timeline, exported as a video file.
What you'll use
Animation mode toggle, timeline panel, keyframe (Animate View) button, play/pause preview, camera orbit, video export, IBL (Image-Based Lighting), and lighting presets (Studio, Dramatic, Flat) with per-light sliders.
Animations are available on both iPhone and Mac. The Mac timeline gives you more screen space, but the iPhone workflow is identical — just tap Animation mode and go.
Step 01
Set up your scene in Photo mode first.
Build your mockup as you normally would — choose a device, import your screenshot, set the background, adjust lighting, and add any text overlays.
Everything you set up in Photo mode carries over to Animation mode. This way you focus on composition first and motion second.
Step 02
Switch to Animation mode.
Tap the toolbar toggle in the center and switch from Photo to Animation. A timeline panel appears at the bottom of the canvas.
The timeline shows a time ruler with tick marks, a play/pause button, an Animate View button (keyframe), an Add Clip button (for video-on-screen), and undo/redo arrows.
Step 01
Set up your scene in Photo mode first.
Build your mockup as you normally would — choose a device, import your screenshot, set the background, adjust lighting, and add any text overlays. Use the iPhone 17 Pro Max for mobile or MacBook Pro 14" for desktop.
Everything you set up in Photo mode carries over to Animation mode. This way you focus on composition first and motion second. The Studio lighting preset provides a balanced base that works well for most product reveal videos.
Step 04
Move the playhead and set a second keyframe.
Drag the playhead (the red line on the timeline) forward to about the 2-second mark. Orbit and zoom the camera to a new position — closer to the device, or a different angle that reveals the screen.
Tap Animate View again. Protato automatically creates a smooth animated transition between the first and second keyframes.
For more complex animations, repeat this process — add 3, 4, or more keyframes to create a camera path that orbits, zooms, and reveals different parts of your scene.
Step 05
Preview and fine-tune the animation.
Tap the Play button to preview your animation. Watch the camera move between keyframes in real time.
If the motion is too fast or too slow, drag keyframe diamonds left or right on the timeline to adjust timing. Use the timeline zoom slider to get a closer view of your keyframes.
On Mac, you can adjust the easing curve for each keyframe — choose from linear, ease-in, ease-out, or custom curves for more natural motion. This matches the '90-Second App Store Screenshot' video script timing guidance.
For the 'Multi-Device Flex' style animation, ensure each device in the scene has consistent lighting (Studio preset recommended) and IBL enabled for unified reflections across the camera orbit.
Step 06
Export the video.
Tap the Export button. Choose your resolution — 720p, 1080p, or 1440p. Higher resolutions look sharper but create larger files.
Tap Export and wait for the render to complete. A progress bar appears — do not close the app while rendering.
When it finishes, save the video to your device or share it directly. The result is a polished product reveal clip ready for App Store previews, social media, or pitch decks. This matches the '90-Second App Store Screenshot' and 'POV: Indie Dev Discovers Protato' video script formats.
For multi-device scenes, enable IBL (Image-Based Lighting) before exporting to ensure consistent reflections across all devices during the camera orbit.
Continue
Keep the motion going.
How to build a multi-device scene with iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.
Animate a full ecosystem shot — orbit between devices to create a cinematic product family reveal.
How to add text overlays and branding to your mockups.
Add animated text callouts that fade in at specific points in your timeline.
How to polish your mockup with studio lighting and materials.
Ensure your device looks its best from every camera angle with balanced lighting and consistent materials.
