Zooming presentations with nested frames

Create a zooming presentation on an infinite canvas: arrange nested frames, move from overview to detail, and control the camera without duplicating slides.

3 min read

Create a frame

Choose the frame tool with F, then drag over the area you want to show. Frames can have different sizes and can overlap. Moving a frame carries the elements inside it.

Zoom into part of the same slide

Create a frame for the whole slide, then use the frame tool to draw a smaller frame around a chart, table, or other detail inside it. Place the detail frame after the full-slide frame in the frame list. Presenting moves the camera into that area; the previous-frame control takes you back to the full slide. Both views use the same canvas content, so there is no need to duplicate the slide. These frame transitions also work in an HTML export.

Shape the sequence

Use the frame list to drag frames into order. Double-click a frame name to rename it. Start with an overview, then add close-ups, or try another order that fits your story.

See every slide and keep the story moving

During a presentation, use the overview control to see all your slides together on the canvas. Click a frame to move directly to that moment, then continue with the previous and next controls. Return to the overview whenever you want to show how the parts connect. The overview and frame selection are also available in the exported browser presentation.

Present your canvas

Start with Ctrl/⌘+Enter. Advance with → / Space; go back with ←. Press Esc to close the tools, return from overview, or leave the slideshow. The camera fits each frame into the window and animates the move between frames. The control bar leaves the screen while you present and comes back when the pointer reaches the bottom edge of the window. The same controls and temporary ink are available in the app and new exports. Press P to point, drag to draw, and E to erase. Small screens keep these actions in Tools. Ink stays when pointing stops or overview returns to the same frame; another frame or ending the show clears it. Ink is never saved in the document.

A presentation frame in full-screen view

Set the pace

Open Settings with Ctrl/⌘+, and adjust the transition duration from 0–3 s. That is the document default, and every frame uses it until you give one its own: select a frame and the Camera section of the properties panel overrides the duration, easing, arc, roll and spotlight for the move into that frame. Set a duration to zero for an instant change.

Direct each move

Select a frame and open Camera in the properties panel. Duration sets travel time, easing shapes the pace, arc changes how far the camera pulls back, roll tilts the view, and spotlight dims the surrounding canvas. Controls show the resolved value, including inherited document settings. Reset restores the application defaults; a field without an override inherits the document setting. Motion marks in the frame list help find frames with non-default effects.

Preview and adjust several frames

Select several frames to apply a shared camera setting in one edit. Mixed values remain visible until you change that control. Use Preview to inspect the sequence while keeping editor controls available; Slide Show opens the presentation view. Reorder frames in the list to change the story without moving their content.

Suggest an improvement