Add Zoom-to-Mouse Effects in OBS

Add Zoom-to-Mouse Effects in OBS

Free alternative to Screen Studio using OBS Lua scripts to add dynamic zoom effects to your recordings.

Add Zoom-to-Mouse Effects in OBS

Paid tools like Screen Studio offer dynamic zoom effects during recording. You can achieve the same result for free using OBS Studio and a community Lua script. This guide works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

🔍 What You’ll Build

A zoom-to-mouse effect that:

  • Automatically zooms into your cursor location during recording
  • Follows mouse movement smoothly
  • Can be toggled on/off with hotkeys
  • Runs entirely in OBS (no external dependencies)

🛠️ Setup Steps

Step 1: Download the Script

  1. Visit GitHub: obs-zoom-to-mouse releases
  2. Download obs-zoom-to-mouse.lua from the Assets section

Step 2: Configure OBS Scene

  1. Launch OBS and create a new Scene
  2. Add a video source:
    • Mac: macOS Screen Capture
    • Windows: Display Capture
    • Linux: Screen Capture (XSHM) or similar

Note: Not all capture sources work with this script. Use the recommended source type for your OS.

Step 3: Load the Script

  1. Click Tools → Scripts
  2. Click the + icon to add a script
  3. Select the obs-zoom-to-mouse.lua file you downloaded
  4. In the right panel, select your video source as the Zoom Source
  5. If your source doesn’t appear, click Refresh zoom sources

Step 4: Configure Settings

Default settings work well for most setups. To match professional results:

SettingRecommended Value
Zoom Level2.0 - 3.0x
Zoom Speed0.3 - 0.5s
Smooth FollowingEnabled

For Mac Retina Displays:

  • Enable Set Manual Source Position
  • Set Scale X and Scale Y to 2
  • Set Monitor Width and Monitor Height to your screen resolution

Step 5: Configure Hotkeys

  1. Go to Settings → Hotkeys
  2. Search for Toggle zoom to mouse
  3. Assign a hotkey (e.g., 1 for zoom toggle, 2 for follow toggle)

For Mac Global Hotkeys (Optional): This lets you use hotkeys even when OBS isn’t in focus.

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
  2. Add OBS to Accessibility permissions
  3. Add OBS to Input Monitoring permissions
  4. Restart OBS for changes to take effect

Known issue: Global hotkeys may stop working after a few hours. Restart your computer to restore functionality.

🎯 Usage

  • Press hotkey 1: Toggle zoom on/off
  • Press hotkey 2: Toggle mouse-following during zoom
  • Record normally: Zoom effects are captured automatically

💡 Tips for Best Results

  1. Test before recording: Run through hotkeys in a test recording
  2. Use moderate zoom levels: 2-3x zoom looks professional; 5x+ can be jarring
  3. Enable smooth following: Jerky zoom detracts from content
  4. On Retina displays: Follow the Mac-specific configuration above
  5. Combine with other effects: Layer zoom with panning for more dynamic content

📚 Resources