OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Ken Burns Effect Maker
Turn Still Photos Into a Pan and Zoom Video, Choosing Direction and Focus Point
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How the Ken Burns Effect works
The Ken Burns effect turns a still photo into moving footage by slowly panning across it or zooming in and out. Drop in one photo or a whole set, choose the move, how deep the zoom goes and how long each photo stays, and download a finished video. Everything runs in your browser and your photos are never uploaded.
What the Ken Burns effect is
Documentary maker Ken Burns built whole films from old photographs by moving a rostrum camera across them, and the slow drift became so linked to his name that Apple labelled the feature after him. The motion gives the eye something to follow, hints where to look and makes a still picture feel like a scene. It works best on wide landscapes, group shots and detailed old prints.
Choosing the move for each photo
"Zoom in" pushes towards the subject and builds tension; "Zoom out" reveals the wider scene. Pans slide across a wide shot from one edge to the other. "Random mix" gives every photo its own move so a long sequence never feels repetitive, while "Alternate in and out" keeps a steady rhythm. The zoom depth sets how far the frame travels: 10–20% is subtle, 40% or more is dramatic. "Zoom towards" aims the push at the top or bottom third, handy for faces in a portrait.
Timing and smooth motion
Each move eases in and out, so the camera starts and stops gently instead of jerking. Four to eight seconds per photo suits most stories. Crossfade blends each photo into the next while both are still moving; Cut switches instantly, which suits fast music.
Ken Burns effect vs a basic slideshow
The slideshow maker is for sequences with music and only offers one gentle push-in. This page is for the motion itself: six directions, adjustable depth and a focus point. Rendering runs in real time and saves WebM in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, or MP4 in Safari.
FAQ
Can I add music to the Ken Burns video?
Not on this page, which concentrates on the camera moves. Download the result and add a track with the slideshow maker or a video editor, or render your photos in the slideshow maker if one gentle zoom per photo is enough for your project.
What order are the photos used in?
Photos are sorted by file name with numbers read naturally, so photo-2 comes before photo-10. Rename the files with a number at the start if you want a particular order before dropping them onto the page.
Why does the edge of my photo get cropped?
The photo first fills the whole video frame, then the zoom adds more room to move. A tall photo in a wide video loses some of its top and bottom. Pick the 1080 × 1920 size for portrait photos, or use pans up and down to show the whole height.
See also: all Video & Screen tools, Images, Audio, PDF, SVG, Simulations & Screensavers, Generative Art, Chart Makers, 3D Model Viewers, Drawing Pads, Mockups & 3D Making, Diagram Makers, 3D Science, Tracker Music.
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