How To Zoom In And Out On Filmora

Wondershare Filmora’s video-editing software is a fantastic program. User-friendly, affordable (if not free), versatile, and sharply designed, there are so many things you can do with Filmora.

However, if you’re new to the software, you might find yourself at a loss for how to carry out even the most basic of tasks, such as zooming in and out. 

To learn how to zoom in and out on Filmora in a variety of ways, simply follow our easy step-by-step guides below. For any additional information or queries, see our FAQs at the end of this article.

How to zoom in and out from the timeline on Filmora (click and drag)

1. Open up Wondershare Filmora on your PC and load a test project with some video on the timeline to test zooming in and out on
2. Locate the timeline below the preview pane, and the time signatures above the timeline’s content. Hover your mouse over the time signatures, and you’ll see the cursor turn to a double-headed horizontal arrow
3. To zoom in on the timeline, click and drag the time signature bar to the right until you achieve your desired timeline zoom level
4. To zoom out from the timeline, click and drag the time signature bar to the left until you achieve your desired timeline zoom level
5. To reset the zoom of the timeline (fitting the project to the width of the timeline window), click the ‘Zoom To Fit Timeline’ button to the left of the zoom slider, located directly below the bottom-right corner of the preview pane

How to zoom in and out from the timeline on Filmora (keyboard shortcuts)

1. Open up Wondershare Filmora on your PC and load a test project with some video on the timeline to test zooming in and out on
2. To zoom in on the timeline, press CTRL and PLUS (+) on your keyboard.
3. To zoom out from the timeline, press CTRL and MINUS (-) on your keyboard.
4. To reset the zoom of the timeline (fitting the project to the width of the timeline window), press SHIFT + Z on your keyboard at any time

How to zoom in and out from the timeline on Filmora (slider and ‘View’)

1. Open up Wondershare Filmora on your PC and load a test project with some video on the timeline to test zooming in and out on
2. Locate the zoom slider below the bottom-right corner of the preview pane
   1. To zoom in on the timeline, either drag this slider to the right, or click the (+) symbol to the right of the slider
   2. To zoom out from the timeline, either drag this slider to the left, or click the (-) symbol to the left of the slider
3. Alternatively, you can zoom in and out via the tools located in the ‘View’ menu
   1. First, click on ‘View’ along the top of the page
   2. Next, click ‘Zoom Timeline’
   3. To zoom in, click ‘Zoom In’
   4. To zoom out, click ‘Zoom Out’
   5. To reset the zoom, or fit the entire project to the width of the timeline window, click ‘Zoom to Fit’

How to zoom in and out on the preview pane in Filmora (‘View’ tools)

1. Open up Wondershare Filmora on your PC and load a test project with some video on the timeline to test zooming in and out on
2. Click ‘View’ along the top of the page
3. Click ‘Zoom Level’ from the drop-down menu
4. Now choose and click a zoom level from the options (Fit, 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent)
5. To reset the zoom level of the preview pane, repeat step 4 and choose ‘Fit’

How to zoom in and out on the preview pane (right-click)

1. Open up Wondershare Filmora on your PC and load a test project with some video on the timeline to test zooming in and out on
2. Right-click the image in the preview pane
3. Click ‘Zoom Level’ from the drop-down menu
4. Now choose and click a zoom level from the options (Fit, 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent)
5. To reset the zoom level of the preview pane, repeat step 4 and choose ‘Fit’

Note: Altering the zoom level of the preview pane will not affect the framing of the video, it only allows you to view your footage in the preview pane at variously magnified levels (handy for reviewing specific elements of your project)

And there you have it! However you prefer to work, knowing how to zoom in and out confidently and quickly from either the timeline or the preview pane can save you a great deal of hassle when it comes to editing and reviewing your projects.

If you have any other queries, or wish to read some additional information, please see our FAQs below.

Frequently asked questions

What do different methods of zooming on Filmora accomplish?

Wondershare Filmora – the free and paid film editing software from Wondershare – is a super accessible, user-friendly film editing software, beloved by hundreds of thousands of users all around the world. Its intuitive design, versatility, and sleek, interactive design make it a pretty simple piece of software to get used to.

However, as with any editing software, the depths of your understanding and familiarity with Filmora will take time to reach. One of the best ways to help you master the tools of Filmora more efficiently is to first learn how to apply the various zoom tools at your disposal. 

Zooming in and out of the preview window and/or the Filmora timeline is a fundamental skill, and one which you can employ to better edit your projects in future. 

Zooming in or out from the timeline allows you to edit your project in greater detail: at a super small, specific scale; or to see it in its entirety: on a large enough scale that you can quickly navigate about the project and spot any potential or obvious anomalies. 

Zooming in and out of the preview window allows you to examine either specific, detailed elements of the video/picture as you playback your project, or to view it from afar; enabling you to judge your project from various aspects.

How do I reset the zoom on the timeline on Filmora?

There’s no surefire way to reset the timeline zoom on Filmora back to default; however the next best thing (aside from toggling zoom and playing with it yourself, until you achieve something close to what you deem ‘default’ zoom) is to fit the project to the width of the timeline window.

To do so, simply either use the keyboard shortcut SHIFT + Z, click View > Zoom Timeline > Zoom to Fit, or click the ‘Zoom To Fit Timeline’ button to the left of the zoom slider, beneath the preview pane.

How do I reset the zoom on the preview window on Filmora?

To reset the zoom on the preview pane on Filmora, either right-click on the preview pane, then from the pop-up menu navigate Zoom Level > Fit, or navigate via the View menu in the toolbar at the top of the page thusly: View > Zoom Level > Fit. 

What is the best method of timeline zooming on Filmora?

This depends on your preferred method of working. Since there are multiple ways you can zoom in and out on Filmora’s timeline, there are multiple methods (or even variations of methods) for zooming – each with its own merits.

We prefer the click and drag method on the timeline’s bar, but you may find the keyboard shortcuts work best for you, or that you even prefer the slider located directly below the bottom-right corner of the preview pane. 

Have a go at all of the methods described above in order to determine which method works best for you.