What is the difference between Monitor preview and Output preview?
The preview area in Smooth Operator has two modes: Monitor and Output. Each shows your video differently, and understanding the difference helps you frame your shots accurately.
Monitor preview (the default)
Monitor preview shows your entire source video with a crop overlay indicating what the final output will include.
- You see the full video frame, including areas that will be cropped out.
- A rectangular overlay (the "crop frame") shows the output boundaries.
- Corner handles on the overlay let you resize the crop by dragging.
- You can drag inside the crop frame to reposition (pan) the camera.
- Pinch to zoom in or out on the crop.
Use Monitor preview when:
- You are adjusting camera framing and need to see what is being included or excluded.
- You want to make sure important subjects are inside the crop area.
- You are placing or adjusting anchors.
- You are checking the overall composition.
The toggle button label in Monitor mode is "Frame" — tap it to switch to Output preview.
Output preview
Output preview shows exactly what your exported video will look like — cropped, with camera movement applied, at the final aspect ratio.
- Only the cropped output area is visible.
- The camera movement (pans, zooms, rotations) is applied and visible.
- This is a "what you see is what you get" view.
Use Output preview when:
- You want to preview the final result before exporting.
- You are checking how camera moves look at the final aspect ratio.
- You are ready to do a final review pass.
The toggle button label in Output mode is "Preview" — tap it to switch back to Monitor preview.
How to switch between modes
Tap the toggle button on the preview (or press the P key on Mac). The button shows which mode you will switch TO (not which mode you are currently in):
- If the button says "Frame," you are in Monitor mode. Tapping switches to Output.
- If the button says "Preview," you are in Output mode. Tapping switches to Monitor.
Tips
- Default to Monitor preview while editing. It gives you the most information.
- Switch to Output preview before exporting as a final sanity check.
- If your exported video looks cropped differently than expected, you may have been editing in Monitor mode without checking Output preview. The crop overlay in Monitor mode can sometimes be misleading at extreme zoom levels.
- On Mac, you can detach the preview into its own window for a larger view. This is especially useful with Output preview on a second monitor.
- First-time users see a brief gesture hint overlay (auto-dismisses after 3 seconds) explaining how to interact with the preview.