Guides

How to animate a monitor into a phone

Build a smooth camera transition from a Studio Display to an iPhone in Rotato, or download the finished template.

After all these years I still see Rotato animations that surprise me. I spotted this X post from Nathan Schroeder that starts on a desktop display, dives past its edge, and lands on a phone. Smooth camera work!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3-hrNhJOxE

Build the scene

  1. Open the Studio Display from Rotato's device picker.
  2. Under Devices in the sidebar, click Add and choose iPhone 17 Pro.
Rotato showing a Studio Display in the scene before a second device is added
Start with the Studio Display, then add the iPhone as a second device.
  1. Remove the camera animation that Rotato adds by default. It is easier to arrange the devices before animating the shot.
  2. Select the iPhone and move it to the right of the monitor. Rotate it 90 degrees so it lies flat, then move it down until the opening camera angle cannot see it.
Rotato position controls showing the iPhone rotated flat beside and below the Studio Display
Rotate the phone 90 degrees, then place it below and to the right of the monitor.
  1. Adjust the camera so the Studio Display fills the first shot. Zoom in enough to keep the hidden iPhone outside the frame.
  2. Leave a short pause at the beginning, then add a camera animation. This gives the viewer a moment to read the monitor before the transition starts.
Rotato timeline with the opening camera view ready for a camera animation
Leave a short hold on the monitor before the camera starts moving.
  1. Go to the last camera keyframe. Point the camera down, move it toward the iPhone, and zoom until the phone fills the frame. A slight slant makes the ending feel less rigid.
  2. Preview the move and extend the animation if the transition feels rushed.
Rotato camera view framed on the upright iPhone at the end of the transition
At the final keyframe, frame the iPhone tightly and add a slight slant.

The phone never replaces the monitor. It sits just outside the opening shot, ready for the camera to find it.

Download the template

You can build the scene yourself with the steps above, or start with the finished Monitor to Display template. Replace the screen media on the Studio Display and iPhone with your own design, then adjust the final camera angle to fit your composition.

The template is also available inside Rotato's template picker under Desktop, in the Simple and Slides sections.