Add live video in Keynote on Mac

You can add a live video from your Mac’s internal camera to a slide. You can also use an iPad, iPhone or other external camera as a live video source. During a presentation, the live video plays only when the slide it’s on appears. You can turn the live video source on and off at any time.

Important: External cameras or devices must be connected to your Mac with a cable to record live video. During a multi-presenter slideshow, only the cameras or devices connected to the host’s computer can be used as live video sources. To learn more about multi-presenter slideshows, see Play a slideshow with multiple presenters.

Add live video

You can use multiple live videos sources in your presentation. Keynote uses the camera on your Mac as the default source but you can also connect an iPhone or iPad to your computer to share its screen on a slide. You can also use an external digital camera to shoot live video.

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation.
If you want to use an iPhone, iPad or digital camera as a live video source, connect it to your Mac with a cable.
In Keynote on your Mac, click in the toolbar, then choose Live Video.
A live video from your Mac’s internal camera appears on the slide.
To set up an external camera or device as a live video source, in the Format sidebar, click the Live Video tab, click the Source button, then click .
Select the source you want in the menu near the bottom of the Add a Live Video Source window. You can also change the source’s name and thumbnail. Click the Add button.

Edit the look of a live video

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation with a live video, then click the live video on the slide to select it.
In the Format sidebar, click the Live Video tab, then do any of the following:
- Zoom the camera in or out: Drag the Scale slider right to zoom in and left to zoom out.
- Change the shape of a live video: Click the menu next to Mask, then select the size and shape you want.
- Reshape the corners of a live video: Increase the number in the Corner Radius box to make the corners rounder, or decrease it to sharpen them.

Remove or change the background of a live video

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation with a live video, then click the live video on the slide to select it.
In the Format sidebar, click the Live Video tab, then select Background.
To customise the background, add any of the following background styles:
- A transparent background: To remove the background from the live video, click the pop-up menu, then select No Fill.
- A colour designed to match your theme: Click the colour well next to the Background tickbox, then select a colour.
- Any colour: Click the pop-up menu and choose Colour, then click the colour wheel to open the Colours window, where you can select any colour.
- A two-colour gradient: Click the pop-up menu and choose Gradient, then use the colour controls to select colours. Click the left side of each colour well to open a palette of colours that match the theme; click the colour wheel on the right to open the Colours window, where you can choose any colour. Use the controls to the right of the colour wheels to change the angle and direction of the gradient.
- A custom gradient: Click the pop-up menu and choose Advanced Gradient, then click the colour stops below the fill bar to choose colours. You can drag the colour stops and use the other controls to change the blend, angle and direction of the gradient.
- An image: Click the pop-up menu and choose Image, or choose Advanced Image if you want to add a tint to the image. Click Choose, navigate to an image, select it, then click Insert. To change how the image fills the background, click the pop-up menu above the Choose button, then choose an option:
  - Original Size: Places the image without altering its original dimensions. To resize the image, drag the Scale slider.
  - Stretch: Resizes the image to fit the Live Video’s dimensions, which might change the image’s proportions.
  - Tile: Repeats the image in the Live Video’s background. To resize the image, drag the Scale slider.
  - Scale to Fill: Makes the image larger or smaller to leave no space around the image.
  - Scale to Fit: Resizes the image to fit the Live Video’s dimensions, but maintains the image’s proportions.
  If you choose Advanced Image, use the colour well or colour wheel to select a tint colour. Adding a tint makes the image more transparent.

Use a different live video source

You can change the sources connected to a live video object on your slide if you have more than one set up in your presentation.

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation with a live video, then click the live video on the slide to select it.
Click , then click Live Video.
Click the Source button, then select a new source from the menu.
To dismiss the menu, click away from it.

Edit or delete live video sources

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation with a live video, then click the live video on the slide to select it.
In the Format sidebar, click Live Video, then click the Source button.
Move the pointer over a source in the menu, then click the disclosure arrow that appears.
Do one of the following:
- Edit a live video source: Select Edit Source, make the changes you want in the window, then click Save.
- Delete a live video source: Select Delete Source, then click Delete.

Play or pause live video

Go to the Keynote app on your Mac.
Open a presentation with a live video.
To turn the live video source on or off, do any of the following:
- When the slideshow is not playing: Click View > Show Live Video Preview in the menu at the top of your screen. Use the controls to turn the live video on or off.
  Or click the live video on the slide to select it, then click to turn it off.
- While the slideshow plays in full screen: Move the cursor over the bottom of the screen until the toolbar appears, then click . Use the controls to turn the live video on or off. Click to dismiss it.
- While the slideshow plays in a window: Click in the top of the presenter display or slideshow windows. Use the controls in the menu to turn the live video on or off. Click outside the menu to dismiss it.
- While the slideshow plays on a separate screen: In the presenter display, click . Use the controls in the Live Video Sources menu to turn the live video on or off. Click outside the menu to dismiss it.

Helpful?

Keynote User Guide for Mac