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A speed curve lets you change the speed of one clip as it plays. You can start fast, slow down for the best moment and speed up again. It is one of the easiest ways to make everyday footage look cinematic.
Where to find it
Select your clip, tap Speed and choose Curve. You will see a graph with points. Dragging a point up makes that part faster, and dragging it down makes it slower. CapCut also offers a few ready-made curves to start with.
A simple recipe
- Keep the start of the clip at normal speed.
- Slow down for the key second, such as a jump or a smile.
- Return to normal speed so the clip flows into the next one.
Choose the right moments
Slow motion is most powerful when it highlights something. Use it for a jump, a splash, a turn or a reaction. Too much slow motion loses its impact, so two or three seconds is plenty.
Match it with music
Place the slow moment on a beat or a pause in the music. When the picture and the sound slow down together, the effect feels smooth and planned.
For the smoothest result
If you know you will use slow motion, film at a higher frame rate when your phone allows it. More frames give you smoother slowing. Good light helps too, because bright footage looks cleaner when slowed.
Speed ramps
You can also do the reverse and speed a moment up. A quick ramp into a transition is popular in travel and sports videos.
Final thoughts
Speed curves take a minute to learn and keep paying off. Try them on a short clip and watch how a normal moment becomes the highlight.
Keep learning
Continue with: 5 Simple CapCut Tricks That Make Your Reels Look Professional, How to Add Music and Sound Effects in CapCut, CapCut Keyframes for Beginners: Easy Zoom and Motion. Need the app? Visit the download page.