Where this style fits
Documentary editors often cut between scanned letters, reports and clippings while the narration names a single person or place. The documentary template recreates that rhythm: each cut is a new “document”, your key word stays highlighted in the same spot, and the background is just legible enough to feel like evidence.
Recommended settings
- 5 cuts per second or slower – documentary pacing is deliberate.
- 5–6 seconds long, so it can sit under a full narrated sentence.
- Zoom 30–40% with motion speed below 1× for a slow push-in.
- A little blur (10–20%) to separate the focal line from the page without hiding it.
- Mixed fonts – Special Elite, IBM Plex Mono and Cormorant make each page look like it came from a different file.
Writing copy that reads like a document
Because the background is built from your own words first, it pays to paste more than one sentence. A paragraph of narration, a timeline or a list of dates and places will produce pages that feel specific to your story rather than generic filler.
Keep it honest: if your video is non-fiction, don’t use the effect to imply that a fabricated document is a real record. Treat the pages as atmosphere, and show real sources separately.