Eye Contact

Eye Contact is a video effect that adjusts your eye line so it looks like you're facing the camera, even when you're reading from a script or notes off-screen.

This article covers:

Usage note

On current plans, this feature uses AI Credits. Learn more about tracking your Media Minutes and AI Credits.

Legacy and Sunset plans track usage differently. See our Understanding your Legacy and Sunset plan guide for details.

Before you start

  • Make sure your video is correctly oriented before importing—Eye Contact won't work on sideways footage.
  • Stay online while processing; the Eye Contact effect requires a network connection.

Apply Eye Contact to a video

  1. In the scene editor, select your video layer.
  2. In the hover menu, open the Effects tab and choose Eye Contact.

Tip

Select a layer on the timeline and toggle the effect from the Properties panel in the sidebar.

Tips for best results

  • Single person only: The effect works when one clear face is in frame.
  • Keep the face prominent and well lit: Avoid extreme side angles or full head turns.
  • If reading a script: Keep your eye line close to the camera; large offsets won't apply.
  • Glasses: Reduce glare with softer, angled lighting so eyes are clearly visible.

Troubleshooting Eye Contact

If Eye Contact is not applying as expected, check the video file, framing, lighting, and subject movement.

Eye Contact doesn't apply to my video

Eye Contact may not work if your video uses a variable frame rate, includes multiple people, or the subject's face and eyes are not clearly visible.

To fix this:

  • Re-encode variable frame rate videos to a constant frame rate. Use a tool like HandBrake: open the video, go to the Video tab, choose Constant Framerate, export the new file, then replace the original file in Descript.
  • Use single-person footage. Eye Contact works best when one clear face is visible in frame.
  • Re-frame the subject. Keep the face and eyes large, centered, and fully visible.

The results look unnatural

Eye Contact can look unnatural when the subject's face is too small, poorly lit, angled away from the camera, or obscured by glare from glasses.

To improve the result:

  • Re-frame the shot. Keep the face large, centered, and mostly straight-on.
  • Improve the lighting. Use soft, even lighting and avoid strong backlighting or shadows.
  • Reduce glare. Adjust glasses, lights, or the camera angle so the eyes are clearly visible.

Eye Contact skips parts of my video

Eye Contact may skip sections where the subject looks far away from the camera, turns their head, or moves out of frame.

To help the effect apply more consistently:

  • Keep head and eye movement minimal.
  • Place scripts or notes close to the camera's line of sight.
  • Keep the face and eyes visible throughout the clip.