Project Settings (New for 2.1)

In the Project Settings panel you may adjust the length of the project, the time unit shown on the time counter, the viewing method of the camera and the background.

Click the Project Settings button to open the Project Settings panel.

Project Settings Button

Project Settings Panel

Time Setting Section

• Animation Length: Shows the total length of the project in frame count. The default length for each project is 900 frames. The maximum frame number is 27000.
• Select Time Unit: You may decide to display the time unit in either frame format or time format.

Camera Setting

The camera setting decides the viewing method of the camera.

• Perspective (Keyboard Shortcut: O): This method shows the Z-depth relation of each item inside. The size of the objects, in theory; alter automatically in accordance to the distance of the item.
  

  Two items of identical size viewed 3D view	The farther item looks smaller than the front one (Perspective mode)

  When the camera moves, the closer objects sway faster while the farther ones sway slower.
  
• Orthographic (Keyboard Shortcut: O): This method shows the project regardless of the Z-depth of each object inside. This method is used by most image editing software since Z-depth is unnecessary for them. Therefore, the size of each object looks the same even if it is far away from the camera.
  

  Two items of identical size viewed in 3D view	The distance does not affect the size of the item. (Orthographic mode)

  When the camera moves, each object sways at the same speed.
  
• Adjust the Lens slider to increase or decrease the strength of the Z-depth relationships among the items.

  Lens = 35 (Fish Eye effect) The Z-depth relationship is strong.	Lens = 200 The Z-depth relationship is less.

Fixed Line Width

The setting within this group can determine the outlines of the objects in the scene to be still or ever-changing by scaling or zoom in/out.

• During Object Scale: This setting determines if you want the outlines to change along the scaling of the objects.

  OFF (Some body parts are scaled up)	ON (The line widths are unified and fixed)

• During Camera Zoom and Object Scale: This setting determines if you want the outlines to change along the scaling, zoom in and out or z-value changing of the objects.

  OFF	ON

  Note:

  Please note that you may need to manually set the line width after one of these two settings is activated.

Safe Area

The Safe Area determines the exportable area on the stage. It is shown in blue rectangle as shown below:

• With the safe area, you are able to see or further edit the objects (character, props...etc.) that are outside of the stage but will be animated into the stage at specific times.

  Stage without the Safe Area (in CrazyTalk Animator 1). You can only see the objects inside of the stage.	Stage with Safe Area (in CrazyTalk Animator 2). You are able to see and edit the objects outside of the stage.

• Drag the slider to show the ideal outside area.

  Safe Area = 100	Safe Area = 50

• You may determine the size of the area by setting the Frame Size or Output Size in the Export Settings panel.

  Safe Area = 50 Frame Size = 800 x 600	Safe Area = 50 Frame Size = 600 x 800

• Only the screen within the Safe Area can be exported to media (images, videos).

  Only the objects within the Safe Area will be exported.

In this section, you may set the background of your project to a solid color or to a prepared image.

• Click the Color Picker to select a solid color as the background of the current project.
• Activate the Active image box and then click the button to load any prepared image as the background.
  Select from the Display Mode drop-down list to define the mapping method for the image background.

  Prepared Image	Stretched
  Fit	Tiled 2 X 4

Video - External Files

By default, CrazyTalk Animator compacts all loaded video files into a project file, which increases the total size of the project.
To prevent this, you may click on the External Files button to have all the video files saved as external files. This can solve the over-sized project issue. However, do remember to move all the video files together, along with the project file if you move the project to another folder destination.