What are Instant Avatars?
Colossyan Instant Avatars are custom avatars that can be recoded in any setting, using just your phone and 20 seconds of footage or a photograph. These avatars can help creators easily personalize their videos, speak 30+ languages using their voice, and create effective videos at scale using their own avatars.
How should I record myself?
Take your phone or a camera.
Ensure that it can record at 1080p, 30fps and with HDR turned off (you can do that manually in your phone camera's settings). You can ask someone to record yourself, or use a tripod and/or any other stable surface.
To turn off HDR, go into your phone's "Settings" -> "Camera" -> "Record video" -> scroll down to "HDR video" and turn it off. The exact steps may differ depending on your phone's model, but it's a crucial step to get the colours right. You can find more instructions for iPhone models here. For Android phones, this setting can be found in "Advanced settings".
Find a location for your video, and ensure there is good lighting.
Natural light works best, so position yourself facing a window if possible. Only one person can be facing the camera.
Check your environment.
Choose a clean, uncluttered background or something that you’d prefer to have for your avatar. Ensure the recording environment does not have moving pieces around the head. Remember: your avatar will keep your original background.
Get into your position.
Stand or sit comfortably in front of the camera — maintain a posture that reflects professionalism and confidence. Make sure the full head remains visible within the camera frame at all times.
Record a 20+ second video.
Stay relaxed, and keep your mouth closed. You can move around, but we suggest keeping movements natural, and slightly switching your pose around every 10 seconds. Aim to start and finish your footage in similar poses to make your video smooth in case it loops.
Example:
Not sure how to record yourself? You can find more footage examples here.
Your recording can have a full body view, upper body view, shoulder view or even a selfie view — just make sure your face is visible at all times, and that your mouth is closed. You can even record yourself from a side angle, which can help with creating engaging shots.
You can move around and even use hand gestures in your footage — just keep in mind that your video may loop, so it's best to keep your movements natural and relevant. (Or create multiple avatars for different actions!)
Record a 20+ second voice recording.
If you'd like to use your voice with the avatar, use a microphone to record a 20+ second voice recording. You can use any script — just make sure to speak clearly, confidently and in a quiet environment.
Upload all your footage.
When you're happy with your footage, start creating your Instant Avatar by uploading it into Colossyan.
Important: If you're an Enterprise creator, your Workspace Admin will need to contact your success manager or support in order to enable Instant Avatars. This additional step is added to stay compliant with Enterprise policies.
However, if you're on a self-served plan (Starter or Pro), you can go ahead and start creating your avatar — simply click on " + New draft".
How can I create an Instant Avatar in Colossyan?
Go into Colossyan Creator.
You can create your avatar in the ‘Avatars’ tab, either on the home page or the editor.
Record a short video, from 20 seconds to 5 minutes long.
Ensure that your mouth is closed during the recording, and that HDR is turned off. Act natural, and make sure only your face is visible in the recording.
Record a short audio if you'd like the avatar to have your voice.
You can upload a short MP3 file or record yourself speaking for a few minutes.
Preview and add to scene.
If you’re happy with the preview results, add your avatar to your scene and start creating your video.
Generate your video.
Continue to create your video, and when you’re happy, generate it to see the results.
FAQ
How long does it take to create an avatar?
Creating an avatar takes just 20 seconds of recording time and a few clicks to upload and preview.
How should I record myself to get the best results?
Your footage should be at least 20 seconds long (we recommend making it around 1 minute long to avoid looping), and your mouth should be closed at all times.
Ensure that only your face is visible, and try to avoid having a background with other people / moving objects.
Act natural, move occasionally, and keep a calm, friendly expression.
Ensure you have good quality lighting and that your camera is recording at 1080p (or 4k) at 30fps. Important: Turn off HDR to avoid issues with colours.
Which media formats are supported?
Your video or image needs to be under 200mb, and it can be an MP4, MOV, JPEG, JPG or PNG file.
Note: Instant Avatars do not support transparency, so if your PNG has a transparent element to it, it will get generated in black.
How many avatars can I create?
The amount of Instant Avatars you can create depends on your plan. Starter creators get 10 Instant Avatars, Pro and Enterprise will get 45.
Is there a stock library of avatars available?
Yes, if you prefer not to use your own, you can choose from a variety of AI avatars in our stock library. We will be adding stock Instant Avatars (Scenario Avatars) in the coming weeks.
Do I need a green screen studio and professional equipment?
While a professional camera would give you the best results, you can still easily create your own avatar with just your phone!
Who would have access to my avatar?
Your avatar will not be available to the public — your avatar will only be added to your workspace.
How does Colossyan ensure the responsible use of Instant Avatars?
Colossyan employs a celebrity security filter, age detection, and automated content moderation to prevent any inappropriate language or unauthorized use.
Can I create an avatar of anyone?
No, you can only create an avatar of yourself.