--- title: Layout and avatar placement description: "Layout and canvas in Authoring Automation: slide layouts, placing elements, zoom, arrow keys, choosing, showing and hiding the avatar and its background." --- [Skip to content](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/layouts#main-content) - [English](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/layouts) - [Deutsch](https://help.omnora.com/de/help-center/layouts) English Show submenu for translations Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [English](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/layouts) - [Deutsch](https://help.omnora.com/de/help-center/layouts) English Show submenu for translations What do you want to know? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Omnora Help Center](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center?hsLang=en) 2. [Authoring Automation](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/authoring-automation?hsLang=en) 3. [Edit](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/authoring-automation?hsLang=en#edit) November 9, 2026 # Layout and avatar placement ## Arrange slides, videos and the avatar with layouts, place elements freely and set up the avatar. ### Overview The canvas is your video's 16:9 workspace. Layouts arrange content and avatar in one click, or you place every element freely. You choose and place the avatar like any other element. ### Step 1: Choose a layout 1. Click an empty spot on the canvas so that **Scene settings** appears on the right, and open the **Layout** tab. 2. Choose an arrangement: **Full width**, **Centered**, **Columns 1:2**, **Right · Wide**, **Columns 1:1**, **Columns 2:1** or **Free canvas**. The chosen layout shows a check mark. 3. Use the plus in a box to add content. 4. **Apply to all scenes** sets the layout on every scene. With **Free canvas** you place every element yourself. Set the scene's background and theme in the tabs next to it, see “[Scenes](https://help.omnora.com/en/help-center/scenes?hsLang=en)”. ![Scene settings, Layout tab (German UI)](https://help.omnora.com/hubfs/help-center/authoring-automation/im-9da7c31dca.png) ### Step 2: Place elements freely - Move, scale and rotate elements directly on the canvas. Hold Shift to rotate in 15-degree steps. - Guide lines show when elements are aligned. Elements snap to the canvas edges. - Arrow keys move a selected element by 1 pixel, with Shift by 10 pixels. - The element menu changes the layer (forward or back), aligns, locks or groups. - If an element extends beyond the canvas, you can select and move it in the grey area next to it. A click outside the canvas clears the selection. ### Step 3: Zoom The magnifier buttons at the top left of the canvas zoom from 50 to 250 %, handy for small elements. The zoom applies to all scenes while you are in the editor and is back at 100 % the next time you open it. ### Step 4: Set up the avatar 1. In the **Script** view, click the speaker's avatar. The selection opens with **Premium Avatars** and **Standard Avatars**. Filters narrow the list, for example by gender or field. 2. Click the avatar on the canvas. In the settings on the right, choose its appearance: **Freestanding**, **Bubble** or **Backdrop**. 3. Under **Background**, choose the avatar's background, depending on your setup. 4. **Apply to all scenes** copies avatar, appearance and background to every scene. Position and size stay as they are in each scene. 5. The eye on the speaker in the script hides the avatar; **Hide globally in all scenes** hides it everywhere. The scene is then narrated by voice only. 6. Move and scale the avatar on the canvas like any other element. Under **Animations** you set how it appears and disappears. 7. Click **Update video** so that the avatar video is created. ![Avatar selection (German UI)](https://help.omnora.com/hubfs/help-center/authoring-automation/im-fe86c729b4.png) ![Edit avatar: appearance and background (German UI)](https://help.omnora.com/hubfs/help-center/authoring-automation/im-3a08946401.png) --- ### Frequently asked questions **How do I cut out the avatar?** That's no longer needed. Avatars come without a background. Choose the background directly in the avatar settings. **Why doesn't the avatar move in the editor?** The editor shows a still image. Movement and lip sync appear only in the final video. **Can I put two avatars in one scene?** No. There is one avatar per scene, and it can't be copied. **Why does my avatar disappear after choosing a layout?** If a layout has no room for the avatar, the scene becomes voice only. 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