Composition is a major part of creating videos that keep our viewer engaged. Avatars and actors are one of the most critical elements of the scenes we create. Understanding where to place them will help make the rest of your scene composition a breeze.

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that positions your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds more open. This is achieved by aligning your primary points of interest with the intersections depicted by the grid.

Examples - Click the image to enlarge

Here the focus is split between the speaker and the next idea

Here the scene is shared by two characters.

Four techniques to try today

The Correspondent (Focus and Punch) + (Fuzzy Focus and Punch)

When to use: When what the avatar is saying is the most important thing. There is nothing to be shown, only told, i.e. at the start of your video as the key topic is introduced Each avatar comes with two framings - close and wide. By

correspondent and fuzzy focus.mp4

Step 1: Select an avatar using a medium shot Step 2: Place the avatar center frame Step 3: Choose a background image

(continue for “focus and punch”)

Step 4: Copy and paste the scene Step 5: Zoom in both the avatar and image

The News Anchor (Teeing it up)

When to use: When you are introducing an idea that will fill the screen in the next scene, i.e. an over the shoulder image

Right at the beginning of a video or to tee up a new topic. The next shot should be full screen.

news anchor.mp4

Step 1: Place the avatar on the left or right 1/3 line. Step 2: Insert a video or image and position it behind the their shoulder Step 3: Add a frame to the image or video

(optional)

Step 4: Cut away to full screen

Circle Placement (Keeping you company)

When to use: When you are showing a complicated image that needs to be easy to see, but the avatar can help explain, i.e. a screen recording or chart. In this alignment, the avatar is NOT the primary focus of the scene and is thus to the right or the left of the gridlines.

circle placement.mp4

Step 1: Insert your screen recording or static image. Step 2: Add the avatar and switch to Circle framing. Step 3: Position them in the far right or far left of the scene, to avoid interference with the image you’re featuring.