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Avatars - Introduction & How It Works

Avatars is a new SignCaption feature that transforms audio, video, text, subtitles, or documents into signed ASL content using AI-generated signing avatars or human interpreters. It is designed to help creators, educators, businesses, and Deaf-centered teams make their content more accessible, expressive, and easier to understand through sign language translation.

Unlike traditional captioning workflows, Avatars builds directly on top of SignCaption's existing subtitle editor. This means your content is first converted into editable subtitles and timing segments, then transformed into signed ASL output through a guided rendering workflow. The goal is to make the process simple, flexible, and scalable, whether you're translating a short social clip, educational lesson, presentation, or long-form media project.

Avatars supports multiple content types including:

  • Video uploads (mp4, mov, webm)
  • Audio uploads (mp3)
  • Text and subtitle files (txt, srt)
  • Document uploads (docx)

Once uploaded, SignCaption automatically processes your content, extracts subtitles or speech, and prepares everything inside the editor for review before rendering into ASL.

How To Use Avatars

Step 1 - Open Avatars From The Dashboard

After logging into SignCaption, navigate to the dashboard and locate the Avatars card inside the Quick Actions section. The Avatars card allows you to begin a new ASL translation project directly from the dashboard. You can upload:

  • Audio
  • Video
  • Subtitle files
  • Text files
  • Documents

Click Upload to begin creating a new Avatars project.

Step 2 - Upload Your Content

After clicking Upload, the Avatars upload modal will appear. You can drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click Choose file to manually select a file from your computer.

Supported file types include:

  • mp3
  • mp4
  • mov
  • webm
  • docx
  • txt
  • srt

Once selected, click Submit to begin processing your project.

During upload and processing, SignCaption may automatically:

  • Extract audio
  • Generate speech-to-text
  • Parse subtitles
  • Create subtitle timing segments

Processing time depends on file size and complexity. Your project will automatically appear in your dashboard once ready.

Step 3 - Review Your Subtitles & Open The Avatars Panel

Once processing completes, your project opens inside the SignCaption editor.

Inside the editor:

  • The left side contains subtitle timing blocks
  • The center displays the transcript and editor preview
  • The right-side panel contains Avatars controls

Click the Avatars tab in the right panel to begin configuring your ASL rendering settings. Avatars works from the subtitle layer generated during upload.

Before continuing, carefully review your subtitles for:

  • Accuracy
  • Timing
  • Grammar
  • Missing captions

Accurate subtitles are important because the ASL generation process relies directly on this text.

Avatars Features

AI Generated Signing Avatars

Avatars allows you to generate signing avatars automatically using AI. Inside the Signer Type section, choose AI Generated for automated avatar rendering or Human Interpreter to request a human signer workflow.

AI-generated avatars are designed for faster turnaround times and lower cost, while human interpreter workflows are designed for higher-touch signing projects.

Avatar Selection

When AI Generated is selected, Avatars displays avatar preview options that allow you to choose your preferred signing appearance before rendering.

This helps tailor the experience depending on content tone, audience, educational context, and brand style.

Dynamic Pricing & Time Estimates

Before submitting your project, Avatars provides a quoted amount, estimated delivery time, and subtitle segment totals. Pricing may vary depending on content length, signer type, rendering complexity, and delivery format.

The system is designed to provide clear expectations before payment and rendering begin.

Delivery Formats

Once fulfilled, Avatars supports multiple output modes including:

  • Picture-in-Picture (PIP) - signer overlay on top of the original content
  • Side-by-Side - signer displayed next to the original content
  • Signed video only - isolated signing output

Users can preview and download their preferred render format directly from the editor.

Best Practices Before Rendering

Before submitting your Avatars order:

  • Double-check subtitle accuracy
  • Ensure sentence timing looks correct
  • Review punctuation and formatting
  • Verify no subtitle segments are missing
  • Confirm your selected signer type and avatar preference

Once submitted, selections may become locked during rendering and production.

Processing & Order Tracking

While Avatars is processing:

  • Active jobs appear in the top navigation processing area
  • Projects are labeled inside Recent Activity
  • Orders can be viewed from the new Orders section in the user dropdown

Users can return later while processing continues in the background.

Why Avatars Exists

Avatars is part of SignCaption's broader vision of building accessibility-first, but engagement-driven communication tools for sign language media. Rather than treating accessibility as a static compliance feature, Avatars aims to make signed content easier to create, scale, share, and integrate into modern creator workflows.

Need further support? Contact hello@signcaption.ai