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Getting started
Ways to start a project
The three ways to start a project in openCanviz: generate with AI, import JSON or Mermaid, or open a blank canvas.
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Every new project starts at /create, under the heading Create a new project. You get three cards: Generate with AI, Import and Blank Project.
You can also reach it with the New project button on the Projects page.
The three cards
| Card | What it says | When to use it |
| Generate with AI | "Describe it, shape the AI's outline, then generate" | You have a topic, some text, or a link, and want a narrated video made from it. |
| Import | "Bring in an openCanviz JSON export or a Mermaid diagram" | You have a backup file from openCanviz, or a Mermaid diagram. |
| Blank Project | "Start from scratch with an empty canvas" | You want to build everything by hand in the editor. |
Generate with AI
This is the main way to make a video. You describe what you want, pick a format, review a plan of the scenes, and press Make my video. Start with Your first video, then see What you can give it and The plan step.
Creating with AI needs you to be signed in. If you try to draft while signed out, you are asked to sign in first.
Import
The Import card opens Paste JSON or Mermaid. It accepts:
- An openCanviz JSON export, such as a file saved with Download data (backup) in the editor.
- A Mermaid
flowchartorgraph. - A Mermaid
sequenceDiagram, where each message becomes an animated step.
To import:
- Paste the content into the box, or click Upload a file and choose a
.json,.mmdor.txtfile. - Click Import project.
If the content can't be read, you see an error that lists the supported kinds. Check that a Mermaid diagram starts with flowchart, graph or sequenceDiagram.
Imported projects do not count toward your plan's project limit.
To write openCanviz JSON yourself, or have an AI agent write it, see The openCanviz JSON format.
Blank Project
Blank Project creates a project called "Untitled Project" and opens it in the editor with an empty canvas. To rename it, click the title in the editor. From there you add shapes, text and media yourself. See Editing a scene.
The welcome screen
The welcome screen, headed Beautiful visual explanations, fast, offers two shortcuts into the AI flow:
- Try it on a sample lesson opens the create screen already filled in with "Design a Rate Limiter", using the Evolution story shape and a 4 minute length. It is a quick way to see what a finished plan looks like.
- Start from your own docs opens the same create screen, empty.
Starting from the home page
The home page has a paste box with an aspect switch (Auto, Landscape, Vertical). Whatever you paste there is carried into the create screen so you can keep going.
Which one should I pick?
- Most people should pick Generate with AI.
- Pick Import to bring a backup back in or turn an existing Mermaid diagram into an animation.
- Pick Blank Project only if you want full manual control from the first box.