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Avala provides a full suite of annotation tools for 2D images, video frames, and 3D point clouds. The available tools depend on the project task type and data format. Each tool has a dedicated guide with detailed usage instructions, shortcuts, common mistakes, and advanced tips.

Tools

ToolData TypesShortcutDescription
Bounding BoxImage, VideoBRectangular bounding boxes for object detection
PolygonImage, VideoPFreeform polygon outlines for instance segmentation
3D CuboidPoint CloudC3D bounding boxes in LiDAR point clouds
SegmentationImage, VideoMPixel-level masks with brush, eraser, fill, and SAM assist
PolylineImage, Video, Point CloudLOpen line segments for lanes, paths, and boundaries
ClassificationImage, VideoKImage-level or frame-level labels without geometry
KeypointImage, VideoJPose estimation with keypoints and skeleton connections

Common Controls

These controls apply across all annotation tools.

Selection

  • Press V to switch to the Select tool
  • Click an annotation to select it
  • Click empty canvas to deselect
  • Hold Ctrl / and click to multi-select

Move and Resize

  • Drag a selected annotation to reposition it
  • Drag handles to resize
  • Use the properties panel for exact numeric values

Delete

  • Select one or more annotations
  • Press Delete or Backspace
  • Confirm deletion if prompted

Undo / Redo

ActionShortcut
UndoCtrl+Z / ⌘Z
RedoCtrl+Shift+Z / ⌘⇧Z
Undo and redo work across all tools. The history tracks annotation creation, modification, and deletion.

Save

  • Press Ctrl+S / ⌘S to save your work
  • The viewer auto-saves periodically, but manual saves are recommended before navigating away

Zoom and Pan

ActionControl
Zoom in+ or scroll up
Zoom out- or scroll down
Reset zoom0
PanHold Space + drag, or middle-click + drag

Tool Shortcuts Reference

ShortcutTool
VSelect / Move
BBounding Box
PPolygon
C3D Cuboid
MSegmentation
LPolyline
KClassification
JKeypoint
SSAM Segmentation
XEraser (in segmentation mode)
[ / ]Decrease / Increase brush size
HToggle mask visibility

General Tips

  • Switch tools quickly: Use single-key shortcuts to switch between tools without reaching for the toolbar
  • Zoom in for precision: Small objects and fine boundaries benefit from zooming in before drawing
  • Use undo liberally: It is faster to undo a mistake than to manually correct it
  • Review at full zoom-out: After annotating, zoom out to verify nothing was missed
  • Keyboard over mouse: Almost every action has a keyboard shortcut; learning them significantly speeds up annotation

Next Steps