How can we help?

The fastest route

• check_circleStart a 15-day trial of Basic, Pro or Premium.
• check_circleCreate a project from a blank canvas, a template, or Menu AI.
• check_circleEdit the sequence and select Save, then Publish.
• check_circleOpen Displays, create a password-protected link, and load it on the TV or tablet.

Before you put it on a screen

Use Preview to check the complete loop, including entrances, exits, masks, media audio and daypart content. Keep text inside the visible canvas unless an off-screen entrance is intentional.

Use the project wizard

Select New project from the dashboard. Name the project, choose a blank canvas or a template, and confirm the intended screen orientation. You can change the canvas width and height later in the Studio.

Choose the right canvas

• check_circle1920 × 1080 for standard landscape TVs.
• check_circle1080 × 1920 for portrait menu boards and kiosks.
• check_circle3840 × 2160 for 4K artwork when the playback device can handle it.
• check_circleUse a custom size for LED walls or unusual panels.

Create the request

Open Menu AI, upload a clear menu image and select a presentation template. ChattyShop places the request in the generation queue for the connected local worker.

Get the best result

• check_circlePhotograph the menu straight on with even light and no glare.
• check_circleUse the highest-resolution original available.
• check_circleReview product names, prices and currency after generation.
• check_circleGenerated menu content remains editable as menu elements in the Studio.

Templates are editable projects

A template supplies tracks, timing, effects, transitions, typography and assets. After creating a project from one, every layer can be renamed, restyled, retimed, replaced or removed.

Keep the composition readable

• check_circleReplace text with similar-length copy before changing the layout.
• check_circleCheck contrast at the brightest and darkest point of animated media.
• check_circlePreview the full loop after changing durations or keyframes.

How stacking works

Track order defines z-index. A track higher in the timeline appears above tracks below it. Drag track handles to reorder the stack. Elements may move and scale beyond the canvas border; only the canvas area is shown on the display.

Layer controls

• check_circleHide an element without deleting it.
• check_circleLock it to prevent canvas and options-panel edits.
• check_circleDisable selection when it should remain visible but not clickable.
• check_circleSearch by element name or show only layers visible at the playhead.

Create and place an app

• check_circleOpen Apps in the Studio library and select Create app.
• check_circleBuild the app with its own canvas, tracks, elements, timing, effects and transitions.
• check_circleReturn to the parent sequence, then drag the app onto any track or use its Add button.

Edit a placed app

Double-click an app on the canvas, in the Layers panel or on its timeline clip to open its dedicated sequence editor. Save and use the back control to return. An app is referenced rather than copied, so a saved change appears in every parent sequence and display that uses it.

Edit timing

Drag an element to change its start time, drag either striped edge to change its duration, or move it to another track. Zoom around the playhead for second- and millisecond-level editing.

Animate with keys

• check_circleMove the playhead and add a key for the selected property.
• check_circleDragging, scaling or rotating at a keyed time updates the nearby key or creates one.
• check_circleDrag diamonds to retime keys; use Delete all keys to reset the element.
• check_circleUse standard copy and paste shortcuts for selected timeline elements and Backspace to remove them.

Transitions control arrival and departure

Choose entrance and exit styles independently and keep their duration shorter than the element duration. The floating effects browser previews available effects before you add them.

Build an effect stack

• check_circleAdd multiple effects and reorder them when their order changes the result.
• check_circleAnimate supported effect values with timeline keys.
• check_circleUse blur, glow, noise, particles and distortion sparingly around menu copy.
• check_circlePreview on the target playback device; intensive canvas effects need stronger hardware.

Mask the track below

Enable Mask track below on the upper element. Shape masks use their silhouette, text masks use the glyphs rather than the text box, and image or video masks use their alpha or luminance information.

Common causes of a blank mask

• check_circleThe mask and target do not overlap in space or time.
• check_circleThe target is not on the immediately lower track.
• check_circleThe mask element is hidden or has no visible alpha.
• check_circleA browser-restricted cross-origin video cannot be sampled by canvas.

Choose the right element

• check_circleText is best for headings, captions and metadata.
• check_circleMenu stores structured names, descriptions and prices in one editable element.
• check_circleTicker creates a continuous horizontal announcement. It stays still while editing and animates in Preview and on displays.

Typography guidance

Use large type, short lines and strong contrast for viewing at a distance. Custom fonts must finish loading before browser video export; ChattyShop preloads them before recording.

Import a CSV file once

Select a menu element, open Content & style, then choose Import CSV file under Price synchronization. ChattyShop detects common SKU, name and price headers. Products match by SKU first and by name when no SKU is available.

Connect Google Sheets

• check_circlePut field names such as SKU, Name, Price and Category in the first row.
• check_circleShare the sheet for viewing or use Google Sheets Publish to web, then paste the sheet link.
• check_circleChoose an automatic refresh interval and select Sync now to test the connection.
• check_circleUse Column mapping when your sheet has custom header names.

Connect a POS price feed

Choose POS JSON and enter a secure HTTPS endpoint returning an array under items, products, data or results. An optional bearer token is encrypted separately from the project and is never included in project JSON or shared ZIP packages.

• check_circleProvide a stable SKU for every POS product.
• check_circleOnly menu data changes; element design, animation, timing and track position stay intact.
• check_circleAutomatic refresh runs when a connected display requests its project after the selected interval has elapsed.

Upload and reuse

Open Assets or the Studio Media tab and upload a supported file. Uploaded media is available across projects in the same workspace. Select multiple assets in Assets to remove them in one confirmed action.

Plan limits

• check_circleBasic: 500 MB storage and 100 MB per upload.
• check_circlePro: 2 GB storage and 250 MB per upload.
• check_circlePremium: 5 GB storage and 1 GB per upload.

Add a playlist

Create a media stream element, paste the M3U or M3U8 URL and load the channel list. Choose the starting channel in the options panel. HLS playback uses native support where available and hls.js elsewhere.

Source requirements

• check_circleThe playlist and its media URLs must be reachable by the display device.
• check_circleHTTPS pages cannot load insecure HTTP streams.
• check_circleThe source must permit browser cross-origin access.
• check_circleChannel availability and licensing remain the responsibility of the playlist provider and workspace owner.

Browsers cannot play RTSP directly

Use a gateway such as MediaMTX or FFmpeg to ingest RTSP and expose HLS over HTTPS, then add the resulting M3U8 URL as an HLS element. hls.js plays HLS; it does not convert RTSP.

Reliability

Keep the gateway close to the camera, use a stable keyframe interval and monitor CPU, bandwidth and stream latency. ChattyShop retries interrupted playback until the source returns.

Audio on displays

Enable audio on the media element and set its volume. Some browsers require one user interaction before unmuted autoplay; confirm the TV browser policy during installation.

Render metadata

Add a text element, select Media metadata as its source, choose the video or radio element, then choose a field such as title, artist, station or channel. Metadata appears only when the source provides it and browser access permits reading it.

Create the link

• check_circleOpen Displays and enter a recognizable screen name.
• check_circleChoose the assigned project and frame mode.
• check_circleUse a unique password of at least six characters.
• check_circleOpen the generated link on the device and enter the display password once.

Status

The dashboard marks a display online after a successful player heartbeat. If a device is powered off or loses the network, its last-seen time remains available for diagnosis.

Available modes

• check_circleScale to Frame preserves the sequence ratio and fills the display; edges may crop.
• check_circleFit Frame stretches the sequence to the full display width and height.
• check_circleResize to Frame treats sequence coordinates as relative to the display and does not apply one uniform scale.

Recommendation

Use Scale to Frame when the screen and canvas share an aspect ratio. Use Fit Frame only when a small amount of distortion is acceptable. Test portrait and unusual LED installations directly on the target device.

Daypart scheduling

Configure time windows in the display timezone to switch projects for breakfast, lunch, dinner or promotions. The default assigned project plays outside scheduled windows.

Secure remote

Open Remote on the display card to generate a password-protected deep link and QR code. Scan it with a phone to change supported playlist channels without touching the TV. Share the remote password only with trusted staff.

Resilient playback

The player saves the latest project snapshot and prebuffers upcoming compatible media. A temporary API interruption can continue from the cached project, while external live streams still require their source network.

Install for reliability

• check_circleUse wired Ethernet where possible.
• check_circleDisable aggressive browser tab sleeping and device power saving.
• check_circleKeep the player tab open in full-screen or kiosk mode.
• check_circleReopen the display after publishing major media changes to verify caching.

Export

Download Project ZIP creates a compressed package with a manifest, the project and sequence JSON, and local media referenced by the project. Images and text compress strongly; already-compressed video and audio are stored efficiently without wasteful recompression.

Import

Use Import Project ZIP on the dashboard. ChattyShop validates paths, references and package size before uploading assets and creating the restored project. Do not rename or remove files inside the package unless you also update its manifest.

JSON

Sequence JSON is useful for transferring structure, timing and settings. It does not bundle uploaded media; use a Project ZIP when the recipient also needs the assets.

Video export

Download as video renders and encodes on the current device. ChattyShop preloads assets and fonts first. Keep the tab visible until export finishes. Cross-origin iframes such as YouTube may not be capturable because of browser security rules.

One trial per workspace

Basic, Pro and Premium each begin with a complete 15-day trial when the workspace has not used one before. Stripe collects a payment method and shows the date billing begins. Cancelling before that date prevents the first charge.

When access ends

Projects and uploaded files remain associated with the workspace, but creation, editing, uploading and display playback are locked until a subscription becomes active again. Cancelling or changing plans does not create another trial.

Set up

• check_circleOpen Settings and select Two-step verification.
• check_circleScan the QR code with a compatible authenticator app.
• check_circleEnter the current six-digit code to confirm setup.
• check_circleDownload or securely record the recovery codes; each can be used once.

If setup is unavailable

Accounts created through an externally managed identity may need to configure multi-factor authentication with that identity provider. Native ChattyShop password accounts can manage authenticator verification in Settings.

Checklist

• check_circleConfirm the workspace has an active trial or subscription.
• check_circleConfirm the display has an assigned published project.
• check_circleReload the player link and enter the correct display password.
• check_circleCheck the device date, time, internet connection and HTTPS access.
• check_circleOpen the browser console only after the visible message and network checks do not identify the cause.

Video and streams

• check_circleOpen the direct source URL on the display device.
• check_circleConfirm HTTPS, CORS headers and a browser-supported codec.
• check_circleFor playlists, test the selected channel rather than only the playlist file.
• check_circleChattyShop retries interrupted streams continuously with a delay; a source that never returns still needs provider attention.

Audio

Enable element audio and raise its volume. If the browser blocks unmuted autoplay, interact with the page once or configure the TV browser for kiosk autoplay.

Improve responsiveness

• check_circleClose unused browser tabs and avoid multiple simultaneous 4K streams.
• check_circleUse shorter preview ranges while editing complex scenes.
• check_circleReduce stacked canvas effects, particle counts and very large blur radii.
• check_circleUse optimized media dimensions near the authored canvas size.
• check_circleTest the final result in Preview or the display player, which uses the playback-optimized path.