Quick start
Get from zero to your first exported video in four steps:
Data format
VizRace expects data in a simple table format: one row per data point, with three required columns.
| Column | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | Text | China | Category label (bar name, line label, etc.) |
| date | Year / Date | 1990 | Time axis value (year, quarter, month) |
| value | Number | 1139 | The numeric metric being visualised |
Tip: The data editor also accepts CSV paste — just copy from Excel or Google Sheets and paste directly.
Chart types
Choose the right chart type for your data story.
Horizontal bars ranked by value over time. Best for showing leaderboard changes.
Vertical bars — same race, different orientation. Great for time-series categories.
Multiple lines drawn progressively. Ideal for continuous data trends.
A single line that draws itself over time — dramatic for cumulative data.
Animated pie slices showing proportion changes over time.
Circles sized and positioned by data values — rich for multi-variable stories.
Timeline controls
The playback bar lets you scrub, preview, and set the animation speed:
- Duration — total video length in seconds (1 – 120 s).
- Steps — number of data frames animated. Matches unique date values in your data.
- Transition speed — how fast values animate between frames (slow / normal / fast).
- Loop — toggle preview looping for infinite playback.
Branding
Use the Brand Kit panel to apply consistent colours and fonts across your chart. You can choose from six built-in presets or fully customise the palette. Changes apply instantly to the canvas preview.
Export
VizRace exports to two formats:
- MP4 — H.264 video, compatible with all platforms. Recommended for uploading to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- WebM — VP8 video, smaller file sizes, best for web embedding.
Quality and framerate (30 FPS / 60 FPS) are selectable in the export panel. Higher quality means larger files.