Create annotation task

To start annotating in CVAT, you need to create an annotation task and specify its parameters.

To create a task, on the Tasks page click + and select Create new task.

See:

• Create a task
  • Label shape
  • Add an attribute
  • Select files
  • Editing labels in RAW format
  • Data formats for a 3D task
• Advanced configuration

Create a task

To create a new task, open task configurator:

And specify the following parameters:

1. In the Name field, enter the name of the new task.

   

2. (Optional) From the Projects drop-down, select a project for the new task.
   Leave this field empty if you do not want to assign the task to any project.

   

   Note: Following steps are valid if the task does not belong to a project.
   If the task has been assigned to a project, the project’s labels will be applied to the task.

3. On the Constructor tab, click Add label.
   The label constructor menu will open:

   

4. In the Label name field, enter the name of the label.

5. (Optional) To limit the use of the label to a certain shape tool, from the Label shape drop-down select the shape.

6. (Optional) Select the color for the label.

   

7. (Optional) Click Add an attribute and set up its properties.

8. Click Select files to upload files for annotation.

9. Click Continue to submit the label and start adding a new one
   or Cancel to terminate the current label and return you to the labels list.

10. Click Submit and open to submit the configuration and open the created task,
    or Submit and continue, to submit the configuration and start a new task.

Label shape

Labels (or classes) are categories of objects that you can annotate.

Label shape limits the use of the label to certain shape tool.

Any is the default setting that does not limit the use of the label to any particular shape tool.

For example, you added:

• Label sun with the Label shape type ellipse
• Label car with the Label shape type any

As a result:

• The sun label will be available only for ellipse shape.

• The car label will be available for all shapes.

  

The tools on the Controls sidebar will be limited to the selected types of shapes.

For example, if you select Any, all tools will be available, but if you select Rectangle for all labels, only the Rectangle tool will be visible on the sidebar.

Note: You cannot apply the Label shape to the AI and OpenCV tools, these tools will always be available.

You can change the shape of the label as needed. This change will not affect the existing annotation.

For example, if you created objects using polygons and then changed the label shape to polylines, all previously created objects will remain polygons. However, you will not be able to add new polygon objects with the same label.

Note: You cannot change the shape of the skeleton label.
The Label shape field for the skeleton label is disabled.

Add an attribute

Attribute is a property of an annotated object, such as color, model, or other quality.

For example, you have a label for face and want to specify the type of face. Instead of creating additional labels for male and female, you can use attributes to add this information.

There are two types of attributes:

• Immutable attributes are unique and do not change from frame to frame. For example, age, gender, and color.
• Mutable attributes are temporary and can change from frame to frame. For example, pose, quality, and truncated.

Added attributes will be available from the Objects menu:

To add an attribute, do the following:

1. Go to the Constructor tab and click Add attribute.

   

2. In the Name field enter the name of the attribute.

3. From the drop-down, select way to display the attribute in the Objects menu:

   • Select enables a drop-down list, from which you can select an attribute.
     If in the Attribute value field you add __undefined__, the drop-down list will have a blank value.
     This is useful for cases where the attribute of the object cannot be clarified:

   • 

   • Radio enables the selection of one option from several options.

   • Checkbox enables the selection of multiple options.

   • Text sets the attribute to a text field.

   • Number sets the attribute to numerical field in the following format: min;max;step.

4. In the Attribute values field, add attribute values.
   To separate values use Enter.
   To delete value, use Backspace or click x next to the value name.

5. (Optional) For mutable attributes, select Mutable.

6. (Optional) To set the default attribute, hover over it with mouse cursor and click on it. The default attribute will change color to blue.

To delete an attribute, click Delete attribute.

Select files

There are several ways to upload files:

Data source	Description
My computer	Use this option to select files from your laptop or PC. To select file: 1. Click on the Select files field: . 2. Select files to upload.
Connected file share	Advanced option. Upload files from a local or cloud shared folder. Note, that you need to mount a fileshare first. For more information, see Share path
Remote source	Enter a list of URLs (one per line) in the field.
Cloud Storage	Advanced option. To upload files from cloud storage, type the cloud storage name, (optional) choose the manifest file, and select the required files. For more information, see Attach cloud storage. Use the search feature to find a file (by file name) from the connected cloud storage.

Editing labels in RAW format

The Raw is a way of working with labels for an advanced user.

It is useful when you need to copy labels from one independent task to another.

Note: Be careful with changing the raw specification of an existing task/project. Removing any “id” properties will lead to losing existing annotations. This property will be removed automatically from any text you insert to this field.

Raw presents label data in .json format with an option of editing and copying labels as text. The Done button applies the changes and the Reset button cancels the changes.

Data formats for a 3D task

To create a 3D task, you must prepare an archive with one of the following directory structures.

Note: You can’t mix 2D and 3D data in the same task.

• Velodyne
• 3D pointcloud
• 3D Option 1
• 3D Option 2

  VELODYNE FORMAT
    Structure:
      velodyne_points/
        data/
          image_01.bin
          IMAGE_00 # unknown dirname,
                   # generally image_01.png can be under IMAGE_00, IMAGE_01, IMAGE_02, IMAGE_03, etc
      data/
        image_01.png

   3D POINTCLOUD DATA FORMAT
    Structure:
      pointcloud/
        00001.pcd
      related_images/
        00001_pcd/
          image_01.png # or any other image

    3D, DEFAULT DATAFORMAT Option 1
    Structure:
      data/
        image.pcd
        image.png

    3D, DEFAULT DATAFORMAT Option 2
    Structure:
      data/
        image_1/
            image_1.pcd
            context_1.png # or any other name
            context_2.jpg

Advanced configuration

Use advanced configuration to set additional parameters for the task and customize it to meet specific needs or requirements.

The following parameters are available:

To save and open the task, click Submit & Open .

To create several tasks in sequence, click Submit & Continue.

Created tasks will be displayed on the tasks page.