Overview
A Callout is an interactive tag attached to a point on a scene object. It shows a text label in 3D space, optionally connected to the object with a leader line, and can open text, an image, or a video when the learner taps it. Callouts are the fastest way to annotate models — label parts of a machine, flag inspection points, highlight hazards, or add “tap to learn more” hotspots. They are placed directly in the 3D scene using Callout Mode.Adding a Callout (Callout Mode)
The quickest way to create a callout is with Callout Mode on the ribbon.1
Select a step
Choose the state/step where the callout should appear. The ribbon enables step-level actions.
2
Turn on Callout Mode
On the ribbon, open the Callout group and click Callout / Mode. The viewer cursor becomes a crosshair and a colored border appears around the 3D viewport to indicate the mode is active.
3
Click a surface in the 3D scene
Click directly on the part of the model you want to annotate. A callout tag is placed at that point.
4
Edit the callout
The Callout Editor opens in the sidebar. Enter label text, choose a content type (text, image, or video), and adjust style.
5
Turn Callout Mode off
Click Callout / Mode again (or pick another ribbon tool) when you are done placing callouts.
Callout Mode active — the ribbon button is highlighted, a placed 'Callout' tag sits on the model, and the Callout Editor is open on the right
Placing a callout in Callout Mode creates three things in one shot:
- An Add Callout action on the state’s onEntry
- A Remove Object action on the state’s onExit (so the tag is cleaned up when the state exits)
- A tap transition on the callout that runs the chosen content action (Show Text, Show Image, or Play Video)
Callout Editor
When a callout is selected, the Callout Editor panel shows the full set of options.Tag Visual
Connector Type
When Elbow is selected, choose Connect From Edge (top, bottom, left, or right) to set which side of the label the line exits. You can also click the small edge dots on the label in the viewport or drag the orange handles to reshape the elbow.
Label Style
The ribbon exposes a quick Label Format group when a label callout is selected, so you can change font, size, color, and opacity without opening the full editor.
Content (on tap)
Choose what happens when the learner taps the callout:Anchor Point and Label Transform
- Anchor Point — Position (X / Y / Z) of the point the leader line starts from, relative to the reference object.
- Label Transform — Position, Rotation, and Scale of the label in 3D space. Scale is clamped between 0.01 and 100.
Add Callout Action (Catalog)
Callouts can also be added from the action catalog as Add Callout, but the full object graph — tag, cleanup on exit, and tap content — is produced by Callout Mode. For most workflows, Callout Mode is faster and less error-prone. The Add Callout action shows the same fields as the Callout Editor above:- Label Text (placeholder: Text on the tag)
- Reference Object — the scene object the callout is attached to
- Show Leader Line, Billboard, Billboard Mode
- Anchor Point, Label Transform, Label Style
Example: Label a Machine Part
A learner is inspecting an engine. You want to label the oil filler cap so the learner can see its name and tap it for a short description.1
Place the callout
Select the Inspect Engine step. Turn on Callout Mode and click the oil filler cap in the 3D scene.
2
Configure the label
In the Callout Editor, set Label Text to
Oil Filler Cap. Leave Show Leader Line on, Billboard on, Billboard Mode Full.3
Add tap content
Under Content (on tap), choose Text. Set the title to
Oil Filler Cap and the body to Remove to add engine oil. Torque to 8 Nm when reinstalling.Example: Inspection Checklist with Image Callouts
Tag each inspection point with a numbered callout. Tapping a callout shows a reference image of the correct condition.1
Enter Callout Mode and place the first point
Click the first inspection point. Label it
1. Wear Plate.2
Set the content to Image
Under Content (on tap), choose Image. Pick the reference photo. Fill in Alt Text.
3
Repeat for each point
Place
2, 3, 4 on the other inspection points, each with its own reference image.4
Turn Callout Mode off
Return to normal editing when all points are placed.
Best Practices
1
Use Callout Mode, not the raw Add Callout action
Callout Mode wires up placement, cleanup, and tap behavior in one step. Using the raw action requires you to manage each piece manually.
2
Keep labels short
Labels are most readable at 1 – 3 words. Put detail in the tap content, not on the tag itself.
3
Leave Billboard on for most cases
Billboard labels stay readable regardless of how the learner moves around the scene.
4
Use elbow connectors when the label needs to sit off to the side
An elbow routes cleanly around the model instead of cutting through it.
5
Stick with VR fonts for VR trainings
The VR font filter shows fonts that render correctly in headset mode.
6
Clean up on exit
If you add callouts manually, remember to remove them on onExit. Callout Mode does this for you automatically.
How It Works Internally
A callout is a scene object whose tap event fires a transition to content:- onEntry:
Add Callout— places the tag - Transition (event: tap on the tag) — runs Show Text, Show Image, or Play Video using the tag’s stable id as the reference
- onExit:
Remove Object— removes the tag so it does not persist into the next state
Related
- Show Panel — A richer, modal info panel (versus a lightweight callout tag)
- Highlight Object — Visually emphasise an object without attaching a tag
- Show Text / Show Image / Play Video — The content actions triggered when a callout is tapped