... whether or not diffuse textures are animate-able and how to do that if possible
for example.. if i want to start an object with one texture then switch its appearance with a whole new texture.
CrazyTalk Animator does not use diffuse textures. That would be more an iClone feature.
If you are talking about CTA then you really only have the ability to fade from one image to the next using the opacity settings.
Not sure how that would look fading from one "texture" to another.
You can also switch sprites but that is an instant change, not done over time.
...i want to put in text for story telling and have it transition with new text as smoothly as possible.
Again, you would have to use the Opacity setting to fade from one text object to the next.
also is there a way to do trail like effects on objects?
CTA does not have any particle effects, like trails. Those are typically done in post processing (AfterEffects, ParticlIllusion, etc.) or possibly by using an animated prop.
Jeff
Get my Plugin Manager and TaskNotes plugins for iClone.
Check out EZColors and Other products for CTA/CA. EZColors: the easy way to change Render Styled (RS) colors!
See my CTA Tutorials on the YouTube channel CTAStepByStep