A canvas is a freeform space to brainstorm ideas and mark them up with lightweight whiteboard tools, enabling you to think visually at the start of a project. You can draw, highlight, add text, images, post-it notes, shapes and even group content into frames. Similar to notebooks, a Canvas is a collaborative space where multiple users can add and modify content simultaneously.
How to create a canvas
A canvas asset can be created in the Workspace Drive by clicking on the +Add button at the top of the Drive panel. You can also create a canvas within a workspace folder from the folder’s context menu.
This will place an empty canvas asset in the Workspace Drive. As with other Drive assets, a canvas will have a context menu with basic file options such as open, move, rename and delete. A canvas can also be added to favourites for faster access.
Collaborate with other users
Multiple users can view and edit a canvas simultaneously. Each user's cursor will be represented by their name and a unique cursor colour.
Follow other users
Users that are currently viewing the canvas will be represented by icons in the top right corner of the canvas. Clicking on these icons will show their names. Clicking on a user's name will jump to that user’s position on the canvas. Hovering over a name will reveal the ‘follow’ option, which will allow you to follow that user around the canvas.
View side by side with other files
To aid your brainstorming session, you can open other files alongside the canvas using the split view option.
Editing the canvas
Canvas toolbar
The toolbar at the bottom of the canvas includes the main tools you need to navigate and add objects to the canvas.
Zoom
Clicking on the percentage indicator, on the far left of the toolbar, allows you to zoom in and out. You can also choose preset options such as "Zoom to fit", "Zoom to 100%" and "Zoom to selection".
Navigation
You can toggle between pointer and hand options. This determines what happens when you click on the canvas.
Pointer: Allows you to click on and manipulate the objects on the canvas. It is possible to select multiple objects at once by clicking and dragging with the selector tool.
Hand: Allows you to move around the canvas by clicking and dragging.
Add objects
You can add various objects to the canvas.
Frame: Frames allow you to group objects and easily move them around together.
Notes: Notes can be resized, with text scaling accordingly. They will be labelled with the name of the user that typed the note.
Draw
Highlight
Text
Line
Arrow
Add Image: Images can also be copy/pasted onto the canvas.
Shapes
Editing Commands
The following editing commands are available on the toolbar.
Eraser
Undo
Redo
Delete
Style menu
Depending on the object you have selected on the canvas, various styling options will be available in a panel on the right hand side of the canvas.
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Resize and Rotate
Click on any object on the canvas to access resize options. Hover over the edges for resize options. Hover over the corners for rotate options.
Text-specific options
The following text formatting options are available when highlighting text.
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Image-specific options
The following image options are available when an image has been selected.
Replace media
Crop image
Download original
Alternative text
Right-clicking an object
Right-clicking on any object in the canvas will show a standard context menu with the following options:
Edit - Flatten, Toggle locked
Reorder - Bring to front, Bring forward, Send backward, Send to back.
Cut
Copy
Paste
Duplicate
Delete
Select all
Exporting your canvas
You can export your canvas as a PNG file.
Click the ‘More’ icon at the end of the bottom toolbar and select "Export".
Click the ‘Transparent’ toggle to determine if the background of the image will be transparent or not.
Click "PNG" to trigger a download of the image.
Setting your preferences
You can access various preference settings by clicking on the ‘More’ icon at the end of the bottom toolbar, and selecting "Preferences".
Show grid
Always snap
Tool lock
Select on wrap
Focus mode
Edge scrolling
Dynamic size
Paste at cursor
Canvas permissions
The default Workspace roles have the following permissions for canvas assets:
Workspace Admin: Create, edit and view
Full Access: Create, edit and view
Limited: View only
⚠️ At this time, it is not possible to create and share canvas assets to portals.