Key Features
Infinite Canvas
Unlimited 2D space for visual thinking and diagramming
Embedded Links
@mention tasks, files, and emails - embeds update automatically
Drawing Tools
Shapes, connectors, text, pencil, and more
Keyboard-First
Switch tools and navigate entirely from the keyboard
Canvas Tools
The canvas provides a complete set of drawing and diagramming tools:Basic Tools
- Selection
- Zoom
Move Tool (Shortcut:
v)Select, move, and resize objects on the canvas. Click and drag to create selection boxes around multiple items.Drawing Tools
- Shapes
- Pencil
- Text
- Connectors
Rectangle Tool (Shortcut:
r)Create rectangles and squares. Hold shift while dragging to create perfect squares.Connectors automatically attach to shapes. When you move a shape, its connectors move with it, keeping your diagrams organized.
Embedded @Links
The most powerful feature of Canvas is the ability to embed live references:What You Can Embed
- Documents: Live preview of doc content
- Tasks: Task title, status, and assignee
- Files: Image thumbnails, PDF previews, file icons
- Emails: Email subject and participants
- Channels: Channel name and recent activity
When you embed a task in a canvas and mark it complete elsewhere in Macro, the canvas embed automatically updates to reflect the new status.
Media and Files
Add rich media to your canvas:- Images: Drag and drop images directly onto the canvas
- Files: Embed PDFs, videos, and other file types
- Screenshots: Paste images from clipboard
Styling and Customization
Customize the appearance of canvas elements:- Colors: Change fill and stroke colors
- Line weight: Adjust connector thickness
- Arrow styles: Different arrowhead options for connectors
- Text formatting: Rich text support in text boxes
Organization Tools
Selection and Grouping
- Select multiple objects by dragging a selection box
- Move selected objects together
- Resize groups proportionally
Alignment
- Align selected objects to top, bottom, left, right, or center
- Distribute objects evenly
- Snap to grid for precise placement
Layers
- Bring objects forward or send backward
- Reorder layers to control overlap
Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigate and work efficiently with keyboard shortcuts:| Tool | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hand | h | Pan around the canvas |
| Zoom | z | Zoom in/out |
| Select | v | Selection and move tool |
| Rectangle | r | Draw rectangles |
| Pencil | p | Free-form drawing |
| Line | l | Create connectors |
| Text | t | Add text boxes |
| Straight | s | Straight connector style |
| Flow | f | Curved connector style |
| Bent | b | Stepped connector style |
Use Cases
Diagrams and Flowcharts
Create:- System architecture diagrams
- User flows and journey maps
- Process flowcharts
- Mind maps
Visual Planning
Use canvas for:- Sprint planning boards
- Roadmap visualization
- Brainstorming sessions
- Concept mapping
Documentation
Combine with documents:- Embed diagrams in docs with @mentions
- Create visual wikis
- Design mockups with context
- Technical documentation with diagrams
Collaboration
Canvas supports real-time collaboration:- Multiple people can edit simultaneously
- See other users’ cursors and selections
- Changes sync in real-time
- Permissions inherit from sharing context
When you share a canvas in a channel or @mention it to someone, they automatically get access to view or edit based on channel permissions.
Integration with Macro
Canvas works seamlessly with the rest of Macro:- Search: Canvas contents are searchable, including embedded @mentions
- AI Chat: @mention canvas in AI chat to discuss diagrams
- Documents: Embed canvas in documents or vice versa
- Tasks: Link canvas to projects and workflows