How to use Frames

This article will show you how to use Frames within your Canvas for presentation, imaging, and mood boarding scenarios.

Frame on the Canvas Toolbar:

Frame icon on the toolbar

1. From your Canvas dashboard, either select one of your Canvas boards.

2. At the top is your toolbar is where you can access main functions quickly.

3. The Frame icon will turn white when activated.

Why use Frames?

A Frame allows you to group objects together and gives you the option to export your work out of Canoa. Rather than having to select individual images, placing a Frame around them allows you to easily select, move, and export these elements as a group. Frames are also compared to as being like "presentation slides" within Canvas because of their organizational value.

Creating a Frame:

1. Click on the Frame icon or type F and the icon will turn purple when activated.

2. Create a Frame around the items that you'd like to export or print.

3. When the Frame feature is active, you will continue creating frames. Hit ESC to exit from creating frames.

4. You can set the ratio of your Frame to match the shape of common presentation or paper sizes and use that as a guide to layout or organize your Frame.

5. You can select either Landscape or Portrait orientation.

Set ratio options and select either landscape or portrait

Naming your Frame:

Every time a Frame is created on the Canvas, it will be automatically numbered according to the order it was created in. For example, Frame 0, Frame 1, Frame 2, etc..

You can always rename your Frames. Naming your Frame is helpful when organizing your Canvas or exporting your Frame. Since a Frame is currently exported one at a time, having a unique name for each Frame helps you identify the Frames as you export them.

1. Click on your selected Frame, and then double-click on the Frame textbox at the top left of your frame box.

2. Input a new name or title for your Frame. Here are some helpful naming tips:

   • If you're planning on combining your exported Frames into a book or presentation, then you may find it helpful to name your Frame "Presentation Name Page 1"; "Presentation Name Page 2", etc.

   • If you're planning on adding the visuals, floor plans, or schedules into a presentation template that you have, then you may find it helpful to name your Frame by the image or item name such as "Collage" or "Floor Plan" or "Furniture Schedule" etc.

Use your Frame textbox to name your frame

Styling your Frame:

By default, all Frames have a white background to start. You then can select a background color and set the opacity level of that fill color by clicking the Set Fill Style icon at the bottom of the Frame when it is selected.

Set Fill Style icon is located at the bottom of the Frame when the Frame is activated.

You can also select a border style by clicking Set Stroke Style icon at the bottom of the Frame when it is selected. Choose between a Solid Line, Dashed Line, or Dotted Line and toggle its level of thickness.

Set Stroke Style = chose a border for your Frame

Copying & Deleting a Frame:

To delete your frame, simply select the Frame (name or border) and hit the delete key on your keyboard. Deleting the Frame will delete the content within the Frame. The elements inside your Frame are linked to the Frame itself.

This means when you copy a Frame, all of its contents will be copied as well.

If you want to delete only the Frame and not the elements inside of it, select the Frame, right-click and select Ungroup. The Frame will disappear and the contents will remain on your Canvas.

To delete, select your frame and hit delete or select Ungroup

Using Frames is similar to using the Group and Ungroup action in Canvas, but Frames holds the power to export your work to PDF, JPEG, PNG, DWG, and DXF - a big function that Grouping does not carry.

See below for more details on organizing your Canvas using Frames.

How to organize your Canvas with Frames

See below for more details on exporting or printing your Canvas using Frames.

How to export or print your Canvas with Frames