> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.myapps.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Canvas

> A layered compositing workspace — no node graphs

**Canvas** is a compositing-style workspace. You stack images, frames, and adjustments in layers, position them precisely, preview, and export — built for visual iteration, without node graphs.

<Info>
  This is Canvas in the Pixio web app. It's different from **[Pixio Canvas for iPad](/pixio-canvas/support)**, the drawing and tracing companion app.
</Info>

## Canvas vs Boards

|             | Canvas                   | [Boards](/create/boards) |
| ----------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------ |
| Model       | Layered document         | Nodes and connections    |
| Thinking in | Composition and stacking | Flow and branches        |
| Best for    | Building one image       | Multi-step pipelines     |
| Node graphs | **No**                   | Yes                      |

Reach for Canvas when the job is *make this one image right*.

## Working in it

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a canvas project">
    From the library, create a new canvas or resume one. Each canvas stores its own layered document and edits.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compose in layers">
    Stack images, frames, and adjustments in a familiar compositing-style workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refine and export">
    Position elements precisely, preview the composition, and export when you're happy.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you work with

| Piece              | What it does                                        |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Layers**         | Stacked elements — images, frames, adjustments      |
| **Frames**         | Define the composition area                         |
| **Adjustments**    | Non-destructive changes over what's beneath         |
| **Templates**      | Start from a prepared setup instead of blank        |
| **Director panel** | Describe the change you want instead of hand-tuning |
| **Frames preview** | See the composition as it will export               |

## Projects are saved

Each canvas keeps its own document and edit history, so you can leave a composition half-finished and pick it up later. Everything lives in your canvas library.

## Sharing

A canvas can be shared by link for review without a Pixio account. See [Share links](/library/share-links).

## Credits

Composing, positioning, and exporting are free. Generating new imagery from the canvas costs credits at the model's normal rate.

<Tip>
  Generate elements at the size you'll actually use. Compositing a small image into a large frame and scaling it up loses detail that no amount of layer work brings back.
</Tip>

<Info>
  Canvas design CRUD and operations are available through the API. See [what you can automate](/integrations/what-you-can-automate).
</Info>