The canvas is where generation, layout, motion, and export meet. Treat it as a working board, not a single fixed artboard.
Core objects
| Object | Use it for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | A publishable scene, export region, or storyboard beat | Preview and export start from the selected frame |
| Layer | Text, image, video, shape, path, or shader content | Rename important layers before adding motion |
| Group | Moving or editing related layers together | Group only when the relationship is meaningful |
| Mask group | Clipping visible sibling layers through a mask object | Keep mask and clipped content in the same parent |
| Reference | Material you need nearby but do not export | Place it outside the final frame |
Frames
Frames define publishable scenes and export regions. A frame can hold images, video, text, shapes, groups, and motion timing. Select a frame when you want to preview or export a focused scene.
Use separate frames for size variants, storyboard beats, or alternate directions. This keeps comparisons visible without hiding previous work.
For multi-format work, create one frame per target ratio. Duplicate the strongest frame, then adjust crop and text placement for each ratio instead of rebuilding from scratch.
Layers
Layers are the editable objects inside the canvas. Text, image, video, shape, path, and shader layers can be arranged together and timed inside a frame.
Use the layer list when stacked objects are hard to select directly. Rename important layers so timeline and export work stays readable later.
Layer order matters visually and in the timeline. Keep background media lower, main subjects in the middle, and titles or overlays above the content they describe.
Selecting and editing
Direct selection is fastest for simple scenes. When the canvas is dense, switch to the layer list, zoom in, or temporarily hide layers that sit above the object you need.
Use small edits in this order:
- Select the frame or parent group first.
- Select the target layer.
- Adjust position, size, crop, or style.
- Preview the frame if the layer has timing.
- Rename the layer if it will be animated or reused.
If an edit affects more than expected, check whether you selected a group or frame instead of the individual layer.
Groups and masks
Regular groups keep related layers together while preserving editable children. Mask groups clip visible sibling layers through a selected mask object.
Create masks only from visible sibling layers in the same parent. This keeps the result predictable and avoids hidden or cross-frame mask behavior.
Use a regular group for things that should move together, such as a product image and its label. Use a mask group only when you need a crop, reveal, window, or shape-based composition.
Drawing and layout
Use preset shapes for quick structure, the path tool for custom vectors, and auto-layout groups when repeated rows or columns need consistent spacing.
Snapping and measurement overlays help with alignment. If the canvas starts feeling crowded, split the work into frames or move reference material away from the final export area.
Canvas hygiene
- Keep final frames free of unused references.
- Store reusable assets in the asset library instead of duplicating them across every frame.
- Use frame names that describe output, such as
Story 9:16orHero 16:9. - Keep alternate directions visible on the canvas until the team chooses one.
- Before export, select the target frame and check that no notes or references sit inside it.