ACD Systems Canvas
Version | X 2019(as of 11/21/2018) |
Platform | Windows |
License | Commercial |
Category | Graphics |
Main Features
- Edits vector and raster graphics
- Supports over 100 different file formats
- Includes advanced technical drawing tools
- Symbol Library with thousands of technical symbols
- SpriteLayers and SpriteEffects image enhancement technologies
- Advanced medical and geological imaging features
Software Overview
Canvas is a drawing program designed for creating and editing technical illustrations and specialized visualizations. It is primarily used to edit vector-based images, but also supports raster images.
The Canvas user interface appears similar to an actual drawing canvas for editing drawings. It contains many different tool palettes that can be displayed and arranged to customize the workspace. A canvas grid feature helps align and evenly distribute vector graphics for precision. The program supports over 100 input file formats, such as AutoCAD (.DWG and .DXF), Photoshop (.PSD and .PDD), Illustrator (.AI), Portable Document Format (.PDF), CorelDRAW (.CDR), PowerPoint (.PPT), DICOM (.DCM), RAW images, and other raster image files, such as .PNG, .JPG, and .GIF files. Drawings can be saved in Canvas' proprietary format (.CVX) or may be exported to one of several different file types.
Canvas is used for a wide variety of technical drawings and can be used for creating specialized visualizations. For example, for medical and geological applications, the program can record numerical data from medical research images and provide imaging tools to display the data within the viewing environment. Its proprietary CGM (Computer Graphic Metafile) engine is compliant with both the Aviation Transportation Authority (ATA) and Petroleum Industry Protocol (PIP) standards. The program’s support for scientific visualization also makes it a useful tool for geological and medical research professionals. Canvas includes a Seismic Traces palette, which helps you study seismic data visualizations. The application also includes tools for enhancing images and visualizing scientific data formats.
For technical illustration professionals, Canvas is an impressive drawing program. Canvas’ support of a wide variety of industry file formats, as well its professional editing tools makes it a valuable tool. For the performance you will get from the application, the price is worth it.
Primary File Type

Supported File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.CVX | Canvas Drawing File |
.AI | Adobe Illustrator Artwork |
.ARW | Sony Alpha Raw Digital Camera Image |
.BAY | Casio RAW Image |
.BMP | Bitmap Image |
.CAL | CALS Raster Graphic |
.CDR | CorelDRAW Image File |
.CDT | CorelDRAW Template |
.CGM | Computer Graphics Metafile |
.CH3 | Harvard Graphics DOS Chart File |
.CMX | Corel Metafile Exchange Image File |
.CNV | Canvas 6-8 Drawing File |
.CR2 | Canon Raw 2 Image File |
.CRW | Canon Raw CIFF Image File |
.CST | Canvas Custom Set File |
.CSY | Canvas Symbol File |
.CV5 | Canvas 5 Drawing File |
.CVA | Canvas Sequence Set |
.CVI | Canvas Image File |
.CVS | Canvas 3 Drawing File |
.CVT | Canvas External Tool File |
.DCM | DICOM Image |
.DCR | Kodak Digital Camera RAW Image File |
.DJVU | DjVu Image |
.DNG | Digital Negative Image |
.DOC | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) |
.DOCX | Microsoft Word Document |
.DRW | Drawing File |
.DWF | Design Web Format File |
.DWG | AutoCAD Drawing |
.DXF | Drawing Exchange Format File |
.EMF | Enhanced Windows Metafile |
.EPS | Encapsulated PostScript File |
.ERF | Epson RAW File |
.FMV | Frame Vector Metafile |
.FPX | FlashPix Bitmap Image File |
.GEM | GEM Metafile |
.GIF | Graphical Interchange Format File |
.GML | Geography Markup Language File |
.HDR | High Dynamic Range Image File |
.HGL | HP Graphics Language File |
.HPG | HPGL Plot File |
.HPGL | HP Graphics Language Plotter File |
.HTM | Hypertext Markup Language File |
.HTML | Hypertext Markup Language File |
.ICL | Windows Icon Library File |
.ICO | Icon File |
.IFF | Interchange File Format |
.IGES | IGES Drawing File |
.IGS | IGES Drawing |
.ILBM | Interleaved Bitmap Image |
.J2C | JPEG 2000 Code Stream |
.JP2 | JPEG 2000 Core Image File |
.JPG | JPEG Image |
.KDC | Kodak Photo-Enhancer File |
.MEF | Mamiya RAW Image |
.MRW | Minolta Raw Image File |
.NEF | Nikon Electronic Format RAW Image |
.ORF | Olympus RAW File |
.PAT | Pattern File |
.PBM | Portable Bitmap Image |
.PCD | Kodak Photo CD Image File |
.PCX | Paintbrush Bitmap Image File |
Portable Document Format File | |
.PEF | Pentax Electronic File |
.PGM | Portable Gray Map Image |
.PIC | Generic Picture File |
.PIX | Alias PIX Image |
.PNG | Portable Network Graphic |
.PPM | Portable Pixmap Image File |
.PPT | Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation (Legacy) |
.PPTX | Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation |
.PRN | Print to File |
.PS | PostScript File |
.PSD | Adobe Photoshop Document |
.PSP | PaintShop Pro Image File |
.PSPBRUSH | PaintShop Pro Brush File |
.PSPIMAGE | PaintShop Pro Image |
.RAF | Fuji RAW Image File |
.RAS | Sun Raster Graphic |
.RAW | Raw Image Data File |
.RGB | RGB Bitmap |
.RLE | Run Length Encoded Bitmap |
.RSB | Red Storm Bitmap File |
.RTF | Rich Text Format File |
.RW2 | Panasonic RAW Image |
.SGI | Silicon Graphics Image |
.SHP | ESRI Shapefile |
.SID | MrSID Image |
.SRF | Sony RAW Image |
.SY3 | Harvard Graphics Symbol File |
.TGA | Targa Graphic |
.TIF | Tagged Image File |
.TPL | Canvas Template |
.VSD | Visio Drawing File |
.WBMP | Wireless Bitmap Image File |
.WMF | Windows Metafile |
.WPD | WordPerfect Document |
.WPG | WordPerfect Graphic |
.XBM | X11 Bitmap Graphic |
.XHTML | Extensible Hypertext Markup Language File |
.XLC | Microsoft Excel Chart |
.XLS | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) |
.XLSX | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet |
.XPM | X11 Pixmap Graphic |
Additional Related File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.AVI | Audio Video Interleave File |
.BRK | Brooktrout Fax Document |
.CALS | CALS Raster Graphic File |
.CSV | Comma-Separated Values File |
.DJV | DjVu Image |
.E00 | ArcInfo Coverage Export File |
.ECW | Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image |
.EPSF | Encapsulated PostScript Format File |
.ICB | Targa ICB Bitmap Image |
.INT | SGI Integer Image |
.J2K | JPEG 2000 Image |
.JPC | JPEG 2000 Code Stream File |
.JPE | JPEG Image |
.JPEG | JPEG Image |
.JPX | JPEG 2000 Image File |
.LBM | Deluxe Paint Bitmap Image |
.MET | Presentation Manager Metafile |
.PDD | Adobe PhotoDeluxe Image |
.PICT | Picture File |
.SVG | Scalable Vector Graphics File |
.TIFF | Tagged Image File Format |
.TXT | Plain Text File |
.VDA | Targa Bitmap Image File |
.VST | Targa Bitmap Image |