Canvas is a visual thinking tool, a built-in plugin in Obsidian.
It lets you create flexible, non-linear maps, where you can connect notes, blocks of text, links, images and even files as cards.
It’s like your Notion, Miro and a mindmap in one — only offline and customised to you.
🧠 How is Canvas different from regular notes?
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Here it’s not linear text, but free placement of elements
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You can connect cards with arrows — visual links
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All elements are edited and moved with the mouse
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It works like a mind map, a scheme or a service architecture
📌 My use cases
🧠 1. A psychological map
I create a map of blocks: my fears, desires, traumas, values. I add links to understand the roots of my behaviour.
🥅 2. A goals map
I make a visual structure: long-term goals → life categories → next steps. I see where the gaps are, where the focus is.
💭 3. A wishes map
I add pictures, texts, values. It helps to visualise dreams, like a vision board.
🛠️ 4. A service algorithm
You make an “if-choice-then-action” structure, showing the product’s logic. This is super useful for MVPs and pitches to investors.
🧰 Handy Canvas features
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📝 Adding Markdown notes right into Canvas
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🔗 Direct links to other Obsidian notes
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🖼️ Images, videos, PDFs as elements
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↔️ Lines, arrows to show relationships
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🔍 Quick search and filtering within the canvas
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📁 One canvas = one
.canvasfile
🔧 How to enable it?
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Settings → “Core plugins” → enable Canvas
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Press
Ctrl+P→ “Canvas” -
Start adding cards (text card, file card, link)
🌟 A tip from Elton
First, try Canvas for one specific task (e.g. a goal for the month). Then expand — make an architecture map of your life or thinking, the way coaches and product managers do. It’s not about beauty, it’s about clarity and the connection of thoughts.
Keep going?