> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.chatvideopro.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.chatvideopro.com/features/image-generation/canvas-editor.md).

# Canvas Editor

Canvas Editor is the controlled image-editing workspace inside Chat Video Pro. Use it when you need to show the app where something should happen, not just describe the change in a prompt.

If Image-to-Image is prompt-guided revision, Canvas Editor is visual-guided revision. You still write a prompt, but you also give the model masks, boxes, arrows, text, or added images so it understands the exact area, placement, or composition you want.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Use Canvas when location matters.** If you have tried a normal Image-to-Image prompt twice and the model keeps changing the wrong part of the image, move into Canvas Editor.
{% endhint %}

***

<figure><img src="/files/3zKqjq5ouq0YgGWgA6R2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### What This Tool Is For

Use Canvas Editor when you want to:

* Change one specific region of an image.
* Remove or replace a local object.
* Add a new element in a specific position.
* Point to what should move, change, or stay.
* Compose multiple images together.
* Place text, labels, badges, or layout notes.
* Give the model visual markup instead of relying only on language.

Use a different workflow when:

<table><thead><tr><th width="397">You want to...</th><th>Use instead</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Make a global style or mood change</td><td>Image-to-Image</td></tr><tr><td>Generate a new image from scratch</td><td>Text-to-Image</td></tr><tr><td>Remove the entire background from an image</td><td>Background Removal</td></tr><tr><td>Build a cinematic still for video</td><td>Studio Cinematic Lab</td></tr><tr><td>Upscale a finished image</td><td>Image Upscaling</td></tr></tbody></table>

***

### Canvas Editor vs. Image-to-Image

Both edit existing images. The difference is how much control you need.

<table><thead><tr><th width="407">Use Image-to-Image when...</th><th>Use Canvas Editor when...</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The whole image needs a style, mood, color, or background change.</td><td>The edit depends on a specific area.</td></tr><tr><td>The edit is easy to describe in one prompt.</td><td>You need to draw, mask, or point.</td></tr><tr><td>Speed matters more than exact placement.</td><td>Exact placement matters more than speed.</td></tr><tr><td>You want broad creative variations.</td><td>You want a directed revision.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Example:

* Image-to-Image prompt: `Make this scene feel like golden hour.`
* Canvas Editor prompt: `Remove this sign and rebuild the wall behind it.` with the sign brushed or boxed.

***

### How To Open Canvas Editor

<figure><img src="/files/cnOvDiFTr75AGLvcu3KC" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### From A Generated Image

1. Generate an image in Chat Video Pro.
2. Click **Edit** underneath the generation
3. Canvas Editor opens with the generated image loaded.

<figure><img src="/files/oLSdl9SSK0UCtXZxlnoR" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### From An Uploaded Image

1. Upload or attach an image.
2. Click **Edit** on the image thumbnail.
3. Canvas Editor opens with the uploaded image ready to mark up.

***

### How Canvas Edits Work

Canvas Editor uses your visual markup to decide what kind of edit you are asking for.

<table><thead><tr><th width="265">What you do in Canvas</th><th>What it tells the model</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Brush or draw over an area</td><td>This is the region to change, remove, or rebuild.</td></tr><tr><td>Draw a box or ellipse</td><td>This is the target area or object.</td></tr><tr><td>Add an arrow</td><td>This is the direction, location, or object being referenced.</td></tr><tr><td>Add text</td><td>This text or label should be part of the edit or layout.</td></tr><tr><td>Add another image</td><td>Use this as a composited element or visual reference.</td></tr></tbody></table>

You do not need to choose a technical pipeline. The editor reads your markup and sends the right context with your prompt.

***

### Available Tools

<details>

<summary><strong>Brush tool</strong></summary>

* Draw freehand selections
* Paint areas to modify
* Adjustable brush size
* Perfect for organic shapes

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Rectangle Tool</strong></summary>

* Draw rectangular selections
* Precise box selection
* Good for defined areas
* Multiple selections supported

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Ellipse Tool</strong></summary>

* Draw circular/oval selections
* Perfect for round objects
* Precise circular areas

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Arrow Tool</strong></summary>

* Draw arrows to indicate direction
* Show movement or rotation
* Point to specific areas
* Useful for repositioning

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Text Tool</strong></summary>

* Add text overlays
* Type annotations
* Label elements
* Create text graphics

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Add Image</strong></summary>

* Upload additional images
* Compose multiple elements
* Layer images together
* Create complex scenes

</details>

***

### Common Workflows

#### Remove A Specific Object

1. Open Canvas Editor.
2. Brush or box the object.
3. Prompt: `Remove this object and rebuild the background naturally.`
4. Apply the edit.
5. Review the result.

Best for small distractions, signs, logos, props, or background objects. For full transparent cutouts, use Background Removal.

#### Change One Part Of An Image

1. Select the area you want to change.
2. Prompt the specific change.
3. Add preservation language for everything else.

Example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
Change only the selected jacket to deep navy blue. Keep the person's face, pose, background, and lighting unchanged.
```

{% endcode %}

#### Add An Object In A Specific Spot

1. Draw a box where the object should go.
2. Prompt the object, scale, and style.
3. Include what should stay unchanged.

Example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
Add a small vintage film camera inside the selected area on the table. Match the scene lighting and keep the rest of the image unchanged.
```

{% endcode %}

#### Compose With Another Image

1. Open Canvas Editor.
2. Click **Add Image**.
3. Upload the product, logo, subject, prop, or reference asset.
4. Position it where it should appear.
5. Prompt how it should blend into the scene.

Example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
Blend the added product into the scene as if it was photographed there, matching perspective, shadows, and studio lighting.
```

{% endcode %}

#### Build A Thumbnail Layout

1. Open a strong image or thumbnail background.
2. Add text or arrows to block the layout.
3. Prompt the intended design.
4. Keep text short and clear.

Canvas is useful for thumbnail planning because placement matters. For a more thumbnail-specific workflow, use Thumbnail Mode.

***

### Prompting In Canvas

Canvas prompts should refer to your visual markup.

Good phrases:

* `In the selected area...`
* `Remove the brushed object...`
* `Replace the boxed region with...`
* `Place the added image naturally into the scene...`
* `Follow the arrow and move the object slightly to the right...`
* `Keep everything outside the selected area unchanged...`

Useful structure:

```
Change [the marked area] to [new result], while preserving [everything else that matters].
```

The most common mistake is writing a broad prompt after making a precise selection. If you selected one area, keep the prompt local.

***

### Choosing A Model

Canvas Editor works with the current image edit models in Chat Video Pro. Choose based on the hardest part of the edit.

<table><thead><tr><th width="391">If the edit needs...</th><th>Try...</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Text, labels, layout, or complex instruction following</td><td>GPT Image 2</td></tr><tr><td>Strong general image editing</td><td>Nano Banana 2</td></tr><tr><td>Polished realism or premium finish</td><td>Flux 2 Max</td></tr><tr><td>Fast creative variations</td><td>Seedream v5 or Grok</td></tr><tr><td>Quick low-cost previews</td><td>Z-Image Turbo</td></tr></tbody></table>

If one model keeps misunderstanding the markup, try GPT Image 2 for complex composition or Nano Banana 2 for a strong general pass.

***

### Best Practices

#### Select Only What Needs To Change

Do not brush half the image if only one object needs editing. Smaller, cleaner selections usually produce cleaner results.

#### Say What Should Stay The Same

Canvas tells the model where to look, but the prompt should still protect important details: subject identity, pose, product shape, text, lighting, framing, and background.

#### Use One Clear Edit Per Pass

For complex edits, work in stages:

1. Remove or replace the object.
2. Adjust lighting or style.
3. Add text or layout details.
4. Upscale only after the image is approved.

#### Use The Right Markup

Use brush for organic shapes, boxes for hard-edged areas, arrows for direction, and added images for composition. The cleaner your visual instruction, the less the model has to guess.

#### Keep Source Quality High

Canvas can guide the edit, but it cannot fully fix a weak source image. Use clear images with enough resolution for the model to understand the subject.

***

### Troubleshooting

#### The Wrong Area Changed

Make the selection smaller and add location language in the prompt, such as `only the selected sign`, `the object inside the box`, or `the brushed area in the background`.

#### The Edit Ignored My Markup

Use a more direct prompt that refers to the markup: `Use the selected area as the only edit region.` If that fails, try a different model or simplify the selection.

#### The Image Changed Too Much

Add preservation language: `Keep everything outside the selected area unchanged.` Also avoid asking for broad style changes in the same pass as a local edit.

#### Added Images Do Not Blend Naturally

Prompt for integration: `match lighting, perspective, shadows, color temperature, and depth of field.` If the added asset has a transparent background, it often works better as a clean product, logo, sticker, or prop.

#### Text Is Not Perfect

AI-generated text can still drift. Use GPT Image 2 for text-heavy edits, keep wording short, and add final production text manually if exact typography matters.

***

### Related Pages

* [Image Generation](/features/image-generation.md) - Create and edit still images.
* [Image-to-Image](/features/image-generation/image-to-image.md) - Edit an image with a prompt.
* [Text-to-Image](/features/image-generation/text-to-image.md) - Generate a new image from scratch.
* [Background Removal](/features/image-generation/background-removal.md) - Remove an image background.
* [Thumbnail Mode ](/features/image-generation/thumbnail-mode.md)- Create thumbnail-focused images.
* [Studio Cinematic Lab](/features/studio/cinematic-lab.md) - Build cinematic stills and video-ready frames.

***

**Next:** Use Image-to-Image for broad prompt-based edits, or use Background Removal when the whole image needs a transparent cutout.