JSON Canvas

This skill enables Claude Code to create and edit valid JSON Canvas files (.canvas) used in Obsidian and other applications.

Overview

JSON Canvas is an open file format for infinite canvas data. Canvas files use the .canvas extension and contain valid JSON following the JSON Canvas Spec 1.0.

When to Use This Skill

• Creating or editing .canvas files in Obsidian
• Building visual mind maps or flowcharts
• Creating project boards or planning documents
• Organizing notes visually with connections
• Building diagrams with linked content

File Structure

A canvas file contains two top-level arrays:

{
  "nodes": [],
  "edges": []
}

• nodes (optional): Array of node objects
• edges (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes

Nodes

Nodes are objects placed on the canvas. There are four node types:

• text - Text content with Markdown
• file - Reference to files/attachments
• link - External URL
• group - Visual container for other nodes

Z-Index Ordering

First node = bottom layer (displayed below others) Last node = top layer (displayed above others)

Generic Node Attributes

Text Nodes

Text nodes contain Markdown content.

{
  "id": "text1",
  "type": "text",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 300,
  "height": 150,
  "text": "# Heading\n\nThis is **markdown** content."
}

File Nodes

File nodes reference files or attachments (images, videos, PDFs, notes, etc.)

{
  "id": "file1",
  "type": "file",
  "x": 350,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 300,
  "file": "Notes/My Note.md",
  "subpath": "#Heading"
}

Link Nodes

Link nodes display external URLs.

{
  "id": "link1",
  "type": "link",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 200,
  "width": 300,
  "height": 150,
  "url": "https://example.com"
}

Group Nodes

Group nodes are visual containers for organizing other nodes.

Background Styles

{
  "id": "group1",
  "type": "group",
  "x": -50,
  "y": -50,
  "width": 800,
  "height": 500,
  "label": "Project Ideas",
  "color": "4"
}

Edges

Edges are lines connecting nodes.

Side Values

End Shapes

{
  "id": "edge1",
  "fromNode": "text1",
  "fromSide": "right",
  "toNode": "file1",
  "toSide": "left",
  "toEnd": "arrow",
  "label": "references"
}

Colors

The canvasColor type supports both hex colors and preset options.

Hex Colors

{
  "color": "#FF0000"
}

Preset Colors

Specific color values for presets are intentionally undefined, allowing applications to use their own brand colors.

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "idea1",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "# Main Idea\n\nCore concept goes here"
    },
    {
      "id": "idea2",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 350,
      "y": -50,
      "width": 200,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Supporting Point 1\n\nDetails..."
    },
    {
      "id": "idea3",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 350,
      "y": 100,
      "width": 200,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Supporting Point 2\n\nMore details..."
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "e1",
      "fromNode": "idea1",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "idea2",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "e2",
      "fromNode": "idea1",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "idea3",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    }
  ]
}

Project Board with Groups

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "todo-group",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 400,
      "label": "To Do",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "progress-group",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 350,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 400,
      "label": "In Progress",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "done-group",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 700,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 400,
      "label": "Done",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "task1",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 20,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 1\n\nDescription of first task"
    },
    {
      "id": "task2",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 370,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 2\n\nCurrently working on this"
    },
    {
      "id": "task3",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 720,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 3\n\n~~Completed task~~"
    }
  ],
  "edges": []
}

Research Canvas with Files and Links

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "central",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 200,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "# Research Topic\n\nMain research question",
      "color": "6"
    },
    {
      "id": "notes1",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 180,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Research/Literature Review.md"
    },
    {
      "id": "notes2",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 450,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 180,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Research/Methodology.md"
    },
    {
      "id": "source1",
      "type": "link",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 350,
      "width": 180,
      "height": 100,
      "url": "https://scholar.google.com"
    },
    {
      "id": "source2",
      "type": "link",
      "x": 450,
      "y": 350,
      "width": 180,
      "height": 100,
      "url": "https://arxiv.org"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "e1",
      "fromNode": "central",
      "toNode": "notes1",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "label": "literature"
    },
    {
      "id": "e2",
      "fromNode": "central",
      "toNode": "notes2",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "label": "methods"
    },
    {
      "id": "e3",
      "fromNode": "central",
      "toNode": "source1",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "e4",
      "fromNode": "central",
      "toNode": "source2",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    }
  ]
}

Flowchart

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "start",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 100,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**Start**",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "decision",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 75,
      "y": 120,
      "width": 200,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Decision\n\nIs condition true?",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "yes-path",
      "type": "text",
      "x": -100,
      "y": 280,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**Yes Path**\n\nDo action A"
    },
    {
      "id": "no-path",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 300,
      "y": 280,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**No Path**\n\nDo action B"
    },
    {
      "id": "end",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 100,
      "y": 420,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**End**",
      "color": "1"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "e1",
      "fromNode": "start",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "decision",
      "toSide": "top",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "e2",
      "fromNode": "decision",
      "fromSide": "left",
      "toNode": "yes-path",
      "toSide": "top",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "label": "Yes"
    },
    {
      "id": "e3",
      "fromNode": "decision",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "no-path",
      "toSide": "top",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "label": "No"
    },
    {
      "id": "e4",
      "fromNode": "yes-path",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "end",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "e5",
      "fromNode": "no-path",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "end",
      "toSide": "right",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    }
  ]
}

ID Generation

Node and edge IDs must be unique strings. Obsidian generates 16-character hexadecimal IDs.

Example format: a1b2c3d4e5f67890

Layout Guidelines

Positioning

• Coordinates can be negative (canvas extends infinitely)
• x increases to the right
• y increases downward
• Position refers to top-left corner of node

Recommended Sizes

Spacing

• Leave 20-50px padding inside groups
• Space nodes 50-100px apart for readability
• Align nodes to grid (multiples of 10 or 20) for cleaner layouts

Validation Rules

1. All id values must be unique across nodes and edges
2. fromNode and toNode must reference existing node IDs
3. Required fields must be present for each node type
4. type must be one of: text, file, link, group
5. backgroundStyle must be one of: cover, ratio, repeat
6. fromSide, toSide must be one of: top, right, bottom, left
7. fromEnd, toEnd must be one of: none, arrow
8. Color presets must be "1" through "6" or valid hex color

References

• JSON Canvas Spec 1.0
• JSON Canvas GitHub