Canvas background
Change the color of the canvas background to make designs easier to review in context.
What is the canvas background?
The canvas background is the color that fills the area outside and behind all layers on the canvas. It is not a layer — it does not appear in exports and cannot be selected or styled like a fill. It is purely a viewing preference.
Changing the canvas background
- Open the viewport controls in the bottom-right corner.
- Find the Canvas background color swatch.
- Click it to open the color picker.
- Choose a new background color.
The background updates immediately.
To reset to the default color, click Reset in the canvas background control.
When to change the background
| Background color | When to use |
|---|---|
| White or light gray | Most UI and web design work — simulates a light-mode environment |
| Dark gray or black | Reviewing designs on dark surfaces, dark-mode UIs, or brightly colored artwork |
| Neutral mid-gray | When you want to judge colors without a white or dark bias |
| Matching brand color | When reviewing artwork that will appear on a specific background |
Tips
- The canvas background color has no effect on what is exported — only the actual layers are included in exports.
- If you are reviewing transparency in a PNG design, use a contrasting canvas background to clearly see transparent areas.
- Return to a neutral gray background before sharing a screenshot of the canvas to avoid giving collaborators an impression of a background that isn't part of the design.