---
title: "Canvas settings and positioning"
canonical_url: https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/canvas/
source: docs/editor/canvas.md
content_revision: 6338386a1dd87e4a
---

# Canvas settings and positioning

Set the output frame and arrange each element's position, size, rotation, and stacking order.

## When to use it

Choose a landscape, portrait, or square canvas before composing your video. Use the stage for visual placement and **Layout** fields when you need exact coordinates.

## How to change video dimensions and frame rate

**Navigation:** **Editor → Project settings**; the settings appear directly in the top bar on wider screens.

1. Open **Project settings** if its controls are collapsed.
2. Choose a **Resolution preset**, or select **custom**.
3. For **custom**, enter **Width (px)** and **Height (px)**.
4. For video projects, set **Frame rate** using the control marked **fps**.
5. Choose **Background color** and **Output format**.
6. Check the stage and reposition content after a size or aspect-ratio change.

![Zvid editor project toolbar with resolution, duration, frame rate, background, and output format controls.](https://docs.zvid.io/img/dashboard-guide/editor-project-toolbar.png)

Hosted video renders accept integer frame rates from 1 to 60 and output formats **mp4**, **mov**, **avi**, and **webm**. Some editor controls accept broader input, but your render must still meet hosted validation and plan limits. See [Validate and estimate](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/validate-and-estimate/) and [resolution presets](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/structure/properties/resolution-presets/).

Image projects use **png**, **jpg**, or **webp** and hide video duration and frame-rate controls. Image quality and transparency are available in the [render dialog](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/export/#how-to-render-an-image).

## How to position and resize an element

**Navigation:** **Editor → select an element → Design → Layout**.

1. Click or tap the element on the stage. If it is not visible at the current time, select it on the timeline.
2. Drag to move it, resize with its handles, or use the rotation handle.
3. In **Layout**, set **Position preset** for a standard position, or enter **X (anchor point)** and **Y (anchor point)**.
4. Choose **Anchor**: this is the point of the element placed at the X and Y coordinates.
5. Set **Width**, **Height**, **Rotation**, and **Opacity** as needed.
6. Use **Flip horizontally** or **Flip vertically** to mirror the element.

A position preset overwrites the current X/Y coordinates. An empty width can use the source's intrinsic or measured size. For images and footage, use [Resize mode](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/) to control fit and cropping.

## How to arrange overlapping elements

1. Select a visual element and open **Selected element actions**, or right-click it.
2. Choose **Bring forward (track +1)** or **Send backward (track −1)** in a video project. Higher visual tracks appear in front.
3. Alternatively, set **Design → Layout → Track (z)** or move the clip to another visual timeline track.
4. In an image project, use **Layers** or the **Bring forward** and **Send backward** actions to reorder the layer stack.

Use Shift+click to select several stage elements and move them together. **Duplicate** creates another element; **Delete** removes the selected element from the project. Use **Undo** for an unintended local edit.

## How to manage an image project's layers

1. In an image project, open **Layers**.
2. Click a row to select its element. The top of the list is the front of the image.
3. Drag a row to reorder it, or use **Bring forward** and **Send backward**.
4. Use **Replace image (keeps size, position and effects)** on an image layer to choose a new source.
5. Use **Duplicate** to copy a layer or **Delete layer** to remove it from the composition.

Removing a layer does not delete its uploaded asset. Use **Undo** to restore an unintended local layer deletion.

## How to zoom, pan, and align

1. Use **Zoom in** or **Zoom out** below the stage. Clicking the zoom percentage uses **Reset to fit**.
2. Turn on **Pan canvas** and drag to move the view around a zoomed composition. Turn it off before moving elements.
3. Enable **Toggle snapping** to align elements with stage guides.
4. Use **Toggle safe margins** to show composition guides.

Canvas zoom, safe margins, and pan change the editing view. They do not change output dimensions.

## How to add an animated canvas background

1. Open **Canvas** in the tool rail.
2. Browse **Canvas presets**. Hover a tile with a preview to see it animate.
3. Click a preset to add its full-frame element.
4. Select it and use its properties to adjust timing and layout.
5. For code-level changes, open **Effects → Animation code (customCode)**.

![Zvid Canvas tool displaying the Canvas presets gallery used to add animated background elements.](https://docs.zvid.io/img/dashboard-guide/editor-canvas-presets.png)

These presets add elements to the composition; they are separate from the project **Background color** setting. See [Animations and transitions](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/animations/) before editing animation code.

## What happens next

Your geometry and output settings are saved with the project. Check [preview](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/preview/) at the new dimensions, then [render](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/export/) to verify final framing and output.

## Related documentation

- [Timeline and duration](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/timeline/)
- [Images and crop controls](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/)
- [Anchor reference](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/structure/properties/anchor/)