What age range is this best suited for?

Children ages 4 through 12 tend to enjoy this most, though any age that draws and enjoys storytelling can use it.

Does the drawing need to be on white paper?

White paper gives the cleanest cutout, but Canvi's background removal handles most paper colors. Very dark or busy paper backgrounds may need a cleaner photo.

Can a child use this on their own?

Older children, around 8 and up, can often use it independently. Younger children will enjoy it most with a parent or teacher alongside to handle the technical steps.

Can I use drawings done in crayon, marker, and watercolor?

Yes. Canvi handles all common drawing media. Darker, more defined outlines produce slightly cleaner cutouts than very light pencil sketches.

Can I print the finished scene?

Yes. Export the canvas as a PNG and print it at any photo printer or home printer.

Their Drawings Become Characters in a Whole New Story

Photograph your child's artwork, remove the background, and let them place their characters and creatures onto new scenes. Their imagination builds the story, Canvi brings it to the canvas.

Why people use it

Extend the creative life of a drawing beyond the page it was drawn on
Help kids who love storytelling but find writing difficult express narratives visually
Create personalized story illustrations starring the child's own art
Celebrate and elevate a child's creative work into something shareable
Use it as a bridge between visual art and literacy activities

How it works

Photograph the drawing: Take a clear, well-lit photo of the drawing on a flat surface. Drawings on white paper work especially well.
Cut out the characters: Upload to Canvi and the background is removed automatically, leaving just the drawn character or element.
Choose a story backdrop: Add a background image that sets the scene: a forest, a castle, the ocean, outer space, or anything that fits the story.
Build the scene together: Add multiple characters, resize them for the scene, and arrange the story moment the child wants to create.

Use cases

Adventure scenes: A drawn hero gets placed into a jungle, mountain range, or enchanted forest for their next quest.
Character collections: All of a child's drawn characters appear together in a single scene, a whole cast assembled at last.
Storybook page creation: Combine characters across multiple pages into a sequence of scenes that tell a complete story.
Holiday and gift cards: Place a child's drawing into a seasonal scene and export it as a personalized card to share with family.

Tips

Encourage kids to draw characters on plain white paper for the cleanest background removal
Let the child choose the background scene to preserve their creative ownership of the story
Print the finished canvas and add handwritten story text for a homemade storybook page
Try placing the same character in several different backgrounds to explore different chapters of the story
Use multiple drawings in the same canvas to create a scene with a full cast of characters

Frequently asked questions

What age range is this best suited for?: Children ages 4 through 12 tend to enjoy this most, though any age that draws and enjoys storytelling can use it.
Does the drawing need to be on white paper?: White paper gives the cleanest cutout, but Canvi's background removal handles most paper colors. Very dark or busy paper backgrounds may need a cleaner photo.
Can a child use this on their own?: Older children, around 8 and up, can often use it independently. Younger children will enjoy it most with a parent or teacher alongside to handle the technical steps.
Can I use drawings done in crayon, marker, and watercolor?: Yes. Canvi handles all common drawing media. Darker, more defined outlines produce slightly cleaner cutouts than very light pencil sketches.
Can I print the finished scene?: Yes. Export the canvas as a PNG and print it at any photo printer or home printer.