JSON Canvas Skill

This skill enables skills-compatible agents 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.

File Structure

A canvas file contains two top-level arrays:

json

{
  "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

Nodes are ordered by z-index in the array:

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

Generic Node Attributes

All nodes share these attributes:

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`id`	Yes	string	Unique identifier for the node
`type`	Yes	string	Node type: `text` , `file` , `link` , or `group`
`x`	Yes	integer	X position in pixels
`y`	Yes	integer	Y position in pixels
`width`	Yes	integer	Width in pixels
`height`	Yes	integer	Height in pixels
`color`	No	canvasColor	Node color (see Color section)

Text Nodes

Text nodes contain Markdown content.

json

{
  "id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "type": "text",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 200,
  "text": "# Hello World\n\nThis is **Markdown** content."
}

Newline Escaping (Common Pitfall)

In JSON, newline characters inside strings must be represented as

\n

. Do not use the literal sequence

\\n

in a

.canvas

file—Obsidian will render it as the characters

and

instead of a line break.

Examples:

json

{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\nLine 2" }

json

{ "type": "text", "text": "Line 1\\nLine 2" }

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`text`	Yes	string	Plain text with Markdown syntax

File Nodes

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

json

{
  "id": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890",
  "type": "file",
  "x": 500,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 300,
  "file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
}

json

{
  "id": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
  "type": "file",
  "x": 500,
  "y": 400,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 300,
  "file": "Notes/Project Overview.md",
  "subpath": "#Implementation"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`file`	Yes	string	Path to file within the system
`subpath`	No	string	Link to heading or block (starts with `#` )

Link Nodes

Link nodes display external URLs.

json

{
  "id": "c3d4e5f678901234",
  "type": "link",
  "x": 1000,
  "y": 0,
  "width": 400,
  "height": 200,
  "url": "https://obsidian.md"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`url`	Yes	string	External URL

Group Nodes

Group nodes are visual containers for organizing other nodes.

json

{
  "id": "d4e5f6789012345a",
  "type": "group",
  "x": -50,
  "y": -50,
  "width": 1000,
  "height": 600,
  "label": "Project Overview",
  "color": "4"
}

json

{
  "id": "e5f67890123456ab",
  "type": "group",
  "x": 0,
  "y": 700,
  "width": 800,
  "height": 500,
  "label": "Resources",
  "background": "Attachments/background.png",
  "backgroundStyle": "cover"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Description
`label`	No	string	Text label for the group
`background`	No	string	Path to background image
`backgroundStyle`	No	string	Background rendering style

Background Styles

Value	Description
`cover`	Fills entire width and height of node
`ratio`	Maintains aspect ratio of background image
`repeat`	Repeats image as pattern in both directions

Edges

Edges are lines connecting nodes.

json

{
  "id": "f67890123456789a",
  "fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "toNode": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890"
}

json

{
  "id": "0123456789abcdef",
  "fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
  "fromSide": "right",
  "fromEnd": "none",
  "toNode": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
  "toSide": "left",
  "toEnd": "arrow",
  "color": "1",
  "label": "leads to"
}

Attribute	Required	Type	Default	Description
`id`	Yes	string	-	Unique identifier for the edge
`fromNode`	Yes	string	-	Node ID where connection starts
`fromSide`	No	string	-	Side where edge starts
`fromEnd`	No	string	`none`	Shape at edge start
`toNode`	Yes	string	-	Node ID where connection ends
`toSide`	No	string	-	Side where edge ends
`toEnd`	No	string	`arrow`	Shape at edge end
`color`	No	canvasColor	-	Line color
`label`	No	string	-	Text label for the edge

Side Values

Value	Description
`top`	Top edge of node
`right`	Right edge of node
`bottom`	Bottom edge of node
`left`	Left edge of node

End Shapes

Value	Description
`none`	No endpoint shape
`arrow`	Arrow endpoint

Colors

The

canvasColor

type can be specified in two ways:

Hex Colors

json

{
  "color": "#FF0000"
}

Preset Colors

json

{
  "color": "1"
}

Preset	Color
`"1"`	Red
`"2"`	Orange
`"3"`	Yellow
`"4"`	Green
`"5"`	Cyan
`"6"`	Purple

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

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

json

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 150,
      "text": "# Main Idea\n\nThis is the central concept."
    },
    {
      "id": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": -100,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "## Supporting Point A\n\nDetails here."
    },
    {
      "id": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 100,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "text": "## Supporting Point B\n\nMore details."
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d",
      "fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
      "toSide": "left"
    },
    {
      "id": "4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e",
      "fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
      "toSide": "left"
    }
  ]
}

Project Board with Groups

json

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "To Do",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 350,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "In Progress",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b",
      "type": "group",
      "x": 700,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 500,
      "label": "Done",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 20,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 1\n\nImplement feature X"
    },
    {
      "id": "9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 370,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 2\n\nReview PR #123",
      "color": "2"
    },
    {
      "id": "0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 720,
      "y": 50,
      "width": 260,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "## Task 3\n\n~~Setup CI/CD~~"
    }
  ],
  "edges": []
}

Research Canvas with Files and Links

json

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 300,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 400,
      "height": 200,
      "text": "# Research Topic\n\n## Key Questions\n\n- How does X affect Y?\n- What are the implications?",
      "color": "5"
    },
    {
      "id": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Literature/Paper A.pdf"
    },
    {
      "id": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 150,
      "file": "Notes/Meeting Notes.md",
      "subpath": "#Key Insights"
    },
    {
      "id": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
      "type": "link",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 400,
      "width": 250,
      "height": 100,
      "url": "https://example.com/research"
    },
    {
      "id": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
      "type": "file",
      "x": 750,
      "y": 150,
      "width": 300,
      "height": 250,
      "file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e",
      "fromNode": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "supports"
    },
    {
      "id": "7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f",
      "fromNode": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "informs"
    },
    {
      "id": "8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a",
      "fromNode": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow",
      "color": "6"
    },
    {
      "id": "9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b",
      "fromNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "visualized by"
    }
  ]
}

Flowchart

json

{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 0,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**Start**",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 100,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Step 1:\nGather data"
    },
    {
      "id": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 200,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 80,
      "text": "**Decision**\n\nIs data valid?",
      "color": "3"
    },
    {
      "id": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Process data"
    },
    {
      "id": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 0,
      "y": 200,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "Request new data",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
      "type": "text",
      "x": 400,
      "y": 320,
      "width": 150,
      "height": 60,
      "text": "**End**",
      "color": "4"
    }
  ],
  "edges": [
    {
      "id": "a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3",
      "fromNode": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "toSide": "top"
    },
    {
      "id": "b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4",
      "fromNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "toSide": "top"
    },
    {
      "id": "c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5",
      "fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "fromSide": "right",
      "toNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "toSide": "left",
      "label": "Yes",
      "color": "4"
    },
    {
      "id": "d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6",
      "fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
      "fromSide": "left",
      "toNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "toSide": "right",
      "label": "No",
      "color": "1"
    },
    {
      "id": "e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7",
      "fromNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
      "fromSide": "top",
      "fromEnd": "none",
      "toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
      "toSide": "left",
      "toEnd": "arrow"
    },
    {
      "id": "f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8",
      "fromNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
      "fromSide": "bottom",
      "toNode": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
      "toSide": "top"
    }
  ]
}

ID Generation

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

json

"id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17"
"id": "a3b2c1d0e9f8g7h6"
"id": "1234567890abcdef"

This format is a 16-character lowercase hex string (64-bit random value).

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

Node Type	Suggested Width	Suggested Height
Small text	200-300	80-150
Medium text	300-450	150-300
Large text	400-600	300-500
File preview	300-500	200-400
Link preview	250-400	100-200
Group	Varies	Varies

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

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

json-canvas

NPX Install

SKILL.md Content

JSON Canvas Skill

Overview

File Structure

Nodes

Z-Index Ordering

Generic Node Attributes

Text Nodes

Newline Escaping (Common Pitfall)

File Nodes

Link Nodes

Group Nodes

Background Styles

Edges

Side Values

End Shapes

Colors

Hex Colors

Preset Colors

Complete Examples

Simple Canvas with Text and Connections

Project Board with Groups

Research Canvas with Files and Links

Flowchart

ID Generation

Layout Guidelines

Positioning

Recommended Sizes

Spacing

Validation Rules

References