Visualize and enhance complex GIS data without limitations

Canvas 12 with GIS+ is the only GIS data visualization solution in the market that allows GIS professionals – in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, aerospace and automotive industries, education, and government – to accurately communicate the results of their research analysis inside a true graphics application.

Simply import GIS project information and use Canvas 12’s powerful vector object illustration and advanced raster image editing tools to assemble, annotate and enhance your data - in one integrated, flexible design environment. Speed up and streamline your workflow from initial import and design to final presentation, facilitate collaboration, and improve overall productivity with the complete technical illustration and GIS data visualization solution.

Handle it all – including GIS file formats

Canvas 12 with GIS+ can handle all your data import needs. In addition to the 100+ file formats, including DXF, DWG, CGM, Adobe®¹ PDF, and RAW that comes standard in Canvas 12, the GIS+ module supports 18 GIS specialized file types, such as SHAPE, MapInfo and ARC/INFO. Augment, apply effects, and export to another format. You can even export to multiple formats simultaneously.

Work flexibly with vector objects

Illustrate, edit and augment all forms of complex visual objects with Canvas 12's wide variety of professional tools and powerful Sprite technology. New features allow you to rejoin segment objects into one and fill the intersections of overlapping objects with a single click, while its proprietary SpriteLayers and SpriteEffects can be used to apply image and transparency effects without affecting the original object.

Access raster image editing tools

Why work within limits? Canvas 12 comes complete with a full suite of raster image editing features. Create, edit and augment raster images with a host of industry standard and specialized techniques, tools and filters. Design image compositions, retouch photos, paint and color-correct scanned images, create transparency effects and vignettes, age photos, clone pixels and much more. Work with both raster images and vector images at the same time, with access to the same tools, to enhance objects and images in countless ways, all in a georeferenced environment.

Draw and dimension with precision

Create visuals from both raw and technical data. Choose from a variety of methods to input your exact coordinates, and Canvas 12, with its ability to represent any object property to within .035 microns, accurately turns your data into strong, real-time visual content that you can then enhance, review and publish. Resize and scale objects, add fill and stroke inks, widths and other attributes, and draw shapes – all with measured precision and placement.

Add on-the-fly illustration objects

Instantly add re-usable dynamic objects to your georeferenced work. Access hundreds of commonly used and specialized technical symbols from Canvas 12's pre-loaded Symbol Library collection, or create your own custom symbols using any vector, text or composite object. You can also create custom symbol links and pen strokes, and manage them all with flexibility. Move, add keywords, and re-categorize symbols to match your unique workflow needs.

Make the most of your GIS data

Apply a host of image filters, transparency effects, annotation tools, image warping techniques, in addition to visual analysis and symbology tools, to create an easy-to-understand representation of your georeferenced work.

Integrate into seismic and petrochemical workflows

Canvas 12 with GIS+ fully supports CGM*PIP files, helping increase productivity and streamline seismic-related workflows. Its CGM*PIP Import filter has received acclaim for its ability to successfully work with files from UNIX-based seismic interpretation applications. You can also import raw seismic visual data, augment, annotate, color and edit it numerically, and then combine the results with professionally formatted text in a multi-page document ready for sharing – all in a single environment. Throughout the process, illustrations and documentation retain the high level of accuracy demanded by professionals within the seismic and petrochemical industries.

Say goodbye to distractions

Since the GIS+ module is integrated within Canvas 12, you benefit from all of its intuitive interface and customizable tool and menu options designed to make it easy to find what you need. Enjoy one stop access to inks and styles, organize your workspace to maximize productivity, and work faster with shortcuts, smart toolboxes, and interface enhancements.

Publish your GIS data professionally

Create great-looking publications and presentations of your GIS data, in collaboration with colleagues. Canvas 12 has everything needed to design professional documents and presentations, including the Symbol Library and pre-installed Canvas symbol sets, top quality raster image rendering, robust page and text formatting, flowchart integration, and a host of pre-press tools. Apply password and encryption protection, and share your enhanced GIS data in a variety of print and Web-ready presentation formats, including HTML and Adobe® PDF complete with interactive hyperlinks.

Your Complete GIS Data Solution

Canvas 12 with GIS+ offers a powerful set of GIS-based features and commands that support all leading GIS formats, define complex map projections, and perform advanced property operations. It's an indispensable tool for GIS professionals in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, aerospace and automotive industries, education, and government.

Streamline your workflow

Canvas 12 with GIS+ can handle all your GIS data needs. Import the following GIS specialized file formats:

• TIFF (GeoTIFF TIFF/World File image, + pixel scale info. & location, in real world coordinates)
• SHP (Shapefile)
• E00 (ARC/INFO interchange)
• RT1 (Tiger, Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing)
• SDTS (USGS Spatial Data Transfer Standard)
• MIF (Mapinfo Data Interchange)
• S57 (International Hydrographic Organization)
• ECW (Enhanced Compressed Wavelet images)
• SID (MrSID)
• GML (Geography Markup Language)
• Geo JPEG
• Geo BMP (BMP + projection info.)
• Geo PNG (PNG + projection info.)
• Geo GIF (GIF + projection info.)
• GIS Text (TXT file with GIS data)
• GPS Garmin (TXT file containing GPS Garmin data)

Canvas 12 with GIS+ also supports export to these GIS specialized formats: TIFF, SHP, ECW, Geo JPEG, Geo BMP, Geo PNG, Geo GIF, and GIS Text.

Create with precision

GIS Manager

Within Canvas' GIS Manager you can choose settings to define geo-referencing information for a new document, or re-set the projection of an open document. GIS Manager options include Projection, Geo CS, Angular Units, Linear Units, Axis Orientation, and the Auto Define Document Coordinate system dialog.

GIS Positioning palette

Strategically move or position objects according to their latitude and longitude coordinates while displaying the Length and Forward Azimuth when measuring between two points, and the percentage of error. Measure distance in world coordinates by drawing and selecting a line between two points.

Replicate and Position dialog

Create object replicates and precisely place them according to latitude and longitude.

Graticule dialog

Create a grid of lines that displays meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude while precisely controlling its units of measure, precision decimal levels, longitude, latitude, start/end points, spacing/divisions, latitude degree rotation, horizontal and vertical offsets, and even the label format settings.

PointtoPoint command

Georegister a GIS drawing to the geographic location of a “known good” reference image.

Edit Geographic Coordinate System dialog

Define a geographic coordinate system for a projection, and modify it with options such as Geo CS name, Ellipsoid, Prime Meridian, and Datum Transformation.

Auto Define Document Coordinate System

Set your GIS drawing scale and reference point, and define a reference rectangle. Based on the selected point or defined bounding box, Canvas then automatically sets up the projected coordinate system for that file.

Visualize and enhance

Select by Property

The Select by Property interface lets you create a project-specific customized query based upon unique properties, values, or other related criteria. Edit your query to meet new project needs, save for ongoing use, or share with colleagues.

Object Properties

View, numerically edit and reapply map attributes that have been assigned to map objects, via the Object Properties Table View command.

Label by Property

Perform a query and assign text labels to map objects with defined settings such as text format, location, and rotation angle. You can also apply or adjust collision detection settings.

Statistics by Property

View complete information regarding the total number of map objects on a layer or within a selection.

Visualize Data

Access many of the very detailed fill, stroke, ink and GIS-specialized augmentation options required by GIS data visualization. Modify the appearance of map objects according to a selected property or a query to create thematic and choropleth maps.

Symbol Library palette and Visualize Data command

Enhance map symbols to increase visual appeal and dynamically replace them at any time to ensure project consistency, through the Symbol Library palette and Visualize Data command.

Image Warp and Coordinates commands

Quickly yet precisely warp GIS illustrations with the Image Warp command.
Or use the Coordinates command to place control points within a selected image and warp it according to these points.

Technical Illustration and Enhancement Part 1

Work with both vector objects and raster graphics in the same document, with the same powerful enhancement tools, in a single, integrated georeferenced environment. Enjoy the ultimate in flexibility with the ability to import over a 100 different file formats, or to create your own graphics – freehand or numerically. Canvas 12 is all you need for everything you illustrate.

Accelerate your productivity

Stop wasting valuable time navigating between separate software programs. With Canvas 12, you can edit both vector objects and raster images in one environment, at the same time. Canvas also includes integrated capabilities with specialized applications and a complete set of professional publication tools to streamline your entire workflow.

Draw and dimension with precision

Create visuals from both raw and technical data. Choose from a variety of methods to input your exact coordinates, and Canvas 12 accurately turns your data into strong, real-time visual content that you can then enhance, review and publish.

Resize and scale objects, add fill and stroke inks, widths and other attributes, and draw shapes – all with measured precision and placement. Take advantage of specialized tools to draw rounded rectangles, complex polygons, cubes, spirals, grids and rectangular boxes in isometric views.

You can also draw and edit paths and curve segments using the control points that define them. Add, delete and move anchor points to reshape an object's path segments and overall shape.

Add on-the-fly illustration objects

Instantly add re-usable dynamic objects to drawings or as the basis for symbol pen strokes and inks. Access hundreds of commonly used and specialized technical symbols from Canvas 12's pre-loaded Symbol Library collection, or create your own custom symbols using any vector, text or composite object. You can also create custom symbol links and pen strokes, and manage them all with flexibility. Move, add keywords, and re-categorize symbols to match your unique workflow needs.

Work flexibly with vector objects

Illustrate, edit and augment all forms of complex visual objects with Canvas 12's wide variety of professional tools and powerful Sprite technology. New features allow you to rejoin segment objects into one and fill the intersections of overlapping objects with a single click, while its proprietary SpriteLayers and SpriteEffects can be used to apply image and transparency effects without affecting the original object. Channel and vector masks, as well as gradient transparency tools are all on hand for stunning visuals. Other specialized and precision drawing tools include:

• Paste Into command – Paste almost anything into a selection within an image, including a selection of a raster image channel, or of a channel mask that's attached to an object.
• Perspective command – Edit an illustration's vanishing point, and then apply custom perspective effects.
• Blend commands – Creatively combine multiple objects with precise control over many variables. Blend dynamically, to a number of shapes, point to point, and more.
• Advanced text object tools – Bind text to vector objects, wrap text within objects, apply vector effects to text including extrusion, and apply or write text to a specific vector object path.

Add comments and mark-up

Use Canvas 12's annotation tools to add labels or callouts to your diagrams and illustrations, complete with custom and automated options such as single and multiple diagram line connections. Simply click within the drawing area to instantly create an annotation label object shape with connector lines, aka Smart Lines. Edit the inks, stroke widths, dash and arrow styles of your objects and lines, and easily format and edit notation text. And if you re-position the annotation label object, the Smart Lines connecting it to the illustration moves right along with it.

Edit geometry and position data

Completely control vector object coordinates to ensure the accuracy demanded in many engineering and scientific work environments. Create illustrations from geometric data alone, or blend these precise data controls with more traditional illustration techniques in one seamless work environment. At any time, you can view a vector object's exact width and height, position, reference point and other coordinates via the Properties Bar, and adjust its numerical position for true precision.

Technical Illustration and Enhancement Part 2

Save time with attribute styles

Attribute styles are saved sets of visual properties that you can instantly apply to any vector, text or group object. Quickly transform an illustration's appearance by controlling its fill inks, stroke widths or types, with just one click. Maintain consistency across documents and facilitate project workflow. Create new styles and edit saved styles with the Attribute Styles palette, and share them with other Canvas users.

Ensure the highest levels of precision

Work with very small units of measure with engineered accuracy and control. Canvas 12's drawing engine fully supports the IEEE floating point standard used throughout the scientific, engineering, medical and biotechnology industries. Canvas is indispensable to professionals who work with images that contain up to 32 bits of floating point data per channel.

Add format dimensions to illustrations

Canvas 12's Linear, Chain and Baseline Dimensioning tools precisely control horizontal, vertical, oblique and perpendicular distances; measure diameter, radius, angle, area and perimeter; and mark the centers of arcs and ovals. Plus, when using the Chain and Baseline Dimensioning tools, you can generate fully-editable dimension objects almost automatically.

Work within industry standards

Create dimension objects that fully conform to existing industry and government standards, including:

• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) floating point standard;
• ANSI (American National Standards Institute) U.S. Product and industry standards;
• DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung/German Institute for Standardization) internationally adopted standards;
• JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) standards.

Customize these standard settings by editing the size of lines, gaps, text and tolerances, modifying them for new and unique workflows, and saving them for ongoing use in similar work contexts.

Accurately place objects

Canvas 12's Smart Mouse tool features 14 types of advanced controls to facilitate demanding technical illustration workflows. Snap your vector objects to corners, centers of objects, midpoints, specified lengths or angles, edges, and more.

Edit object path data

Control an object's path data and all aspects of its shape with Canvas 12's Object Path Editor. View and quickly edit the X/Y coordinates of individual path points in all common vector object shapes, from rectangles to lines to polygons to Bézier curves.

Apply filters to images, text and vector objects

Canvas 12's proprietary SpriteEffects technology effectively breaks down the barrier between vector objects and raster image effects. Easily apply traditional image-only blur, hue, saturation and other artistic effects, in multiple layers, to images, text and vector objects. Fine tune settings, change order, hide, or remove effects at any time – the objects still retain all of their original editing capabilities.

SpriteEffects also allow you to create lenses, which are powerful containers for effects and can be used to create magnifying glasses and other viewing frames within illustration documents.

Access raster image editing tools

Why work within limits? Along with its professional vector object illustration tools, Canvas 12 comes complete with a full suite of raster image editing features. Create, edit and augment raster images, including GIF, JPEG, TIFF, PICT, BMP and EPS, with a host of industry standard and specialized techniques, tools and filters. Design image compositions, retouch photos, paint and color-correct scanned images, create transparency effects and vignettes, age photos, clone pixels and much more.

Work with both raster images and vector objects at the same time to enhance objects and images in countless ways. Re-shape raster images with vector shape controls. Draw within a raster image, just as you would in a vector object. Convert simple raster images into vector objects, or choose an area of your vector object illustration and render it into a raster image. Raster images and vector objects get along beautifully together in Canvas's hybrid environment.

Do more with text

You can accomplish almost anything with text in Canvas 12. Add professionally formatted and fully editable text to vector objects and raster images. Create multi-page text documents and technical publications using a full range of traditional text formatting and style tools. Format pages and columns, flow text, wrap, bind, proof and annotate. Canvas also includes text object creation and editing, which means you can handle text as you would a vector object – re-shape with precision, integrate into drawings, editing strokes, and more. Plus, save time by creating text symbols for ongoing use. When you're done, publish to over 80 formats and presentation media.

Publishing, Presenting & Collaborating

Canvas 12 makes it quick and easy to create and share professional publications and presentations, in collaboration with colleagues, in countless ways.

Access professional publishing tools

With Canvas 12 on your side, there's no need to use a separate word processor or layout program. A full range of traditional text formatting and style tools are on hand to help you format pages, create columns, layout text, wrap and bind. Tap into editing, proofing and annotation tools to perfect your copy. Plus, create text symbols for convenient ongoing use of word segments.

Create documents for every purpose

Canvas 12 offers different document types for different purposes: Illustration, Publication, Animation and Presentation documents. Built-in templates are included for each type to help you hit the ground running.

• Illustration documents are used for all forms of vector object illustration and raster image creation and editing.
• Publication documents are ideal for single or multiple page technical publications, including two-sided facing pages. Take advantage of master pages to hold items that are to appear throughout the publication, multiple layers, and the Page Navigator palette to easily move among the document pages.
• Presentation documents are aimed for on-screen slide show presentations. Apply multiple layers, place background elements on a master slide, and choose from over a dozen slide transition effects.
• Animation documents are designed for the creation and editing of web (GIF) animation files. Frames adjacent to the current frame appear in the background, which is helpful for setting up object movement.

Easily annotate and mark-up

Apply a host of editing, proofing and annotation tools in Canvas 12. Label and mark
up technical graphics and access a wide variety of powerful visual augmentation options to clarify your content. You can even edit the appearance of annotation text. Annotate simple objects with single arrows, and multiple objects with multiple connected arrows – when you move multiple objects, the arrows move right with them.

Collaborate without limits

Share, discuss and develop projects in a free-flowing document exchange. Canvas 12's advanced import and export capabilities allow for the return of annotated illustrations to the high-end specialized formats where they originated, such as CGM and AutoCAD®¹ , without losing any original data.

Share with confidence

Apply secure encryption and password protection whenever you save your Canvas document or export to Adobe®² PDF. You have full control over who can open, edit and print your designs.

Create rich data flowcharts

Present visually complex information in a logical and easy to understand format. With Canvas 12's Flowchart palette you can design data flowcharts with unprecedented speed and flexibility. Simply select your symbol size, shape, and Smart Line attributes, and click to place. Customize your flowchart with connection line and shape editing options to complement the overall look and feel of your document.

Print professionally

With Canvas 12, you can rest assured that your projects will look as good on paper as they do on screen. Canvas outputs multi-page Publication documents suitable for desktop and commercial printing, including PostScript printers. Professional print and color management tools, as well as all the advanced image and export formats needed for virtually any publication context, are all on hand. Avoid problematic color shifts and unexpected results by using the Kodak®³ color management system to handle conversion between color systems, such as RGB and CMYK.

Add interactivity to documents

Inject life to your Adobe®² PDF and HTML documents. With Canvas 12's Link Manager palette you can insert hyperlinks, and export to HTML and Adobe®² PDF with links intact. Web publishing is supported by HTML and WebCGM files.

¹ AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk.

² Adobe is a registered trademark of Adobe.

³ Kodak is a registered trademark of Eastman Kodak.

Workflow Integration

In specialized workflows that require high level format support and sophisticated methods of data acquisition, visualization and analysis, Canvas 12 has the crucial ability to accurately measure, edit, and export digital images that contain up to 32 bits per channel of data. Canvas combines its professionally engineered technology core with a number of refined user interface components to address these specific needs.

Integrate seamlessly

Import over 100 different file formats, including all standard visual formats and files from highly specialized workflows, such as DICOM, RAW, Binary filters, Scientific Imaging filters, CGM, and DWG (CAD). Apply advanced image data editing and measurement tools, and export to over 80 formats and professional presentation media. Experience end-to-end workflow and seamless integration within complex engineering and scientific software and work environments.

Go with the scientific workflow

Accurately measure, analyze, import and export digital images with up to 32 bits of floating point pixel data per channel. Canvas 12 provides a world of possibilities for scientists, researchers, other professionals with advantages such as support for 8/16/FP32 depth images and Image-J and NIH Image compliant filters, direct access to numeric image data, and support for industry standard DICOM format files.

Engineered to perform

Canvas 12 assists in fully integrating complex engineering work environments. Engineers working in the space industry, commercial and military aircraft manufacturers, defense companies, heavy equipment manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, utility companies, and petroleum companies and more rely on Canvas as an essential part of their workflow.

Handle CAD and DWG

Canvas 12 fits seamlessly into professional AutoCAD®¹ 3D workflows, with all the precision and flexibility you need from an advanced vector and raster illustration toolset, as well as full presentation and publishing capabilities. Import, augment, precision edit, and publish CAD files in the Canvas environment. Its advanced AutoCAD®¹ DWG import filter means you can work with the latest versions of native AutoCAD®¹ files, and fit an AutoCAD®¹ drawing into a specified page format.