Slack: how to better organize and share using the new Canvas functionality

Slack is the de facto standard for collaboration. This platform allows you to easily communicate with your team members, share files, send direct messages, bookmark threads, and much more.

Recently, the company launched a new feature called Canvaswhich seems to be the missing piece of the Slack puzzle.

Outlines are a convenient way to take notes on a project and share them with other team (or family) members. So instead of having to share a document from a third-party source, you can easily create a new Canvas and share it with those who need the information. With Canvases, you can share shopping lists, instructions, plans, project information, class schedules, chores, and just about anything you can imagine.

Canvases can contain video and audio clips, emojis, comments, images and files. They can also use basic formats (such as bold, italic, and strikethrough) as well as code samples and links.

Let me show you how to use the new Canvas feature in Slack.

How to create your first Canvas

You need a paid Slack account (this feature is not available for free accounts) to use the Canvas feature. Canvases can be used on both desktop and mobile app. I’ll demonstrate the feature on the desktop app, but the process of creating and using Canvases is the same on both platforms.

1. Open Slack

The first thing to do is open the application Slack. Next, make sure you’re logged in to your paid account. Once logged in, you should see Canvas in the upper left corner.

The Canvas feature is accessible from the top section of the left sidebar. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

2. Open a new Canvas

After clicking Canvases, you will see the Canvases page in Slack. To create your first canvas, click the button that invites you to try, at the bottom of the canvas description.

You will only see this page if you have not created your first Canvas. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

3. Create your first Canvas

A new window opens, in which you can start creating your first Canvas. The first thing to do is enter a title for the Canvas. One thing to know about creating a Canvas is that if you copy/paste text into it it will retain all supported formats and links. One thing I quickly discovered is that Canvases do not support alignment. It doesn’t matter if your text is right-aligned or justified when you paste it, it will always be left-aligned.

A new blank canvas is ready to be created. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

4. Add images and other elements

If you want to add an image or audio/video clip, click the + sign in the floating island at the bottom of the cursor portion of the Canvas and, from the context menu, select the type of element you want to add. want to add.

Add new elements to your Canvas from this menu. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I’ve found video clips to be a very useful addition, especially if you’re adding information to an Outline that could benefit from additional explanation or a personal touch. Once you add a video clip, you can play it in the canvas, without the need for a third-party viewer.

I added a short video to a Canvas. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

5. Interact with elements

If you hover your cursor over an added item, you will see a small square of dots appear in the upper left corner. Click on this square to bring up a menu that offers different ways to interact with different types of items. For example, a video clip allows you to copy the link to the item, add a comment, display it as a URL, copy the link to the video, and much more.

Different item types have different entries in the context menu. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

6. Sharing a canvas

Once you have finished creating the Canvas and are ready to collaborate, click the button Share in the upper right corner of this Canvas. A pop-up window will open where you can select which team members to include in the share. Once you have added the necessary participants, click Save and voila!

Share a Canvas with team members. Jack Wallen/ZDNET

That’s pretty much the gist of using Slack’s new Canvas feature. If you felt like the platform was missing an important piece, chances are it was this feature.

Source: “ZDNet.com”