Despite its detractors, Google continues to innovate by regularly offering new online tools... sometimes useful, sometimes less so.
Recently, the Mountain View firm launched a new web application for doodling, drawing and taking notes. Named Google Canvas, this online application is available at the following address: canvas.apps.chrome.
Don't panic, Contrary to what this URL seems to indicate, this drawing tool works in any browser that supports the standard WebAssembly. The application will therefore work perfectly on Chrome (of course), Firefox, Edge and Safari.
Canvas automatically saves your drawings to your Google account. You can access them anywhere – as long as you have an internet connection. Plus, you can export images in PNG format.
What can you do with Canvas?
So, of course, don't expect a tool that does "daddy mommy", Google has stuck to the essentials and focused on simplicity and efficiency. We are really in a tool designed to make sketches on the fly.
So, Canvas consists of a large white sheet on which you can draw with 4 tools at your disposal: a pencil, a fountain pen, a felt-tip pen and chalk. For each of these tools, you can adjust the color but also the size of the point and its opacity. Of course, you also have an eraser to erase what goes beyond!
All you have to do is draw (or scribble if you're like me)! Obviously, on a tablet or with a stylus, you should gain in efficiency and precision, but even with a mouse you can manage.
While it is not possible to navigate through your stroke history, it is still possible to erase your brushstrokes in reverse chronological order.
Once you are satisfied with your masterpiece, you can export it to PNG format with a single click and save it to your computer.
But what is very practical if you have a Google account is that all your drawings will be accessible from anywhere as long as you are connected!
