Kanvaz

Overview

Kanvaz is a free, offline infinite-canvas workspace for VFX and 3D artists who collect, organize and connect reference material. It is a strong fit for people who want one local board for mixed media and explicit relationships, while users dependent on broad document search or flawless video playback should look carefully at its limits.

Its local-first design avoids accounts, telemetry and cloud storage, and boards remain on the user’s device. That privacy posture suits confidential creative work, although an unsigned macOS build is among the maker’s known limitations.

Key features

Boards accept 3D models, images, GIFs, video, audio, notes, colors, URLs and file pointers. This combination is more useful than an image-only mood board when a project’s references include sound, written annotations or links to external material. Supported 3D models can be orbited live, viewed through multiple shading modes and played with animation. Previewing .blend files requires Blender installed, so Blender users get the most complete experience.

Kanvaz’s seven typed relationships let you describe how references relate, and Map View turns those links into a graph. That is valuable when tracing influences, variations or production connections is part of the work, rather than merely arranging images spatially. A single reference card can be placed on several boards; edits remain synchronized across each placement, helping maintain a shared source of truth.

The optional MCP Bridge allows Claude Desktop or Claude Code to read and modify the active board through local inter-process communication. Those edits are included in Kanvaz’s undo history, giving AI-assisted changes a recoverable path. A plugin system can add card types, commands, themes and other features. Creators may sell plugins without a marketplace cut, which gives the software an extensible route beyond its built-in tools.

Boards use a .kanvaz ZIP container holding board data and embedded assets, with SHA-256 integrity hashes for each asset. The maker identifies no accounts, telemetry or cloud storage, and says network requests are user initiated. Known constraints include text-only custom properties, possible MKV and AVI playback problems, and no PDF text search.

Pricing

Kanvaz has one plan: Free at free, free forever, MIT licensed and without a feature paywall. There is no free trial because the product is already permanently free. The plan includes presentation mode and exports in .kanvaztemplate format. With no collaboration level provided, it is best understood as a personal, local workspace rather than a service built around shared seats.

Platforms

Kanvaz supports Windows, macOS and Linux. The unsigned macOS build is a practical qualification for Mac users, who may need to account for that installation caveat. The application’s offline model and local board storage also suit desktop workflows where projects should remain on the workstation.

Who it's for

Choose Kanvaz if you are a VFX or 3D artist, or anyone whose work depends on collecting, revisiting and connecting varied references. It is particularly compelling for Blender-oriented users, graph-based research and projects that reuse the same cards across several boards. It is less suitable if you need PDF text search, dependable MKV or AVI playback, cloud collaboration, or a polished signed macOS package.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad reference support: 3D models, images, animation, sound, notes, colors, URLs and file pointers can coexist on one canvas.
• Relationship mapping: Seven typed links and Map View expose the structure behind a collection of references.
• Reusable cards: Shared cards update on every board where they appear.
• Local privacy: No accounts, telemetry or cloud storage are part of the maker’s stated design.
• Extensible and free: Plugins can expand the software, and creators can sell them without a marketplace cut; the core plan costs nothing forever.

Cons

• Format caveats: .blend previews need Blender, while MKV and AVI playback may fail.
• Weak document discovery: PDFs cannot be searched for text.
• Limited custom data: Custom properties are text-only.
• Mac installation warning: The macOS build is unsigned.
• No built-in collaboration plan: The listed collaboration level is none, so teams seeking hosted multi-user workspaces may need another product.

Alternatives

For a broader mood-board directory, browse Mood Board Software. Pick Adobe Firefly instead when generative media is the priority; its Firefly Free plan costs nothing with limited daily generations, and it runs on Android, iOS and the web as well as through an API.

Milanote is the better choice for hosted boards and sharing: its free plan allows 100 notes, images or links, 10 file uploads and unlimited shared boards across desktop, mobile and web. Choose PureRef for a focused reference-board alternative with Linux, macOS and Windows support and a free Personal plan.

Rayon suits users who need browser-based design editing, while Moodis offers local mood boards with unlimited boards for personal, non-commercial use on its free plan. ShopLook is aimed at creative canvas work across mobile and web, and Soleil Clusters provides a free demo with 50 cards, unlimited clusters and unlimited collaborators. For a web-only board with AI-assisted materials, consider Mattoboard.

Verdict

Kanvaz is an excellent choice for independent VFX and 3D artists who want a private, free desktop board that treats references as connected, reusable objects rather than a flat collage. Its strongest reasons to choose it are mixed-media support, graph relationships and local control. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on cloud collaboration, PDF text search, trouble-free MKV or AVI playback, or a signed macOS release.