Collect, organize, and connect visual references on an infinite canvas with a built-in node editor. Made for VFX artists, 3D artists, and creative professionals.
Pan, zoom (8%–500%), and arrange images, GIFs, videos, audio, and notes freely. Multiple boards in one file.
Link references with typed, directional relationships. 7 relationship types with notes and priority.
Node-editor graph that visualizes all your references and connections. Drag ports to create relationships.
Select any card, press C — see all incoming and outgoing connections. Create, edit, delete from the panel.
Ctrl+Shift+T forces always-on-top and hides the toolbar and side panel for a clean floating reference view. Press it again to restore everything exactly as it was.
No accounts, no telemetry, no internet required. Your .kanvaz files never leave your machine.
How it compares to other reference tools
| Kanvaz | PureRef | Milanote | Refern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite canvas | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Connection system | ✓ 7 types | ✕ | Basic | ✕ |
| Node-editor Map View | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live 3D model preview | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | On their roadmap |
| 100% offline | ✓ | ✓ | Cloud | ✓ |
| Open source | MIT | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Price | Free forever | Free | Freemium | $35 one-time |
| Video/audio cards | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | — |
| Annotations | ✓ Pen, shapes, text | ✓ since 2.0 (2024) | ✕ | — |
— = not independently verified, left blank rather than guessed. PureRef and Refern are both genuinely good, actively maintained tools — see the fuller comparison for where each one is actually ahead of Kanvaz.
Free, open-source, yours forever. No signup required.