What file formats and programs does Canvas support?
Canvas produces professional CAD files for a variety of 3D and 2D software. Canvas directly supports the following programs, which means our files are fully compatible and editable.
SketchUp
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .skp, 3D .dwg and 3D .dae
Revit
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .rvt, 3D .dwg, and 3D .ifc
Chief Architect
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .plan, 3D .dwg, and 3D .dae
2020 Design Live
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .kit, 3D .dwg, and 3D .dae
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .pln, 3D .dwg, and 3D .ifc
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: 3D .vwx, 3D .dwg, and 3D .ifc
Canvas Measurement Report
$0.20 per square foot, delivered files: .pdf only of a 2D floor plan, .pdf data table of object quantities and key dimensions including a few vertical dimensions, .xls of data tables
2D Drawings (PDF and AutoCAD)
$0.14 per square foot, delivered files: 2D .pdf, 2D .dwg, and 2D .rvt
You can download our sample data package to experiment with real, Canvas-generated CAD models for yourself! Complete pricing information.
Directly Supported
SketchUp
Version: 2022
Your .skp file will open right in SketchUp version 2021 and later, design-ready, with all the groupings, layers, etc. that you would expect as if you made it yourself. Using Canvas with SketchUp is very plug-and-play, and you can learn more about how the two programs work seamlessly together here.
If your version of SketchUp is 2020 or older, we’re happy to deliver your file in the version you need by request. Follow these directions on every order:
- Right after placing your order, tap “Upload Reference Measurements.”
- Write “SketchUp XXXX” with XXXX representing the year of your SketchUp version and submit.
Revit
Version: 2022
Your .rvt file will open right in Revit, design-ready, in the correct families, and overall function as if you made it yourself. For Revit users incorporating Canvas into a BIM workflow, our Revit output is targeted at a LOD 200 specification.
Revit files cannot be "saved down." Our Revit output is always in the oldest version available from Autodesk.
Chief Architect
Version: Premier X12
Your .plan file will open right in Chief Architect, design-ready, with geometry in the correct elements as if you made it yourself (i.e., doors are doors, walls are walls, etc).
2020 Design
Version: Design Live v13
Your .kit file will open right up in 2020, design-ready, organized as if you built it from scratch.
Unfortunately, 2020 Design Live does not make their files backward compatible and these will not work on earlier versions.
Archicad
Version: Archicad 25
Your .pln file will open right up in Archicad, design-ready, organized as if you built it from scratch. Archicad has local versions with their own local object libraries and settings that match local building codes. Canvas creates as-builts in the following versions, which you can select upon placing your order:
- USA
- International
- Other, which will include a .pla template file with all International library objects
Vectorworks
Version: 24
In as little as one day, you’ll receive a native, professional-grade Vectorworks file with objects in the correct classes and layers, as if you made it yourself.
2D Floor Plan and Canvas Measurement Report
Versions: AutoCAD 2013; PDF files will be compatible with any PDF reader.
Your 2D .dwg file will open right in AutoCAD, design-ready and editable. We also include a PDF with annotated dimensions, which can be easily shared with anyone without special CAD software, as it can be opened by the native PDF reader that comes pre-installed on most smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Note: AutoCAD files are delivered in inches, so you may want to re-scale the model you receive depending on your preferences. Information on converting units in AutoCAD here.
Indirectly Supported
There are known limitations with indirectly supported formats. Please read below for important information.
Home Designer Pro
Home Designer Pro is a slimmed down offering from Chief Architect, and differs from Chief Architect Premier which is fully supported.
When you place an order, you can use the "Upload Reference Measurements" button that appears after an order is placed to send this message to our team: "Please optimize for Home Designer." This reference submission button is in the app and your online account portal. Please submit this message within 8 hours for a standard order and within 2 hours for a rush order.
AutoCAD LT
We have not thoroughly tested AutoCAD LT, but we have validated the 2D .dwg file from our 2D Floor Plan output with AutoCAD users. We are unaware of any issues using the 2D .dwg file from the 2D Floor Plan output with AutoCAD LT. 3D .dwg files generated from other outputs, however, may not work well with AutoCAD LT as the product is not optimized for 3D use. Please download a sample file and test it before ordering.
AutoCAD Architecture
We have not thoroughly tested AutoCAD Architecture, but we have validated the 2D .dwg file from our 2D Floor Plan output with AutoCAD users. We are unaware of any issues using the 2D .dwg file from the 2D Floor Plan output with AutoCAD Architecture. We have heard of some customers using the 3D .dwg (from other output options) with AutoCAD Architecture, but we recommend validating this workflow yourself with our sample data package.