# Collaborate on a canvas

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## Share a canvas[​](#share-a-canvas "Direct link to Share a canvas")

1. On the canvas, choose **Share**.
2. Choose **Copy link**, or **Invite people** to email an invite or copy an invite message.

![The Share dialog](/assets/images/share-f36a6f24259fed2e915860107a59aab9.png)

Anyone with the link opens the canvas in your catalog and edits it with you.

When [authentication](/docs/development/authentication/introduction.md) is on, only signed-in people can open canvases, and they appear with the name and picture they signed in with. Without authentication, Studio asks each person for a name, and keeps it in their browser.

## Work on it live[​](#work-on-it-live "Direct link to Work on it live")

Everyone on a canvas sees each other's pointers, names and changes as they happen. Changes save automatically.

* The avatars at the top right show who is on the canvas. Click one to jump to what that person is looking at.
* Click your own avatar to change your name and colour.

## Comment[​](#comment "Direct link to Comment")

1. Choose **Comment** in the toolbar, or press `C`.
2. Click a node, or a spot on the canvas.
3. Type your comment and press `Enter`.

Click a comment pin to reply. Choose **Resolve** when the thread is settled. **Comments** at the bottom of the canvas lists every thread.

![A comment thread on the Pay Later Provider](/assets/images/comments-173594969f0db6f4ee8579e777693b78.png)

## Flag a risk with a hotspot[​](#flag-a-risk-with-a-hotspot "Direct link to Flag a risk with a hotspot")

A hotspot flags a risk on a node or a spot, such as a single point of failure or data that needs a review.

1. Choose **Hotspot** in the toolbar, or press `A`.
2. Click the node at risk.
3. Pick **Critical**, **Warning** or **Info**, and add a short title and, if you want, why it matters.

**Hotspots** at the bottom of the canvas lists every hotspot. At L1 and L2, hotspots inside a domain or system are shown on that domain or system, so zooming out never hides a risk.

![A warning hotspot on the Instalment Plans database](/assets/images/hotspots-ee8b4f9a1a5f101ae97a34d989628042.png)

## Add notes and text[​](#add-notes-and-text "Direct link to Add notes and text")

* **Sticky note** (`N`): click where it goes and type. Use notes for assumptions, scope and open questions.
* **Text** (`T`): click anywhere and type. Use text for headings and labels.

Double-click a note or text to edit it.

## Record the decision[​](#record-the-decision "Direct link to Record the decision")

Every canvas has a status: **Draft**, **Proposed**, **Accepted** or **Rejected**.

1. Choose the status next to the canvas title.
2. Add a note if you want, for example `Agreed in the architecture review`.
3. Pick the new status.

The menu shows the history of status changes, with who made each change, when, and the note.

![The status menu with a note](/assets/images/status-641bd6d8dbe3c8485da815aa3c45319c.png)

Changing the nodes or connections on an accepted or rejected canvas makes it a draft again, so a decision always matches the design it was made on.

To find designs waiting for review, open **Studio** and filter by **Proposed**.

## Lock the canvas[​](#lock-the-canvas "Direct link to Lock the canvas")

Choose the lock in the toolbar. Everyone can still look at the canvas, but no one can change it until it is unlocked.