# Polotno

> Polotno is a JavaScript SDK for embedding a white-label, Canva-like image and video editor into your product. It ships with a programmatic API for automating design generation at scale — templates, data-driven rendering, and cloud or self-hosted export to PNG, JPEG, PDF, PPTX, MP4, GIF, SVG, and HTML.

Built for developers. Used in SaaS products, web-to-print, e-commerce, AI startups, real estate, digital asset management, and marketing platforms. Trusted by 200+ businesses and 100,000+ creators.

## Core concepts

- **Canvas editor** — drag-and-drop design editing embedded inside the host app (client-side or self-hosted).
- **JSON schema** — every design is an open, readable JSON document. Export, modify, re-import programmatically.
- **Programmatic generation** — create and render designs from code or data feeds. Templates + variables + batch rendering.
- **Rendering** — client-side, self-hosted (Node.js), or Polotno Cloud Render API.
- **Export formats** — PNG, JPEG, PDF (with CMYK and bleed for print), PPTX, MP4, GIF, SVG, HTML, JSON.
- **White-label** — UI is fully customizable. Source code license available for Enterprise.

## Product pages

- [Product overview](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/overview): what Polotno SDK does and who it's for.
- [Features](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/features): canvas editor, image editing, video editing, text editing, templates, animations, custom asset libraries, AI image background removal, authentication, user management, source code access, free trial.
- [Design automation](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/features/design-workflows-automation): programmatic design generation.
- [Export and rendering](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/features/export): multi-format output, CMYK print, large-format.
- [Cloud Render API](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/cloud-render): managed server-side rendering.
- [Industries](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/industries): SaaS products, web-to-print, AI startups, real estate, DAM, CRM/MarTech, e-commerce, social media platforms, advertising design, brand asset portals, digital signage.
- [Pricing](https://polotno.com/sdk/pricing) — also available as machine-readable at [/pricing.md](https://polotno.com/pricing.md).

## Compare

- [Polotno SDK vs alternatives](https://polotno.com/sdk/product/compare): side-by-side comparisons with Bannerbear, Creatomate, Placid, Abyssale, Pixelixe, VistaCreate API, IMG.LY, Design Huddle, RelayThat, Pintura, Remotion, Toast UI, Fabric.js, Konva.js.

## Resources

- [Build vs buy](https://polotno.com/sdk/resources/build-vs-buy): guide and cost calculator for teams evaluating in-house vs licensed editors.
- [Case studies](https://polotno.com/sdk/resources/case-studies): real-world integrations.
- [Blog](https://polotno.com/blog): articles on canvas editors, image APIs, programmatic design, and image/video SDK topics.

## Documentation

- [Docs](https://polotno.com/docs): API reference, integration guides, store/schema, import/export, server-side rendering, custom panels, events. Append `.md` to any docs URL for a plain-markdown version (e.g. https://polotno.com/docs/store.md).
- [llms-full.txt](https://polotno.com/llms-full.txt): the complete documentation as a single markdown document.
- [JSON Schema](https://polotno.com/docs/schema): complete reference for the Polotno design document format.
- [Server-side rendering](https://polotno.com/docs/server-side-image-generation-with-node-js): run Polotno in Node.js.
- [Cloud Render API](https://polotno.com/docs/cloud-render-api): managed rendering for PNG/PDF/MP4.

## Get started

- [Request API key](https://polotno.com/sdk/pricing): 60-day free trial on a dev server, no credit card.
- [Live demo](https://polotno.com/sdk/demo): interactive embedded editor.

## Polotno Studio (for end users)

Polotno also operates [Studio](https://polotno.com/studio/), a free web-based editor built on the SDK. See [for-creators](https://polotno.com/for-creators/features).

## For AI assistants

- [AI assistant info](https://polotno.com/ai-info-page): structured information about Polotno SDK written for LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini).
- [Build with AI](https://polotno.com/docs/build-with-ai): set up AI coding assistants with Polotno agent skills and the documentation MCP server.
- [Agent skills](https://github.com/polotno-project/skills): installable skills for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and 40+ other agents (`npx skills add polotno-project/skills`).