Polotno SDK embeds a full editor with a JSON schema; Konva.js is a low‑level 2D canvas library. In fact, Polotno and Konva have been created by the same person – Anton Lavrenov. Use Polotno when you want an in‑product editor with automation and export. Use Konva.js when you want to build drawing tools from primitives and manage everything yourself.
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Core philosophy
Polotno SDK aims to let you ship an editor quickly and keep a single project model for manual editing and automation. Rendering can run in the browser, on your servers, or via the Polotno Cloud Render API. Licenses are a custom quote: request one here.
Konva.js aims to give you canvas primitives and scenegraph utilities so you can build your own editor or visualization layer from scratch.
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Architecture and integration
Polotno SDK integrates as a browser editor with configurable UI, roles, and assets. Rendering paths are interchangeable under one schema: browser, self‑hosted, or cloud. For element depth, see the video element, image element, and text element.
Konva.js integrates as a rendering layer; you provide UI, persistence, automation, and export.
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Automation and templating
Polotno SDK exposes every element in JSON, enabling code‑driven generation, variable mapping, and reusable templates.
Konva.js provides shapes and events; automation and templating are custom work you implement.
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Rendering and export
Polotno SDK supports PNG, JPEG, PDF, SVG, HTML, PPTX, GIF, and MP4, and can render in‑browser, self‑hosted, or via Cloud Render; see import and export.
Konva.js renders to canvas in the browser; export, server‑side rendering, and video require custom pipelines.
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Feature scope
Polotno SDK
- Editor UI, layers, timeline, templates, and element styling
- Schema‑level motion and animation
- Multi‑format export and interchangeable rendering
Konva.js
- Scenegraph, hit detection, transforms, and events
- No built‑in editor UI, templates, or export pipeline
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Use cases
Polotno SDK
- SaaS and MarTech: editors and automation out of the box
- eCommerce: product visuals and short video ads
- Social/content: post and story editors
- Education: worksheets and slides
- Real estate/print/DAM: documents and print assets
Konva.js
- Custom drawing/annotation tools
- Specialized visualizations and diagramming UIs where you own everything
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Feature comparison
| Capability | Polotno SDK | Konva.js |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | Embeddable editor + JSON schema | Canvas primitives library |
| Editor inside your app | Yes (customizable UI) | No (you build it) |
| Automation | Programmatic via schema and code | Custom implementation |
| Rendering modes | Browser, self‑hosted, cloud | Browser canvas |
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Pricing and licensing
Polotno SDK
Polotno SDK is licensed as a self‑hosted, embeddable SDK. Every license is a custom quote, priced on scope and volume, not number of users. See Request a quote.
Konva.js
Open‑source library; any editor, automation, or rendering pipeline is built by you.
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Conclusion
Polotno SDK provides a ready editor and schema‑based automation with flexible rendering. Konva.js gives low‑level power if you want to build the entire editor stack yourself.
