Make your first board
Pallete runs entirely in your browser and does not require an account. Your work begins saving locally as soon as the board changes.
- 1
Open the board
Select Open the board from the website. Returning users can reopen a saved board or create a new one.
- 2
Start blank or use a template
Draw immediately, or open Templates for a ready-made mind map, flowchart, planner, kanban, and more.
- 3
Name your work
Select the title in the top-left, enter a recognizable name, and press Enter. Watch for the Saved status.
Know where everything lives
The board keeps the canvas open and moves secondary controls into menus so your work stays visible.
Top-left identity
Home, editable board title, and live save status.
Tool dock
Selection, shapes, drawing, text, notes, and quick add controls.
Top-right actions
Undo, redo, board library, export, sharing, and new-board menu.
Bottom controls
Grid, snap, minimap, layout settings, zoom, fit, and full screen.
Command palette
Press Ctrl/Cmd + K to search tools, templates, colors, and actions.
Context styling
Select an object to change its stroke, fill, width, opacity, text, and note settings.
Choose the right mark
Select a tool from the dock, use its letter shortcut, or find it through the command palette.
Select and navigate
Select
Pick, move, marquee-select, and edit objects.
Hand
Drag the canvas without changing objects.
Laser
Draw a temporary fading pointer trail.
Shapes and connectors
Shapes
Rectangle, ellipse, diamond, triangle, star, and speech bubble.
Arrow
Drag from one point to another to show direction.
Line
Create a straight line between two points.
Draw and annotate
Pen
Draw a freehand path using the active color and width.
Marker
Add a broad translucent highlight stroke.
Eraser
Drag across the canvas to remove touched objects.
Content
Text
Place editable text with font, size, color, and alignment controls.
Sticky note
Drag a note, then type inside it. Text shrinks to fit.
Emoji
Choose from faces, hands, marks, nature, food, work, and arrows.
Image
Choose, paste, or drop an image file onto the board.
Images up to 1600 pixels on their longest side are kept as-is or compressed for local storage. Imported images are stored in IndexedDB for the board that uses them.
Arrange and refine objects
Switch to Select, then click an object. Drag empty canvas space to marquee-select multiple objects, or use Ctrl/Cmd + A.
Move
Drag selected objects. Arrow keys nudge by 1px; add Shift for 10px.
Resize
Drag the handles around a single selected shape, text object, note, emoji, or image. Straight lines and arrows do not show resize handles.
Edit text
Double-click text or a sticky note. Press Enter to place normal text, or Ctrl/Cmd + Enter to finish a note.
Style
Change stroke color, fill, width, dashed lines, opacity, font, size, alignment, and sticky-note color when applicable.
Layer and duplicate
Bring objects to front, send them to back, duplicate, copy, paste, or delete from the selection bar and object menu.
Align and distribute
With multiple objects selected, align their edges or centers. Three or more objects can be spaced evenly.
Keep work organized
Each board autosaves after changes. The status beside its name shows Saving, Saved, or Storage full.
Board library
Open it from the folder button or Ctrl/Cmd + B. Switch boards, rename them, make a duplicate, create a blank board, or delete a board when more than one exists.
Local-first storage
Board data stays in localStorage. Image pixels stay in IndexedDB. There is no account sync, server library, or live multi-user editing.
Take the board with you
Open Export from the top bar or press Ctrl/Cmd + E. Background and selection-only options apply where supported.
PNG image
A 2x raster export for sharing or presentations.
SVG vector
A scalable vector export of the board or selection.
Board file
An editable .pallete.json backup that can be imported later.
Copy image
Writes a PNG of the board to the clipboard when the browser allows it.
Public link
Encodes a copy in the URL. Anyone with the link can open it.
Private + PIN
Encrypts the board in the browser and requires the generated four-digit PIN.
Import: choose Import board from Export, then select a compatible JSON board file. The imported content replaces the current canvas and can be undone immediately.
Set up the board your way
Appearance preferences are remembered in this browser and do not change board content.
Canvas and theme
The default canvas uses Purple paper. You can also choose White, Cream, Mint, Sky, Blush, Slate, or Night. Dark papers switch the chrome to a readable dark theme. Shift + T toggles light and dark directly.
Layout controls
Place the toolbar at the top, bottom, left, or right. Choose compact or cozy controls, one of six accent colors, 16-56px grid spacing, and frosted or solid panels.
Work without hunting through menus
These are the shortcuts registered by the current board. On macOS, use Command wherever Ctrl/Cmd is shown.
Tools
Edit
View and board
You can also press ? inside the board to open the built-in shortcut reference.
Common problems, quick fixes
Most issues involve browser storage, clipboard permission, or the difference between a link and a complete board file.
The status says Storage full
Download a board file immediately. Remove unused boards or large images, then try editing again.
A shared board has no imported images
This is expected for link sharing. Ask for a .pallete.json board file to transfer the complete editable board.
Copy image or Copy link failed
Your browser blocked clipboard access. Allow clipboard permission, use HTTPS, or download a PNG or board file instead.
A private link will not open
Enter the exact four-digit PIN sent by the owner. The link cannot be decrypted with a different PIN, and Pallete cannot recover it.
My boards disappeared
Boards belong to this browser profile. Check that you are using the same browser and have not cleared site data or private-browsing storage. Restore from a downloaded board file if available.
The imported file is rejected
Use a board file exported by Pallete. Renamed or manually edited JSON may no longer match the supported board format.
Ready to try it?
Open a blank canvas and keep this guide nearby.