Version Control

The Canvelete (opens in a new tab) Design Editor includes comprehensive version control features that help you track changes, collaborate safely, and maintain a complete history of your design evolution. This system ensures you never lose work and can always return to previous versions.

Understanding Version Control

What is Design Versioning?

Version control in Canvelete tracks every significant change to your design:

Automatic Snapshots: System creates versions at key moments
Manual Saves: Create named versions at important milestones
Change Tracking: Monitor what changed between versions
Rollback Capability: Restore any previous version instantly

Version Types

The system maintains different types of versions:

Auto-saves: Frequent automatic backups (every 30 seconds)
Manual Versions: User-created snapshots with descriptions
Milestone Versions: Major design phases or approvals
Branch Versions: Alternative design directions

Version Manager Interface

Accessing Version Control

The Version Manager is available through multiple entry points:

Header Menu: Click the version/history icon in the top bar
Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+H to open version history
Right-click Menu: Access from canvas context menu
Auto-save Indicator: Click the save status to see recent versions

Version History Panel

The history panel displays:

Version Timeline: Chronological list of all versions
Version Thumbnails: Visual previews of each version
Version Names: Descriptive titles for manual versions
Timestamps: When each version was created
Author Information: Who created each version (in collaborative projects)
Change Descriptions: What modifications were made

Version Details

Each version entry shows:

Version Number: Unique identifier (v1.0, v1.1, etc.)
Creation Date: Exact timestamp of version creation
File Size: Storage space used by this version
Element Count: Number of design elements in this version
Changelog: Summary of changes from previous version

Creating Versions

Manual Version Creation

Save important design states manually:

Save Version Dialog

Open Save Dialog: Click "Save Version" button
Version Name: Enter descriptive name (e.g., "Final Logo Design")
Description: Add detailed notes about changes
Tags: Add searchable tags for organization
Visibility: Set version as public or private

Version Naming Best Practices

v1.0_Initial_Concept
v1.1_Client_Feedback_Applied
v2.0_Color_Scheme_Updated
v2.1_Typography_Refined
v3.0_Final_Approved

Automatic Versioning

The system creates versions automatically:

Time-based: Every 5 minutes during active editing
Action-based: After significant changes (adding/removing elements)
Session-based: When opening/closing the editor
Collaboration-based: When team members make changes

Version Triggers

Automatic versions are created when:

Major Edits: Adding or removing multiple elements
Style Changes: Significant color or typography modifications
Layout Changes: Moving or resizing multiple elements
Import Operations: Adding new assets or images
Export Actions: Before generating final outputs

Version Navigation

Browsing History

Navigate through your design history:

Timeline View: Scroll through chronological versions
Grid View: See multiple version thumbnails at once
List View: Detailed text-based version list
Search Versions: Find specific versions by name or date

Version Comparison

Compare different versions side-by-side:

Visual Diff: Highlight differences between versions
Element Changes: Show added, removed, or modified elements
Property Changes: Display style and positioning changes
Overlay Mode: Superimpose versions to see differences

Version Preview

Preview versions without restoring:

Thumbnail Preview: Quick visual overview
Full Preview: Open version in read-only mode
Zoom and Pan: Examine version details closely
Element Inspection: View properties of elements in old versions

Restoring Versions

Version Restoration Process

Restore any previous version of your design:

Select Version: Choose the version to restore from history
Preview Changes: Review what will change in current design
Confirm Restoration: Confirm you want to restore this version
Automatic Backup: System creates backup of current state
Apply Changes: Design reverts to selected version

Restoration Options

Choose how to restore versions:

Full Restore: Replace entire design with selected version
Selective Restore: Restore only specific elements or properties
Merge Restore: Combine elements from multiple versions
Branch Restore: Create new branch from old version

Restoration Safety

Built-in protections prevent data loss:

Current State Backup: Always backup current design before restoring
Confirmation Dialogs: Multiple confirmations for major changes
Undo Support: Restoration can be undone immediately
Recovery Mode: Recover from failed restorations

Branching and Merging

Design Branches

Create alternative design directions:

Branch Creation: Start new design direction from any version
Branch Naming: Give descriptive names to branches
Branch Switching: Move between different design directions
Branch Comparison: Compare different design approaches

Branch Management

Organize multiple design directions:

Main Branch: Primary design development line
Feature Branches: Specific design experiments
Client Branches: Different versions for different clients
Archive Branches: Store old or unused design directions

Merging Branches

Combine work from different branches:

Merge Conflicts: Handle conflicting changes between branches
Selective Merge: Choose specific elements to merge
Merge Preview: See results before applying merge
Merge History: Track all merge operations

Collaboration and Versions

Team Version Control

Coordinate version control across team members:

Shared History: All team members see complete version history
Author Tracking: Know who created each version
Concurrent Editing: Handle simultaneous edits safely
Version Conflicts: Resolve conflicts when multiple people edit

Permission Management

Control who can create and restore versions:

Version Creation Rights: Who can save manual versions
Restoration Permissions: Who can restore old versions
Branch Management: Who can create and merge branches
History Access: Control access to version history

Collaborative Workflows

Establish team version control practices:

Review Cycles: Use versions for design review stages
Approval Process: Mark versions as approved or rejected
Feedback Integration: Link comments to specific versions
Release Management: Tag versions for different release stages

Version Storage and Limits

Storage Management

Understand how versions are stored:

Storage Quota: Available space for version history
Compression: How versions are compressed to save space
Cleanup Policies: Automatic removal of old versions
Archive Options: Long-term storage for important versions

Version Limits

System limits for version control:

Maximum Versions: Total number of versions per design
History Depth: How far back history is maintained
File Size Limits: Maximum size for individual versions
Retention Periods: How long versions are kept

Optimization Tips

Manage version storage efficiently:

Regular Cleanup: Remove unnecessary versions periodically
Meaningful Names: Use descriptive names for important versions
Archive Old Versions: Move old versions to archive storage
Compress Large Designs: Optimize designs before saving versions

Advanced Version Features

Version Analytics

Track design evolution over time:

Change Metrics: Measure how much designs change over time
Activity Patterns: See when most changes occur
Collaboration Stats: Track team member contributions
Version Performance: Monitor version creation and restoration speed

Integration Features

Connect version control with other tools:

Export Versions: Download specific versions as files
API Access: Programmatic access to version history
Webhook Notifications: Get notified of version changes
External Backup: Sync versions to external storage

Version Automation

Automate version control tasks:

Scheduled Versions: Create versions on schedule
Trigger-based Versions: Versions based on specific actions
Batch Operations: Perform operations on multiple versions
Automated Cleanup: Remove old versions automatically

Best Practices

Version Control Workflow

Establish effective version control practices:

Start with v1.0: Begin each project with initial version
Regular Saves: Create versions at logical stopping points
Descriptive Names: Use clear, descriptive version names
Document Changes: Add detailed descriptions to versions
Test Before Restore: Always preview before restoring versions

Naming Conventions

Use consistent version naming:

Major.Minor.Patch_Description
1.0.0_Initial_Design
1.1.0_Client_Feedback
1.1.1_Typography_Fix
2.0.0_Complete_Redesign

Collaboration Guidelines

Communicate Changes: Notify team of major version changes
Review Before Restore: Get approval before restoring old versions
Use Branches: Create branches for experimental changes
Regular Syncing: Keep local versions synchronized with team

This comprehensive version control system ensures your design work is always protected, trackable, and recoverable, enabling confident experimentation and seamless collaboration.

Next Steps

Learn about Collaboration for team workflows
Explore Layer Management for organizing designs
Check out the API Reference for programmatic version access
Start versioning at canvelete.com/dashboard (opens in a new tab)

Collaboration Template Variables