# Views
Here is all you need to know about **creating** and **using views.**
### **What is a view?**
A view is **a window onto a canvas of a model.** In other words, using views helps create a duplicate representation of your work. Views are the best way to create as many references to an existing drawing as you would like, to then be used for instance in page layouts or as a drawing underlay.
Notably, views display 3 main characteristics:
* Views are **updated**: any changes to the drawing the view represents will be immediately visible from the view itself.
* Views can be **edited**: the **size**, **crop**, **scale** of a view can be changed.
* Views can be **overridden**: the **style, text,** and **visibility** of things displayed in a view can be changed to diverge from its initial aspect.
### **Creating a view**
To create a view, head to the toolbar, in the layout section, where you will find the **`View`** tool.
With this tool, a view can be created either within a canvas referencing itself, or onto a canvas referencing another canvas. In the video below, we demonstrate both possibilities.
Note that the **`Canvas`** property allows choosing the canvas that the view is referencing.
{% embed url="" %}
Alternatively, views can be created from the **`Layer`** panel, behind the **`+`** of the **`Layer`** section. \
The **`View`** option will allow you to choose a source canvas for your new view. Once clicked, a view will be created on the canvas currently displayed, and referencing the canvas chosen in the dropdown.
### Editing a view
To edit a view, select it and click **`Edit`** in the selection bar (or **`CMD`** + **`E`**).
There, **4 main aspects** of a view can be tuned:
* The view **`crop window`** can be resized, by editing the view clipping path in the view edit mode. Alternatively, and to go faster, a view can be cropped by resizing it while holding **`CMD`** (**`CTRL`** on PC).
* The view **`origin`** can be modified, by either panning in the view, or editing the **`Origin X,Y`** values in the view properties.
* The view **`scale`** can be tuned, by either zooming in the view, or editing the **`Scale`** value in the view properties.
* The view **`canvas`**, that is, the canvas the current view points to, can be swapped.
The **`origin`** and **`scale`** can be locked using the lock icons in the properties panel, preventing accidental changes.
{% embed url="" %}
### Overriding a view
To override a view, select it and click **`Override`** in the selection bar (or **`CMD`** + **`O`**).
#### **Visibility overrides**
The content of views can be hidden/shown, by interacting with the layers/entities visibility settings, once in view **`Override`** mode.
{% embed url="" %}
At any point, the visibility overrides you have created can be reset, either for the entire view or for a single entity/layer.
#### **Style overrides**
The content of views can be restyled, by interacting with the entities’ styles in the style panels, once in view **`Override`** mode.
{% embed url="" %}
At any point, the style overrides you have created can be reset, either for the entire style, all styles at once, or for a single parameter of a style.
### Tutorial
For more step-by-step information, watch our tutorial about how to use canvases and views in Rayon:
{% embed url="" %}
***
### We are always available
Book a demo with our team, [right here](https://b1kzip68v9f.typeform.com/to/Hgr0eQ4k#source=docs).\
To get some support, reach out to us through our **in-app support chat**. \
More about [our support policy right here](https://docs.rayon.design/other-resources/others/support).
.png?alt=media&token=107e5a98-4e82-41ed-a5fb-7739384b7e8d)
.png?alt=media&token=9a365837-4bd9-44fc-a686-4411e0670e02)
.png?alt=media&token=501623a0-375e-48c2-a8f3-9997eee0aff3)
