I think of metadata as the lowest common denominator to convey information about an image file. I use it as a platform-independent means to transport known information. AI can tell that it’s a gathering of people and it might even be able to estimate the date. The most important things to convey in metadata, however, are those that I’m sure of and that image recognition cannot supply — people’s names and occasions, for example.

I hope you’ll join us on December 5th, when we host a Tutorial Tuesday with Caroline Guntur, the Swedish Organizer. If you can’t make the free talk, catch up later with the recording available to Projectkin subscribers, and membership is free.

Members' Chat Room

This will be an informal conversation that should help demystify the topic. “EXIF? IPTC Photo Metadata? XMPs? WOT?” With a range of platforms and tools offering specialized ways to insert metadata into files, there’s a lot of noise out there that can be confusing.

Don’t worry, it’s not much more complicated than a virtual tag dangling from a file. We’ll make sure you get not only a grounding in the key ideas but also the context to understand how to make metadata part of your routine.

My guest, Caroline Guntur is not only an expert photo manager, she’s also one of the most respected coaches in the delicate art of the workflow.

This is personal for me.

At Ponga, we created a simple and easy way to both organize the photos in your family history collection — and use them to tell stories. While we protected and preserved image metadata, we did not offer a way to modify it. (Product decisions in a startup can be brutal.) If we had, it would have been a convenient way to export the organizational information the software so elegantly created. That platform is now offline, but these are lessons I carry with me into my personal family history projects.

Discussions of metadata can easily send you down rabbit holes chasing nerdy superlatives. I look at arguments about metadata formats like signs indicating a gas line — and dig my rabbit holes elsewhere.

I appreciate that the IPTC specification used by journalists for decades has problems for family historians, for example. I monitor the efforts of the Family History Metadata Working Group (FHMWG) to encourage the use of metadata and drive improvements through standards bodies, but that’s not where I add value.

I’m honored to have so many experts now part of our community lending their insights to guide us all. I’m particularly excited to have Caroline speaking with us as this background is so foundational. As a compliment to this talk, she has a terrific series of free recorded talks on her website that form a framework for success in organizing photos.

If this is all new to you and feels overwhelming, don’t worry. I’m right there with you. Stay curious, ask questions, and keep learning.

Note: This article originally appeared on the Ponga.com website. Updated on Nov 9, 2023, for Projectkin.

Do you have boxes and tubs of old family photos that you've been meaning to DO something with? These pictures and mementos are the heirlooms you'd save from a fire. Someone is collecting them in every family. 

If this is you, or you're trying to coax someone else into the role, here's a simple, structured approach that not only protects your originals but also creates an opportunity to inspire future generations with your shared family legacy — plus, it’s great fun!

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to plow through the whole collection at once. 

That's just too much work — and it sets you up for failure. Instead, this approach takes advantage of new technologies and lets you divide the collection into accessible batches so you can easily get through to the “Good Part” of discovery as quickly as possible. 

Plus, once you do, you’re inspired and can’t wait to circle back for another batch. 

The key is to break the project down into planning and execution steps. Once you have a plan, you can step into the digital magic to explore your stories with family — in satisfying batches.

Plan

Step 1: Gather your photos

Start by gathering all the photos you want to preserve. This includes prints, negatives, and slides. Check attics, basements, and storage areas for forgotten boxes of photos. Once you have everything in one place for this project, you're ready to start.

This first step gives you a chance to scope the larger project, but remember we're going about this in batches so don't let this mountain scare you. Think of it as a mine. The rest of the steps will give you the tools you need to find and excavate the gold hidden within.

Step 2: Plan the scope of your work

The simplest way to plan the scope of your work is to ask yourself the question “What is my end goal?” Everyone will answer this question in their own way. It might be related to a specific event, or a larger project to curate and downsize. Answering these questions will help you plan your time and resources effectively.

When you’ve considered the steps in the project, what do you think is a reasonable pace? 30 minutes a day, week, month, whatever you have. Once you have a plan, add it to your calendar or any other timeline you use. Don’t fuss over details at this point, but reminders on your calendar will give you a little nudge of accountability.

To help you keep to your plan, I suggest you use a spreadsheet or notepad to keep track of what you’ve sorted, digitized, and added to your photo archive.

Step 3: Sort the photos at hand

Sorting is one of the most important steps in the process, but it doesn't have to slow you down. If you've taken steps 1 and 2 first, you'll have a structure to use to decide how to handle the originals and how much detail to go into sorting them.

Using facial organization technology can significantly ease the burden of sorting your pictures by person. So, if you know where photos came from (by envelope, box, or source, for example), it can be easy to pick a batch to start with at this sort step. If you choose to bring a professional in to help with scanning, you might spend a bit more time in sorting so that you don’t waste money having blurry or duplicate photos scanned.

During your sorting step, examine the originals, consider information that may have been written on the back, what detail you might have from envelopes, accompanying letters, and that sort of thing. Sorting helps you keep track of what you’ve already scanned by bringing decades, family groups, events, or themes together.

The key here is to sort what you have into chunks that make sense to you so that you can capture the relevant information as you move them to digital form in the next step. As you bundle photos into folders and envelopes make note of keywords like “Christmas 1960” on index cards to keep with the originals. These can easily be added to file names in the scanning step and be useful notes in your project tracking.

As you sort through physical photos, slides, and negatives, you may consider discarding some of them. That’s completely up to you.

For the benefit of your heirs though, pros use this mnemonic to separate “Have” from “See” and “Know”... here’s how it works:

• Keep in physical form the things people need to HAVE (such as jewelry, for example)

• Keep at least in digital form the things people need to SEE (such as children's drawings which can become quite fragile and are of little economic value.)

• Keep in recorded or written form the things people need to KNOW (such as memories, stories, and values.)

Step into Digital Magic

Step 4: Digitize the photos you've sorted

Digitizing is the only mandatory step. A print captures a moment in time on a physical piece of paper. Digitizing the image brings it to life – you can tell the stories, and add other information to the photos, and a photo of something or another photo can add to the story. You can add almost anything to your photo once it is digitized.

You'll find several excellent articles on scanning techniques, advice on devices to choose from, and opinions on local services by searching the web. One key trick I recommend is that if you have a keyword related to your sorting into batches, share that keyword with any pros you hire to do the scanning. They can use that keyword along with an incremental numbering system to name the files as they’re scanned.

If you have the resources, outsourcing the digitizing step makes a lot of sense. With your equipment and a little training, you do it yourself or make it a job for an enterprising young teen. Or, you can hire a pro. You can find terrific free scanning resources at FamilySearch Centers around the world, and a wonderful list of certified professional photo managers and scanning resources through The Photo Managers.

An important piece of advice: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. While many pros offer museum-quality scanning techniques, the cost can be prohibitive. Don’t let that stop you. A professional follows very high standards and has the best equipment. For me, what is important is to get your photographs and other artifacts digitized in whatever way you have the time and budget for.

What’s most important is that you find a good fit that lets you move forward to capture your stories.

Step 5: Archive both the digitized files and the originals

In this fifth step, you'll carefully review the files that were scanned and make sure that your originals are properly archived. Many scanning pros include archival treatment of originals after scanning as part of their workflow. This is a great option and offers the least risk to your irreplaceable originals.

Whether you do it yourself or bring in a professional, be sure your originals are protected in acid-free, archival-quality sleeves and boxes. Since you sorted them in step 3, you'll have useful information to capture in labels on boxes and other enclosures.

In archiving the original prints, slides, and negatives, take note of the date and any other information you’ve included in your file scanning. This will make it easier to later match originals to scans should you need to. You may want to dispose of envelopes and other non-archival materials, just be sure you’ve transferred any information from these materials before you let them go.

On your digital files or your tracking spreadsheet, include dates if you have them, note if you’re just estimating. It can also be a good idea to capture your the date you do the work, as it will map to the creation date of the digital file created from your scan.

Step 6: Organize your digital files

Once you have digital files, software intelligence can vastly simplify your workload. The purpose-built intelligence of facial organization software has the potential to organize your photos for you by the people in each photo.

Tip: Be consistent with how you name things – dates YYYYMMDD, people, and locations – It will be easier for others to understand if you are consistent For example, Last name, first name, middle name (nickname); City, state/province, country – the order doesn’t matter, but be consistent and make record what naming structure you are using.

You don’t have to put all your photos in your facial recognition software before you get to the good part. These steps work especially well in batches where there's some relevant association with the people in your pictures. This is especially important with facial organization because you will have to “teach” the software the connection between faces and names. Once you’ve taught it a face with a small batch, it can apply the learning to another batch. With patience, the software should get better at the recognition step over time.

Photo editing software tools that include facial recognition features typically work the same way. They sort faces found in every picture in a batch, matching those that appear to be the same. Usually, the software presents unique faces so you just add names.

Facial recognition software will allow you to create albums or folders for each face that has been identified. This can be very helpful when searching for people or events that you want to use for a special project, such as “Aunt Betty’s 70th Birthday” or “Jones family farm”.

While you might want to use photo editing software to color-correct damaged originals or bulk-edit metadata, this step isn't strictly necessary at this point. This step can bog you down and it's something you can always come back to. I’d recommend starting any edits with your highest-resolution originals and then saving the edited version as a new file.

Make Connections

Step 7: Tell the stories

Now as you open each photo, faces are named, and the context is clear, let the stories bubble out. Capture what you know by updating titles and descriptions. Describe the connections you know to the moment, and explain why was it important and worth a photo.

Take the time to add what you remember about the moment or what you heard from family members. It's completely okay if you aren't sure, you can always delete what you thought you knew with new information.

Step 8: Add the wisdom of your crowd

As any reunion will reveal, everyone remembers events a little differently. Tidbits collected from around the family can provide a wealth of context to help sort facts from fabrications. At Projectkin, we’re always looking for ways to invite family members to individual pictures or entire albums to get their perspectives, references, and insights using any kind of software. Their additions can add context with the nuance of voice, video, or any media or material that might set the tone or add validation.

Stories are always affected by their audience. This is one of the reasons why we’re so sensitive to privacy as a defining characteristic of family history projects. Keep privacy in mind when you choose a platform to involve family in sharing stories. Using online platforms today, people who add comments to a story are adding context much the way conversations in person would. Imagine the phrase “Gosh, Ed, that reminds me of the time when…” connecting in virtual space.

Summary

Once you've seen the power of connection through the stories and the photographs that triggered them, you'll be motivated to circle back for more. This is why I recommend working in batches of a hundred or so photos and using the structure of these eight steps — on any platform. By following this approach you'll have set yourself up for success and inspired others to help you along the way.

To learn more about this approach, join me for our free monthly gatherings Kathy’s Corner, as we work through the 8 steps, and I reflect on using this approach in the project of exploring my family photos. Register at Projectkin.Eventbrite.com.

OVERVIEW

QR codes, like UPC codes, are everywhere. You may have learned to use them to read menus, but creating them may seem a little intimidating. This explainer will give you the background you’ll need to create QR codes on your own and use them to connect digital content to objects, photos, and family history projects.

HISTORY & CODES DEMYSTIFIED

In concept, “QR” or Quick Response codes are a simple technology, comparable to the UPC (or “Universal Product Codes” you’ve used at the checkout counter at a self-service checkout counter. 

With grocery store UPC, a scanner uses light to decipher empty versus filled spaces on a one-dimensional bar code. That code is then compared to a list of codes for products that then map to prices. The register charges you for the current price for the scanned item. 

QR codes use two dimensions to create a machine-readable visual stamp. They were introduced in the early 1990s for industrial applications. With two dimensions in which to encode data, QR codes allow for more data to be captured in a single scan. Previously, manufacturing assembly lines and other industrial applications required multiple codes to reflect details like model, size, color, and the like. 

A 2D code could include all of that in a single code requiring just one scan. In 2007, soon after the introduction of the iPhone, hackers started developing apps that used the smartphone camera to decode QR codes and map the resulting data to web links.

Modern QR Codes

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers feared the disease was spread by touching contaminated surfaces. When they demanded touchless solutions, QR codes were ready. They were a convenient way to share menus, price lists, and more.  

In recent years, OS updates to Android and iOS devices have added QR decoding technology to standard camera apps. Now, almost anyone can point the camera on their smartphone at a code. The app will scan the code and present the link (or URL) pre-configured for that code. 

The link domains usually appear in yellow with brackets around the selected code. Tap on the letters and the configured web page will open. (See this bit.ly code example above. If you’re reading this article on a computer screen, try the links at the top of this article with your smartphone camera.) 

When to Use QR Codes in Projects

The insight to use QR codes to connect pre-configured images to web pages was brilliant because, like the UPC, it provided a bridge between physical stuff and a world of interactive data. In family history projects, these codes can create interesting ways to connect photographs, furnishings, and other artifacts to stories, context, and historical detail. 

There’s not anything very technical or unique about QR codes. You could easily provide a reference from an object to a link by spelling out the link. On a web page or in a news article, it’s generally easier to include a link with anchor text, there’s no need for codes. In this example, we’ve linked to our home page with this anchor text.

On an object, in a book, or on a framed poster, however, QR codes make more sense. Your viewer is looking at your material in physical form but probably has a smartphone in hand. One tap and they’ve bridged their way to your supplementary material. 

The Exponential Power of Digital

If you don’t routinely work with web pages and other digital materials, there are a few subtle advantages that you might not have considered: 

1. Changes: Since the material you create online is digital, you can usually change or update it at will. That means that it can reference both frequently changing information like schedules, or material that’s subject to corrections and updates like genealogical research. 

2. Links don’t have to be web pages: Modern platforms create so many kinds of web links that we often don’t even think of them as web pages. Links you add to QR codes can be anything—as long as your viewer has access to them over a web link. Generally, that means they’re publicly accessible, even if access requires a secure login. 

3. Linked content can be ANYTHING viewable on the web: Though an obvious extension of the previous point, it bears mentioning. We tend to forget the range of content that can be created digitally and accessible on the web. 

This means that your family history projects can combine printed materials, jewelry, and even furniture with digitally created materials and media. Consider, for example, an inherited desk with a label that includes a QR code. Tap that code and access: 

• A web page on a family genealogy site that references remembrances about the desk.

• Scanned receipts for the purchase of the desk in PDF format stored online to document its provenance.

• An unlisted YouTube recording of an aunt recalling her memories of playing office at the desk as a child.

• An interactive, online map detailing the locations and previous owners of the desk.

• An online “project” dedicated to the desk that includes all of these components.

Creating QR Codes

There are a remarkable number of free online tools available to create QR codes – even fancy ones with logos and images built in. Let’s review how to create them and the kinds of tools that are available to manage them.  

Tip for using QR codes and links

Since you’re printing the QR code that’s not something that can change after a book is published or a poster is printed. Though web pages can be easy to change after publishing, links can be a bit more difficult. 

A good practice is to use a QR code creation tool that allows you to change the link after you release the book. This is called a “dynamic” code. Generally, this is only possible at the paid level of tools like QR Code Monkey, bit.ly, Hovercode.com, GoQR.me, and Canva. 

One way to manage that is to create the QR code for a top-level page at a domain you control. Use that page to aggregate all of your links. You’re less likely to need to change that top-level page and you can change the lower-level pages without any change in the QR code labels. Note: In our community, we counsel care when using software platforms, particularly those that are free. More on that below.

Examples

Once you start thinking of QR codes as a bridge between digital and analog (or physical) worlds, you’ll discover just how useful they can be in family history projects. Here are a couple of examples from the family history projects we shared during 2023. 

1. Connect a framed collage to an interactive digital twin. See “A Map, Timeline, & Story: Two Ways.” A framed collage includes a map, a family tree, timeline, and more. Explorers can point their smartphone cameras at the included QR code to open a digital version that makes each of these components interactive and offers access to videos, articles, and more.

2. Connect custom child’s book to supplementary material they can engage with directly. In a very special program featuring one of our members, Kerri Kearney will share how she’s used custom books to help her children understand adoption and the very special role they play in their families. She’s used QR codes to connect pages of the book she’ll use as an example to video and other media. 

Next Steps

You don’t even need a special family history project to explore QR codes. For now, why not just give it a try? Don’t worry, you can do this for free.

1. Pick a platform

Earlier, I mentioned a few platforms: QR Code Monkey, and GoQR.me, are QR code specialists. Bitly (bit.ly,) and Canva are tailored as marketing tools, but also work well. All of these have free options.

2. Enter the URL, select features, and generate the code

Each platform is a little different and some may require you to create an account before you can generate a code. In this example from QR Code Monkey, note that after entering the URL you can pick from optional features then generate the QR code. 

QR Code Monkey does not require a login to generate a code. Once generated, it typically will automatically download to your computer.

3. Use the code

To apply this code in some other project, you generally just need to apply the image file on top of or in addition to other graphics images. 

Best Practices

After using QR codes in several projects, I’ve learned to keep the following best practices in mind:

• Printed QR codes should not need to change: Choose a platform that allows you to change linked URLs for the same code since the code will be printed and adhered to physical objects or pages. 

• Consider using a code for a top-level page (such as “project links”) that points to a single web page that has all of the links. This reduces your chance of error while allowing the convenience of QR codes.

• Test, test & retest any QR code you produce by pointing your own phone at the code and opening the link. You’re testing for: 

• Size: Test from a printed copy, not from the computer which may be enlarged.

• Inadvertent errors: Be sure your link goes where you want it to.

• Hyperlink to the target page in addition to using the QR code in any digital media. Consider, a book, for example. While it may primarily be distributed in printed form, a hyperlink there could be very useful if you later share a digital version of the book.

• Materials: If you’re printing your code on some material other than paper or labels, be sure the code can be read on the other material. Include laminated cards if necessary.

• When you think you’re done, test again. Since codes are illegible to our human eyes, you can easily scramble your codes. ‍

• Err in favor of size. If your design can handle it, bump up the size of your image slightly if you have the option. QR codes will always be illegible if you reduce them enough. Enlarged, you can always read them, possibly from across the room. Consider your audience. 

• Using one platform to generate your codes can simply life so you don’t have to go hunting for codes should you need one again. Many platforms (Bit.ly, for example) include basic analytics for free to tell you how many times your link has been visited from this code.

Have questions?

Join the discussion in our Community Forum where you'll find not only event recordings but also recipes for our recipe events and a lively discussion about tips & tricks. We look forward to meeting you.

During a workshop in June 2023 on the 5 Essential Elements of Digital Family History, we discussed the challenge of adding AI-fueled digital content to family history projects. Simple style questions such as what date and name formats to use get complicated by new digital media. Is colorization acceptable? What about AI-generated voices? 

We observed that reports, articles, and other collaborative writing projects generally use a style guide to ensure that everyone uses the same structure for bibliographic entries, names, and the like. Why isn’t there something like that to cover the substance of media?

So, to respond during the call, we proposed collaboratively creating a template for a “Style & Substance Guide” that anyone could use for their projects.

Importantly, this guide would NOT specify formats and style, and instead, identify the elements where decisions should be made upfront so that you don't have to go back and rework material for consistency later. Essentially

Simple rule: Settle it once, state it plainly, and use it consistently.

So... to get us started, I've drafted this as a Google Doc you can all contribute to. You should all be able to read it from here and make comments below, OR... if you have a Google Account (any gmail.com account) you can open this link from your Google account:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-SeE8kc6dFhzcPmDFWvEHR-X4QPOhLqLD3nMGxVD09M/edit#heading=h.k8c12a86ihp6

Enjoy!

Note: This article was originally published on May 12, 2023. It references some feature/functionality of the Ponga.com platform that is no longer available.

I was a co-founder of the now offline platform Ponga.com. We wanted to build a way to capture the stories in old family photos. Though Ponga is no longer available, our Projectkin community has created new ways to turn those stories into engaging, interactive experiences using a variety of materials and software platforms. A standout among those platforms is Canva’s whiteboard feature. We’ve found it so flexible that we’ve used it in several project recipes. This article describes why and highlights key features that can be integrated into other family history projects.

How it's different

Canva whiteboard, introduced in late 2022, mimics a digital whiteboard where any number of photos, design elements, and/or embedded media, can be placed on an infinitely large canvas that mimics a whiteboard. That whiteboard could be downloaded as a PDF or JPEG like any other Canva design element, but it can also be shared as a link where viewers can engage directly with individual elements on the whiteboard. When shared as a link, a Canva whiteboard becomes an infinitely flexible web page. As a page, it’s hosted at Canva but can be shared and embedded much as any other web page.

Canva does not support the unique “pop-up” or previewing of content in selections as Ponga did. However, it does support embedded links and an almost infinite flexibility to add material around your picture. As you'll see in the animated example, this parallels the Ponga experience in many ways.

As you might expect, the core use case for whiteboards is in online and hybrid meetings where physical whiteboards might otherwise have been used. In modern business environments, this creates a way to maintain persistent whiteboards teams can take with them and discuss after a meeting concludes.

Whiteboards in Family History

In family history use cases, these fancy digital whiteboards have a related, if different application. Whiteboards can be used like traditional corkboards to visually arrange information so that it can be examined in a visual context. A family tree is the most natural case. It also applies to timelines of infinite length where you're continually adding details and want to share them with other family members. It also allows for annotations as simple comments or rich graphic additions.

Canva includes an array of graphic elements like lines, rectangles, and text that can be placed on top to visually interconnect the elements. Also, any element can include links that take your viewer anywhere on the Internet. Some media on the internet like PDF documents and videos, support embedding so media "plays" without a user leaving the whiteboard.

The core features of Canva whiteboards will seem very familiar to long-time Ponga users. With thoughtful planning, they can be used as a reasonable alternative for family history use cases.

Unlike Ponga, Canva doesn't… implement the kinds of facial organization features. As an alternative, I'd recommend exploring specialized applications like ACDSee, Adobe Lightroom, ImageRanger or dozens of others, then using Metadata to tag faces to images. Canva also doesn't display or modify image metadata. I recommend you organize your images first as part of an intake workflow, then bring them into Canva Whiteboards. (See our Tutorial Tuesday on Metadata with Caroline Guntur.)

I'd also recommend archiving your images separately from Canva using specialized local and/or cloud storage platforms like WeAre.xyz, Permanent.org, Forever.com, or others. See the recording of our talk on Archiving that was part of the 5 Essential Elements series of family history projects to learn more.

Using Canva Whiteboards

If you’ve used Canva for graphic design projects, you'll find the interface to be very familiar. It operates in a web browser so there's nothing to download. Every picture or graphic element you add to any design in Canva is added to your Canva uploads so it's easy to pull in things you've used elsewhere. It's also convenient to draw from templates and materials developed by others.

To bring your pictures into Canva, just drag them into the interface. Canva now offers apps to interconnect directly with major cloud storage providers like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If you've moved your Ponga archive into one of these services, that can be a great way to bring them into Canva. Learn more here.

I like to take full advantage of the infinitely large whiteboard feature so I generally plan to create one picture or story per whiteboard, but there's also no reason you can't get creative and use one whiteboard for a multiple pictures, a collage, or other kind of story. Using whiteboards is a little like digital scrapbooking in that you’ll want to be mindful of telling a visual story.

Also note that as you upload your own images to Canva, you must manually drag images onto a canvas-like space to create whiteboards. None are created automatically for you from uploads. Take a look at the Project Recipe event in September 2023, "A Map, Timeline & Story Viewed: Two Ways" in the Projectkin Event Archives.

Embeds and Links

Canva supports adding content as either embeds or links. In Canva's digital whiteboard model, embeds don't “pop-up” as they did in Ponga, and are instead arrayed around the whiteboard such that they can be directly engaged with by anyone with the link to the whiteboard. See the whiteboard example that is itself embedded into this web page below.

To take advantage of embedding, tap "/" to bring up a magic menu and enter "embed" then paste your link. After a moment to search for your link, Canva will present a preview of the remote site. Links to sites like YouTube embed directly so that they are playable in the interface. Documents in PDF form from institutional sites like museums or the Library of Congress are immediately accessible without leaving Canva. If you have a PDF file, add the document into cloud storage on sites like Google Drive, or Dropbox, and then copy and paste the share link.

Tip: Less is Often More‍

While it can be tempting to go a little crazy tossing in all kinds of content, “less” is usually “more.” I recommend starting with a focus on your end goal. If you're using a family history whiteboard to simply park ideas, then that's fine, go crazy. If you're using it to communicate, then keep the larger picture in mind and consider how others might "read" your visual result. It’s free and easy to create a new or copy an existing whiteboard.

I often find that I start with something of a collection of facts that looks more like a detective’s yarn map. Once the narrative is clear, I slowly winnow it into a visual story. In the September 2023, "A Map, Timeline & Story Viewed: Two Ways" example, the final printed picture was the result of some significant edits. The good news is that editing is easy.

Sharing: Flexible, but Less Private

Canva whiteboards benefit from the range of ways in which any Canva digital object can be shared and reused. This includes the graphics and image file formats Canva is famous for as well as PDF documents and digital embeds like video. Any canva whiteboard can be shared as a link with settings for view-only, can comments. Here’s can-comment link to the first example. This link allows anyone with the link to add comments.

This flexibility means that you can also download and convert a whiteboard you created or one shared with you into other formats from the Canva download menu. While that's useful, that also means that sharing is not private.

In Canva, there's no means to share a picture that does not give your guests a way to make your whiteboard their own. Our "Two Ways" example used Canva to complement a printed version of the collage. The link was only shared as a QR code with the expectation that it would be viewed and interacted with on a phone or tablet. It was shared in a home and only with family members. Another “Two Ways” project was shared as a recipe on November 1st. Projectkin members can explore that recording and the project recipe here.

To learn more about the Projectkin community, our free tutorials, and special events, visit projectkin.org.