The Excalidraw-Obsidian Showcase: 57 key features in just 17 minutes

Excalidraw: A Visual Thinking Powerhouse

Introduction to Excalidraw

• Excalidraw is presented as a simple vector illustration tool that transforms Obsidian.md into a powerful visual thinking tool.

• The demonstration will cover 57 features in 17 minutes, indicating a fast-paced overview of the capabilities of Excalidraw.

Key Features Overview

• Integration with Taskbone allows for Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which can be enabled in Plugin Settings under Miscellaneous Features. This feature supports freedraw scribble and images.

• Basic shapes are available, and users can activate tools using keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

Object Alignment and Sizing Tools

• Multiple tools assist in aligning and sizing objects, including a customizable grid found under "Set Grid" in the script store.

• The element properties panel allows users to change colors and attributes of objects easily. Snap to objects helps position elements relative to one another intelligently.

Stencil Library and Linking Capabilities

• Users can store simple illustrations in the stencil library, adding new items via the context menu with "Add to library." Browsing libraries opens Excalidraw's web library. Note that adding directly from Obsidian requires downloading first.

• Linking files from your Vault is facilitated through "Insert link to file," allowing previews by holding Control or Command while hovering over links. Transclusion of text from notes into drawings is also possible using the Text Transporter plugin.

Creating Process Flows and Diagrams

• Excalidraw supports converting Mermaid markup into drawings, enhancing flowchart creation capabilities significantly. If an OpenAI API key is available, text-to-diagram automation simplifies creating diagrams further.

• Users can add interactive elements like YouTube videos; various drop actions are available depending on modifier keys used during selection. Linking between elements or scenes enhances navigation within projects.

Importing Images and Exporting Drawings

• Images can be inserted by selecting "Insert ANY file" from the context menu or dragging them directly from the web, maintaining links back to their original sources when clicked on in a browser context. Local files can also be linked similarly through drag-and-drop actions with appropriate modifiers for desired outcomes.

• Export options include saving entire scenes as SVG files; however, exporting outside your Vault isn't supported on mobile devices due to limitations with certain browsers like Apple Safari regarding clickable links within exported images.

Embedding Elements into Notes

• Users can embed drawings into Obsidian notes using standard markdown syntax; referencing specific parts of images is achievable by grouping elements before copying markdown links for those groups only.

This allows selective visibility when embedding content into notes without cluttering them unnecessarily with unrelated visuals.( t = 363 s )

Customization Options

• The look and feel of cards created within Excalidraw can be customized through both card settings windows and element properties panels.

Excalidraw Features and Configuration

Configuring Excalidraw Templates

• The speaker configures Excalidraw to utilize architect lines, standard fonts, and a grid layout. It's emphasized that users should save their template configurations using CTRL+S.

• When creating new drawings with the configured template, the default settings are automatically applied.

Utilizing Scripts in Excalidraw

• The "Slideshow" script allows for defining slides using arrows to indicate the presentation sequence.

• The "Repeat Elements" script enables users to replicate transformations (color, size, rotation) across multiple elements efficiently.

• "Palette Loader" helps maintain consistent color styles by loading custom palettes stored in markdown files.

Color Management and Modes

• An "Invert Colors" script is introduced to enhance color accuracy while keeping the drawing in light mode with a darker palette.

• Users can insert PDFs into Excalidraw either as images or embeddable objects, allowing for annotations similar to traditional paper methods.

Working with Images and Fonts

• Users can crop images from PDFs while maintaining links to original sources; this feature also works within markdown notes.

• Custom pens can be used in Obsidian but are not supported on Excalidraw.com. Limited support for LaTeX formulas is available through the command palette.

Advanced Features and Collaboration

• ExcaliAI requires an OpenAI API key and offers predefined actions; however, image generation may be slow.

• While direct collaboration on Obsidian Excalidraw files isn't possible, users can embed collaboration frames and later transfer work back into their own scenes.

Document Properties and Automation

• Excalidraw allows overriding plugin settings at the file level through pre-defined document properties.