What Is a CVX File?

This is a drawing file created by Canvas GFX software

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on January 12, 2023

What to Know

  • A CVX file is a drawing file created and used by Canvas GFX software.
  • Open one with Canvas X Draw or X Pro. ACDSee software works, too.
  • Those same programs can convert the file to an image format.

This article explains what a CVX file is, how to open one on your computer, and how to save one to a different file format.

What Is a CVX File?

A file with the CVX file extension is a drawing file created by some Canvas GFX software. It can hold project settings like image effects and layers, as well as both vector and raster graphics.

CVX Files

Be careful to not mix up the CVX and CMX file formats. CMX files are metafile exchange images, and while they're similar to CVX files, you can't open and convert them using all the same tools.

How to Open a CVX File

CVX files can be opened with Canvas X Draw or Canvas X Pro. The format is also supported in ACDSee software, including Photo Studio Ultimate, Professional, and Home editions, as well as Gemstone Photo Editor.

If neither of those programs are helpful, it's possible you have a file that uses this file extension, but that doesn't have anything to do with those programs. If you suspect this to be the case, try opening the file in Notepad++, Windows Notepad, or any other text editor.

Although being able to view a file in a text editor doesn't work for most file types, it's possible your specific CVX file is just a text file, in which case it will work just fine. Even if the text editor displays some readable text, but isn't entirely made up of text, it might help you learn what program was used to create the file, which can help you research a compatible CVX opener.

How to Convert a CVX File

The Canvas software can export a CVX file to JPG, PNG, TIF, and a number of other image formats, as well as to PDF, DXF, CVI, and DWG. The option to do this can be found in the save as or export menu, depending on the version.

You can also use Canvas to export to EPS for use in other programs like Adobe Illustrator, or to PSD for use in Photoshop.

Still Can't Open the File?

If you still can't open the CVX file, double-check that you're not confusing it with a file extension that just has a similar spelling. There are several: CV, CSV, CRX, CXF, Flow-Cal Data (CFX), ClamAV virus database (CVD), IBM Rational XDE collaboration (CBX), and Amiga 8SVX sound (SVX).

Each of these formats are entirely different from the one used with Canvas software and therefore are opened with different programs.

FAQ
  • What is an ACD file?

    Files with the ACD extension are Sony ACID music editing software files. They can be opened with programs likes Sony ACID Pro 7, Sony ACID Music Studio 8, and Sony ACID Xpress. The ACD format has nothing to do with ACD Systems software.

  • What is Canvas X?

    Canvas X is a program used for creating vector and raster graphics for illustrations, animation, and web publications. It can also be used for things like photo editing, making presentations, and visualizing workflows.

  • What are vectors in animation?

    Vector animation refers to animation made up of shapes rather than pixels. Vector graphics can be scaled without losing quality, and vector animation is smoother because images are rendered using mathematical values instead of set pixel values.

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