Techniques are described for utilizing drawing guides in an electronic canvas. The techniques may include detecting a first input at an edge of an artboard associated with the electronic canvas, triggering, responsive to the detected first input, a plurality of selectable indicators to enable configuration of a drawing guide for providing an interactive reference for placing content in the artboard, detecting a second input pertaining to at least one of the plurality of selectable indicators, determining a location in the artboard corresponding to the distance from the edge of the artboard, and triggering the at least one drawing guide for display in the artboard at the determined location.