diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index bdc5f2e..53e073c 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Pre-alpha SAP2000-style desktop GUI for OpenSeesPy. Python 3.10+; **Windows requ
 ## Install
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e ".[gui,dev]"  # desktop: Qt + PyVista + dev tools
+pip install -e ".[gui,dev]"  # desktop: Qt + PyVista + plotly.js backend + dev tools
 pip install -e .              # headless: core + services only, no Qt (scripts, notebooks, web backends)
 python -m otko                # launch GUI (src/otko/app.py:run)
 ```
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Strict one-way MVVM + services: `views → viewmodels → services → core`.
 - `core/` (entities: `project.py`, `geometry/`, `materials/`, `sections/`, `loads/`, `analysis/`, `catalog/`): stdlib + numpy + pydantic only. **No Qt, no openseespy. Period.**
 - `services/` (`opensees_runner.py`, `persistence.py`, `results.py`, ...): may use core + h5py + openseespy. **No Qt.**
 - `views/`: PySide6/pyvistaqt only. **No direct `import openseespy`** — go through a service.
+- `views/canvas3d/` (**PyVista/VTK**, default) and `views/canvas_plotly/` (plotly.js in a `QWebEngineView`) are two backends for the same central 3D view. Both satisfy the `CanvasBackend` protocol in `views/canvas_base.py`, share one `SelectionState` owned by `MainWindow`, and are swapped live via **Options → Canvas Backend** (persisted in `QSettings` under `canvas/backend`). `MainWindow._activate_canvas` keeps both widgets in a `QStackedWidget` — never destroy a canvas mid-session (VTK leaves dangling make-current callbacks). Backend-specific gaps are declared by `CanvasCapabilities` (e.g. Plotly has no force-diagram overlay or video export yet); gate UI on `canvas.capabilities`, never on the backend name. `canvas_plotly/trace_builder.py` is pure (no Qt, no pyvista) and unit-tested headless.
 - `viewmodels/` bridges core↔Qt (signals, `QUndoStack`); `commands/` holds `QUndoCommand` subclasses.
 - Rules: public functions need type hints + docstring; new domain entities go through Pydantic validation; ops >50 ms run off the GUI thread (`AnalysisWorker` in QThread, cancel via `isInterruptionRequested()`, results cross threads as lightweight `ResultsHandle` to HDF5).
 
diff --git a/src/otko/views/canvas3d/model_canvas.py b/src/otko/views/canvas3d/model_canvas.py
index b1b3417..2b69352 100644
--- a/src/otko/views/canvas3d/model_canvas.py
+++ b/src/otko/views/canvas3d/model_canvas.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from otko.core import Project
 from otko.views.canvas3d.model_renderer import ModelRenderer
 from otko.views.canvas3d.selection import SelectionState
 from otko.views.canvas3d.style import RenderStyle
+from otko.views.canvas_base import CanvasCapabilities
 
 PICK_DEBUG = False
 
@@ -31,6 +32,9 @@ PICK_DEBUG = False
 class ModelCanvas(QtInteractor):  # type: ignore[misc]
     """The central 3D viewport widget."""
 
+    #: VTK supports every optional overlay layer.
+    capabilities = CanvasCapabilities()
+
     # Convenience signals re-emitted from SelectionState.
     nodePicked = Signal(int)
     elementPicked = Signal(int)
diff --git a/src/otko/views/canvas_base.py b/src/otko/views/canvas_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0352961
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/otko/views/canvas_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""Backend-agnostic contract for the central 3D canvas.
+
+Two backends implement it:
+
+- :class:`otko.views.canvas3d.ModelCanvas` — PyVista/VTK (native OpenGL, default)
+- :class:`otko.views.canvas_plotly.PlotlyCanvas` — plotly.js in a QWebEngineView
+
+The ``MainWindow`` swaps between them at runtime, so both must expose the same
+public surface (signals, selection, working plane, view presets, display
+toggles) and declare what optional overlay layers they support via
+:class:`CanvasCapabilities`.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib.util
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, Protocol
+
+
+def plotly_available() -> bool:
+    """True when the optional ``plotly`` package can be imported.
+
+    The Plotly backend needs plotly.js (shipped inside the ``plotly`` wheel)
+    to render; without it the backend menu entry is disabled.
+    """
+    return importlib.util.find_spec("plotly") is not None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class CanvasCapabilities:
+    """Optional overlay layers a backend may or may not implement.
+
+    Consumers query these (see ``RenderControls._refresh_action_enablement``)
+    instead of assuming a feature works on every backend.
+    """
+
+    #: Force-diagram ribbon overlay (N/V/M diagrams).
+    diagrams: bool = True
+    #: SAP2000-style section extrusion overlay.
+    extrusions: bool = True
+    #: Per-element local-axis triad overlay.
+    local_axes: bool = True
+    #: Node / element text labels.
+    labels: bool = True
+    #: Off-screen frame capture (mode-shape / time-history video export).
+    animation_export: bool = True
+
+
+class CanvasBackend(Protocol):
+    """Structural contract implemented by every canvas backend.
+
+    This mirrors :class:`ModelCanvas`; it exists so the swap path and the
+    consumers have one written-down interface to code against.
+    """
+
+    capabilities: CanvasCapabilities
+    selection: Any
+
+    def show_project(self, project: Any) -> None: ...
+
+    def clear_model(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def render(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def reset_camera(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def view_isometric(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def view_xy(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def view_xz(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def view_yz(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def set_working_plane(self, plane: str, offset: float) -> None: ...
+
+    def clear_working_plane(self) -> None: ...
+
+    def working_plane_type(self) -> str | None: ...
+
+    def working_plane_offset(self) -> float | None: ...
+
+    def set_snap_preview_enabled(self, enabled: bool) -> None: ...
+
+    def set_show_section_extrusions(self, enabled: bool) -> None: ...
+
+    def set_show_local_axes(self, enabled: bool) -> None: ...
+
+    def set_display_options(self, *, show_node_labels: bool, show_element_labels: bool) -> None: ...
+
+    def set_default_selection_enabled(self, enabled: bool) -> None: ...
diff --git a/src/otko/views/dock_manager.py b/src/otko/views/dock_manager.py
index df4b70e..cd34449 100644
--- a/src/otko/views/dock_manager.py
+++ b/src/otko/views/dock_manager.py
@@ -210,6 +210,14 @@ class DockManager:
         because the off-screen renderer must be touched from the GUI
         thread (VTK's Qt-backed render window isn't thread-safe).
         """
+        if not self._canvas.capabilities.animation_export:
+            QMessageBox.information(
+                self,
+                "Export Mode Shape Animation",
+                "Animation export needs the PyVista backend "
+                "(Options → Canvas Backend → PyVista (Native)).",
+            )
+            return
         from PySide6.QtWidgets import QFileDialog
 
         path, _sel = QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(
@@ -260,6 +268,14 @@ class DockManager:
                 "Run a Static analysis first; force diagrams visualise its element-force output.",
             )
             return
+        if not self._canvas.capabilities.diagrams:
+            QMessageBox.information(
+                self,
+                "Force Diagram",
+                "Force diagrams are not available on the Plotly backend yet.\n\n"
+                "Switch back via Options → Canvas Backend → PyVista (Native).",
+            )
+            return
         self._tear_down_post_dock()
 
         # Pick the component with the largest abs_max as the initial choice
@@ -364,6 +380,14 @@ class DockManager:
                 "Run a Transient (time-history) analysis first.",
             )
             return
+        if not self._canvas.capabilities.animation_export:
+            QMessageBox.information(
+                self,
+                "Export Time-History Animation",
+                "Animation export needs the PyVista backend "
+                "(Options → Canvas Backend → PyVista (Native)).",
+            )
+            return
         from pathlib import Path
 
         from PySide6.QtWidgets import QFileDialog, QInputDialog
diff --git a/src/otko/views/main_window.py b/src/otko/views/main_window.py
index 958459e..cbd21e3 100644
--- a/src/otko/views/main_window.py
+++ b/src/otko/views/main_window.py
@@ -14,15 +14,18 @@ The ``projectChanged`` / ``modelMutated`` signals live on the
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 from PySide6.QtCore import QSettings
 from PySide6.QtGui import QCloseEvent, QIcon
-from PySide6.QtWidgets import QMainWindow, QMessageBox
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import QMainWindow, QMessageBox, QStackedWidget
 
 from otko.viewmodels import AnalysisRunner, ProjectViewModel
 from otko.views.action_handlers import ActionHandlers
 from otko.views.canvas3d import ModelCanvas
 from otko.views.canvas3d.diagram_renderer import DiagramRenderer
+from otko.views.canvas3d.selection import SelectionState
+from otko.views.canvas_base import plotly_available
 from otko.views.dock_manager import DockManager
 from otko.views.menu_builder import MenuBuilder
 from otko.views.render_controls import RenderControls
@@ -34,6 +37,9 @@ from otko.views.tools import (
     ToolController,
 )
 
+#: Canvas backends, in menu order.
+CANVAS_BACKENDS = ("pyvista", "plotly")
+
 
 class MainWindow(
     QMainWindow,
@@ -44,7 +50,7 @@ class MainWindow(
 ):
     """Top-level application shell."""
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, settings: QSettings | None = None) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self.setWindowTitle("OTKO")
         self.setWindowIcon(
@@ -60,12 +66,20 @@ class MainWindow(
         self._show_node_labels = False
         self._show_element_labels = False
 
-        self._build_central_canvas()
-        self._tool_controller = ToolController(self._canvas, self._vm, self)
-        self._select_tool = SelectTool(self._canvas, self._vm, self)
-        self._draw_frame_tool: DrawFrameTool | None = None  # lazy-created on activation
-        self._draw_node_tool: DrawNodeTool | None = None
-        self._draw_truss_tool: DrawTrussTool | None = None
+        # One selection state shared by every canvas backend so a live swap
+        # keeps the current selection (canvas, tree, table, properties dock).
+        self._selection = SelectionState(self)
+
+        self._settings = settings if settings is not None else QSettings("OTKO", "OTKO")
+        self._canvas_backend = self._stored_canvas_backend()
+        self._canvases: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        self._diagram_renderers: dict[str, DiagramRenderer] = {}
+        # A stack holds every backend's canvas: swapping is just
+        # setCurrentWidget, so no backend widget is ever destroyed mid-session.
+        self._canvas_stack = QStackedWidget(self)
+        self.setCentralWidget(self._canvas_stack)
+        self._activate_canvas(self._canvas_backend)
+        self._build_tooling()
 
         self._build_docks()
         self._build_actions()
@@ -77,19 +91,120 @@ class MainWindow(
         self._refresh_action_enablement()
         self.restore_layout()
 
-    # ── construction ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
-    def _build_central_canvas(self) -> None:
-        self._canvas = ModelCanvas(self)
-        self.setCentralWidget(self._canvas)
-        # Diagram overlay paints onto the same plotter as the model.
-        self._diagram_renderer = DiagramRenderer(self._canvas)
+    # ── canvas backend ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+    def _stored_canvas_backend(self) -> str:
+        """The backend chosen last session, falling back to PyVista."""
+        stored = self._settings.value("canvas/backend", "pyvista")
+        name = str(stored) if stored is not None else "pyvista"
+        if name == "plotly" and plotly_available():
+            return "plotly"
+        return "pyvista"
+
+    def _ensure_canvas(self, backend: str) -> Any:
+        """Create a backend's canvas on first use and cache it.
+
+        Both canvases are kept alive and swapped with ``setCentralWidget``
+        rather than destroyed: tearing a VTK render window down mid-session
+        leaves dangling make-current callbacks, and the widgets are cheap to
+        retain once built.
+        """
+        canvas = self._canvases.get(backend)
+        if canvas is not None:
+            return canvas
+        if backend == "plotly":
+            # Imported lazily so a plotly-less install still boots PyVista.
+            from otko.views.canvas_plotly import PlotlyCanvas
+
+            canvas = PlotlyCanvas(self, selection=self._selection)
+        else:
+            canvas = ModelCanvas(self, selection=self._selection)
+        self._canvases[backend] = canvas
+        return canvas
+
+    def _activate_canvas(self, backend: str) -> None:
+        """Make the backend's canvas the central widget and rewire overlays."""
+        if backend not in CANVAS_BACKENDS:
+            backend = "pyvista"
+        canvas = self._ensure_canvas(backend)
+        if self._canvas_stack.indexOf(canvas) < 0:
+            self._canvas_stack.addWidget(canvas)
+        self._canvas_stack.setCurrentWidget(canvas)
+        self._canvas = canvas
+        self._canvas_backend = backend
+        if backend == "pyvista":
+            renderer = self._diagram_renderers.get("pyvista")
+            if renderer is None:
+                # Diagram overlay paints onto the same plotter as the model.
+                renderer = DiagramRenderer(canvas)
+                self._diagram_renderers["pyvista"] = renderer
+            self._diagram_renderer = renderer
+        else:
+            self._diagram_renderer = None
+
+    def canvas_backend(self) -> str:
+        """Name of the active canvas backend (``"pyvista"`` or ``"plotly"``)."""
+        return self._canvas_backend
+
+    def _build_tooling(self) -> None:
+        """(Re)build the tool controller and tools against the current canvas."""
+        self._tool_controller = ToolController(self._canvas, self._vm, self)
+        self._select_tool = SelectTool(self._canvas, self._vm, self)
+        self._draw_frame_tool: DrawFrameTool | None = None  # lazy-created on activation
+        self._draw_node_tool: DrawNodeTool | None = None
+        self._draw_truss_tool: DrawTrussTool | None = None
+        self._tool_controller.toolChanged.connect(self._on_tool_changed)
+        self._tool_controller.toolChanged.connect(self._sync_tool_actions)
+
+    def swap_canvas_backend(self, backend: str) -> None:
+        """Switch the live canvas backend, preserving model/selection state.
+
+        The camera pose is intentionally re-framed rather than transferred:
+        the two engines have different camera models, and a wrong pose is
+        worse than a clean isometric reset.
+        """
+        if backend not in CANVAS_BACKENDS or backend == self._canvas_backend:
+            return
+        if backend == "plotly" and not plotly_available():
+            return
+
+        project = self._vm.project
+        plane = self._canvas.working_plane_type()
+        offset = self._canvas.working_plane_offset()
+        active_name = getattr(self._tool_controller.active, "name", None)
+
+        self._activate_canvas(backend)
+        self._build_tooling()
+
+        # Project → re-frames the camera; working plane rebuilds the grid.
+        self._canvas.show_project(project)
+        if plane is not None and offset is not None:
+            self._canvas.set_working_plane(plane, offset)
+        # Re-apply the overlays whose state lives on the toolbar actions.
+        self._canvas.set_show_section_extrusions(self._act_show_extruded.isChecked())
+        self._canvas.set_show_local_axes(self._act_show_local_axes.isChecked())
+        self._canvas.set_display_options(
+            show_node_labels=self._show_node_labels,
+            show_element_labels=self._show_element_labels,
+        )
+        # Keep the active tool (and its snap preview) alive across the swap.
+        # Re-entering through the action handlers recreates the tool lazily
+        # against the new canvas.
+        if active_name == "Draw Node":
+            self._on_draw_node_tool()
+        elif active_name == "Draw Frame":
+            self._on_draw_frame_tool()
+        elif active_name == "Draw Truss":
+            self._on_draw_truss_tool()
+
+        self._settings.setValue("canvas/backend", self._canvas_backend)
+        self._sync_canvas_backend_actions()
+        self._refresh_action_enablement()
 
     # ── layout persistence ───────────────────────────────────────────
     def save_layout(self) -> None:
         """Persist window geometry and dock/toolbar state for next launch."""
-        settings = QSettings("OTKO", "OTKO")
-        settings.setValue("geometry", self.saveGeometry())
-        settings.setValue("windowState", self.saveState())
+        self._settings.setValue("geometry", self.saveGeometry())
+        self._settings.setValue("windowState", self.saveState())
 
     def restore_layout(self) -> None:
         """Restore a previously saved geometry/dock layout, if any.
@@ -97,11 +212,10 @@ class MainWindow(
         On first run no values are stored, so the defaults from ``__init__``
         (``resize`` + dock construction) stay in effect.
         """
-        settings = QSettings("OTKO", "OTKO")
-        geometry = settings.value("geometry")
+        geometry = self._settings.value("geometry")
         if geometry is not None:
             self.restoreGeometry(geometry)
-        state = settings.value("windowState")
+        state = self._settings.value("windowState")
         if state is not None:
             self.restoreState(state)
 
@@ -161,9 +275,12 @@ class MainWindow(
         self._act_tool_draw_node.triggered.connect(self._on_draw_node_tool)
         self._act_tool_draw_frame.triggered.connect(self._on_draw_frame_tool)
         self._act_tool_draw_truss.triggered.connect(self._on_draw_truss_tool)
-        self._tool_controller.toolChanged.connect(self._on_tool_changed)
-        # Keep the Tools toolbar checked state in sync with the controller.
-        self._tool_controller.toolChanged.connect(self._sync_tool_actions)
+        # toolChanged → toolbar/menu sync is wired in _build_tooling(), which
+        # also runs on a canvas-backend swap (then a fresh controller exists).
+
+        # Canvas backend
+        self._act_canvas_pyvista.triggered.connect(lambda: self.swap_canvas_backend("pyvista"))
+        self._act_canvas_plotly.triggered.connect(lambda: self.swap_canvas_backend("plotly"))
 
         # Define
         self._act_grid.triggered.connect(self._on_grid_system)
diff --git a/src/otko/views/menu_builder.py b/src/otko/views/menu_builder.py
index bd8af6a..0aa0b2e 100644
--- a/src/otko/views/menu_builder.py
+++ b/src/otko/views/menu_builder.py
@@ -193,8 +193,41 @@ class MenuBuilder:
         self._act_quick_guide = QAction("&Quick Guide", self)
         self._act_set_units = QAction("Set Display &Units…", self)
 
+        # Canvas backend — exclusive radio pair live-switching the 3D view.
+        from otko.views.canvas_base import plotly_available
+
+        self._canvas_backend_group = QActionGroup(self)
+        self._canvas_backend_group.setExclusive(True)
+        self._act_canvas_pyvista = QAction("&PyVista (Native)", self, checkable=True)
+        self._act_canvas_pyvista.setToolTip(
+            "Native VTK/OpenGL viewport — fastest for large models."
+        )
+        self._act_canvas_plotly = QAction("&Plotly (WebGL)", self, checkable=True)
+        self._act_canvas_plotly.setToolTip(
+            "plotly.js rendered in a WebEngine view — richer graphics, higher overhead."
+        )
+        self._canvas_backend_group.addAction(self._act_canvas_pyvista)
+        self._canvas_backend_group.addAction(self._act_canvas_plotly)
+        if not plotly_available():
+            self._act_canvas_plotly.setEnabled(False)
+            self._act_canvas_plotly.setToolTip(
+                'Install the optional GUI extra (pip install -e ".[gui]") to enable plotly.'
+            )
+
         self._apply_toolbar_icons()
 
+    def _sync_canvas_backend_actions(self) -> None:
+        """Mirror the active canvas backend onto the Options radio pair."""
+        active = getattr(
+            self,
+            "_act_canvas_plotly" if self._canvas_backend == "plotly" else "_act_canvas_pyvista",
+        )
+        self._canvas_backend_group.blockSignals(True)
+        try:
+            active.setChecked(True)
+        finally:
+            self._canvas_backend_group.blockSignals(False)
+
     def _apply_toolbar_icons(self) -> None:
         """Assign icons + self-documenting tips to every toolbar action.
 
@@ -479,6 +512,10 @@ class MenuBuilder:
 
         m_options = mb.addMenu("&Options")
         m_options.addAction(self._act_set_units)
+        m_backend = m_options.addMenu("Canvas &Backend")
+        m_backend.addAction(self._act_canvas_pyvista)
+        m_backend.addAction(self._act_canvas_plotly)
+        self._sync_canvas_backend_actions()
 
         m_help = mb.addMenu("&Help")
         m_help.addAction(self._act_quick_guide)
diff --git a/src/otko/views/render_controls.py b/src/otko/views/render_controls.py
index 1d574c1..63d1f0f 100644
--- a/src/otko/views/render_controls.py
+++ b/src/otko/views/render_controls.py
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ class RenderControls:
         has_pushover = isinstance(self._latest_results, PushoverResults)
         has_rs = isinstance(self._latest_results, ResponseSpectrumResults)
         n_sel = len(self._canvas.selection.nodes)
+        caps = self._canvas.capabilities
         self._act_save.setEnabled(has_project)
         self._act_save_as.setEnabled(has_project)
         self._act_export_opspy.setEnabled(has_project)
@@ -482,9 +483,11 @@ class RenderControls:
         self._act_tool_draw_truss.setEnabled(has_project)
         self._act_show_deformed.setEnabled(has_static)
         self._act_show_mode_shape.setEnabled(has_modal)
-        self._act_show_force_diagram.setEnabled(has_static)
+        # Force diagrams + video export are backend capabilities, not just
+        # data availability (Plotly cannot do either yet).
+        self._act_show_force_diagram.setEnabled(has_static and caps.diagrams)
         self._act_show_time_history.setEnabled(has_transient)
-        self._act_export_th_animation.setEnabled(has_transient)
+        self._act_export_th_animation.setEnabled(has_transient and caps.animation_export)
         self._act_show_hysteresis.setEnabled(has_transient)
         self._act_show_pushover.setEnabled(has_pushover)
         self._act_show_response_spectrum.setEnabled(has_rs)
diff --git a/tests/gui/test_canvas_backend_switch.py b/tests/gui/test_canvas_backend_switch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed77be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gui/test_canvas_backend_switch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+"""GUI tests for the live canvas-backend switch (PyVista ⇄ Plotly).
+
+QSettings are injected per-test so a swap never leaks into the real user
+configuration or the next test.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+pytest.importorskip("PySide6")
+pytest.importorskip("pyvistaqt")
+pytest.importorskip("plotly")
+
+from PySide6.QtCore import QSettings
+
+
+def _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot):  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    from otko.views.main_window import MainWindow
+
+    settings = QSettings(str(tmp_path / "otko.ini"), QSettings.Format.IniFormat)
+    window = MainWindow(settings=settings)
+    qtbot.addWidget(window)
+    return window
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_default_backend_is_pyvista(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    from otko.views.canvas3d import ModelCanvas
+
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    assert window.canvas_backend() == "pyvista"
+    assert isinstance(window._canvas, ModelCanvas)
+    assert window._diagram_renderer is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_switch_to_plotly_preserves_selection(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    from otko.views.canvas_plotly import PlotlyCanvas
+
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    window._vm.new_project()
+    window._canvas.selection.select_node(2)
+
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+
+    assert window.canvas_backend() == "plotly"
+    assert isinstance(window._canvas, PlotlyCanvas)
+    # One shared SelectionState: the tree/table/properties stay bound.
+    assert window._canvas.selection is window._selection
+    assert window._canvas.selection.nodes == frozenset({2})
+    # Both canvases live in the stack; the PyVista one was not destroyed.
+    assert window._canvas_stack.count() == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_plotly_gates_pyvista_only_features(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    assert window._canvas.capabilities.diagrams is True
+
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+    caps = window._canvas.capabilities
+    assert caps.diagrams is False
+    assert caps.animation_export is False
+    assert caps.extrusions is True and caps.labels is True
+
+    window._refresh_action_enablement()
+    assert window._act_show_force_diagram.isEnabled() is False
+    assert window._act_export_th_animation.isEnabled() is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_swapping_back_reuses_the_same_canvases(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    pyvista_canvas = window._canvas
+
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+    plotly_canvas = window._canvas
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("pyvista")
+
+    assert window._canvas is pyvista_canvas
+    assert window._diagram_renderer is not None
+    # No duplicate widgets accumulate across repeated swaps.
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+    assert window._canvas is plotly_canvas
+    assert window._diagram_renderer is None  # diagrams are PyVista-only
+    assert window._canvas_stack.count() == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_backend_choice_is_persisted(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+    assert window._settings.value("canvas/backend") == "plotly"
+
+    # A fresh window with the same settings boots straight into Plotly.
+    from otko.views.canvas_plotly import PlotlyCanvas
+    from otko.views.main_window import MainWindow
+
+    settings = QSettings(str(tmp_path / "otko.ini"), QSettings.Format.IniFormat)
+    second = MainWindow(settings=settings)
+    qtbot.addWidget(second)
+    assert second.canvas_backend() == "plotly"
+    assert isinstance(second._canvas, PlotlyCanvas)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def test_working_plane_survives_the_swap(tmp_path, qtbot) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    window = _make_window(tmp_path, qtbot)
+    window._vm.open(_example("basic_truss"))
+    window._canvas.set_working_plane("XY", 0.0)
+
+    window.swap_canvas_backend("plotly")
+
+    assert window._canvas.working_plane_type() == "XY"
+    assert window._canvas.working_plane_offset() == 0.0
+
+
+def _example(name: str) -> str:
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+    return str(Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "examples" / f"{name}.osmodel")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_architecture.py b/tests/unit/test_architecture.py
index 9281e67..7b3f95c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_architecture.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_architecture.py
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 
 The documented dependency stack is ``views -> viewmodels -> services -> core``;
 each layer may only import from itself or a lower layer, ``core`` stays free of
-Qt/solver/plotting libraries, and the rendering backend is confined to
-``views/canvas3d``. These tests never import the application modules; they read
-the source tree with ``ast`` so the import discipline can be checked without
-executing Qt or the solver. Directories that do not exist yet simply have
-nothing to walk, which trivially satisfies a "forbidden import" rule.
+Qt/solver/plotting libraries, and the rendering backends are confined to the
+canvas packages (``views/canvas3d``, ``views/canvas_plotly``). These tests never
+import the application modules; they read the source tree with ``ast`` so the
+import discipline can be checked without executing Qt or the solver.
+Directories that do not exist yet simply have nothing to walk, which trivially
+satisfies a "forbidden import" rule.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -16,7 +17,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 SRC = ROOT / "src" / "otko"
-CANVAS = SRC / "views" / "canvas3d"
+CANVAS_DIRS = (
+    SRC / "views" / "canvas3d",
+    SRC / "views" / "canvas_plotly",
+)
 
 # Qt binding roots, in every spelling the project might use.
 QT_ROOTS = {"PySide6", "PyQt5", "PyQt6", "PySide"}
@@ -32,7 +36,7 @@ CORE_FORBIDDEN = QT_ROOTS | {
     "matplotlib",
 }
 
-# Only views/canvas3d/ may touch a 3D or plotting backend.
+# Only the canvas packages may touch a 3D or plotting backend.
 VTK_ROOTS = {"pyvista", "pyvistaqt", "vtk", "plotly"}
 
 
@@ -75,14 +79,14 @@ def _violations(
     forbidden: set[str],
     *,
     skip: tuple[Path, ...] = (),
-    exclude_dir: Path | None = None,
+    exclude_dirs: tuple[Path, ...] = (),
 ) -> list[str]:
     """Return ``"<path>: <module>"`` entries for every forbidden import found."""
     found: list[str] = []
     for path in _iter_python_files(root):
         if path in skip:
             continue
-        if exclude_dir is not None and _is_within(path, exclude_dir):
+        if any(_is_within(path, directory) for directory in exclude_dirs):
             continue
         for module in sorted(_root_imports(path) & forbidden):
             found.append(f"{path.relative_to(ROOT)}: {module}")
@@ -112,9 +116,9 @@ def test_architecture_views_no_solver() -> None:
 
 
 def test_no_vtk_import_outside_canvas() -> None:
-    """3D/plot backends stay under views/canvas3d/."""
-    violations = _violations(SRC, VTK_ROOTS, exclude_dir=CANVAS)
-    assert violations == [], f"backend imports outside views/canvas3d/: {violations}"
+    """3D/plot backends stay under the canvas packages."""
+    violations = _violations(SRC, VTK_ROOTS, exclude_dirs=CANVAS_DIRS)
+    assert violations == [], f"backend imports outside the canvas packages: {violations}"
 
 
 # The documented dependency stack; ``commands`` sits beside viewmodels (a VM