1. A system for creating and editing a media-based project, comprising: a server connected to a network, the server having access to at least one processor and a data repository, the server comprising a non-transitory physical medium; and program code executable from the non-transitory physical medium, the program code when executed by the processor causing the processor to perform a process comprising the steps of: establishing a client-server connection between the server and at least one user-operated computing appliance connected to the network; initiating and maintaining an active data session between at least one user operating the computing appliance through a graphical user interface (GUI); establishing a layout grid and defining a plurality of gridlines as snap-to targets; establishing a plurality of snap guides for one or more assets of a specified type of a plurality of differing types of assets placed on a canvas in the media-based project; establishing a distance threshold representing a distance between a given asset and a given gridline or a given span guide before snapping occurs; and selectively and automatically de-activating one or more of the snap guides for snap-to functionality with the assets of the specified type based on a number of the assets of the specified type placed on the canvas exceeding an asset population threshold.