diff --git a/backend/letters/serializers.py b/backend/letters/serializers.py
index 4cf0afc..4ed67f7 100644
--- a/backend/letters/serializers.py
+++ b/backend/letters/serializers.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class LetterSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             "updated_at",
             "images",
         ]  # user to be fetched from request
-        read_only_fields = ["public_id", "created_at", "updated_at"]
+        read_only_fields = ["created_at", "updated_at"]
 
     def validate(self, data):
         if (data.get("encrypted_content") or data.get("encrypted_metadata")) and not data.get("encrypted_dek"):
diff --git a/backend/letters/views.py b/backend/letters/views.py
index 6d8e771..d4f3e17 100644
--- a/backend/letters/views.py
+++ b/backend/letters/views.py
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ class LetterView(generics.ListCreateAPIView):
         return Letter.objects.filter(user=self.request.user)
 
     def put(self, request, public_id):
-        serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.data)
+        data = request.data.copy()
+        # remove public_id from data to avoid UniqueValidator firing
+        # since we use it from the URL for update_or_create anyway
+        data.pop("public_id", None)
+        serializer = self.get_serializer(data=data)
 
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/ComposeCanvas.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/ComposeCanvas.tsx
index dc38c01..c680b1f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/ComposeCanvas.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/ComposeCanvas.tsx
@@ -5,11 +5,15 @@ const PAD = 36;
 
 export type CanvasTools = {
   addImage: (url: string, file: File) => void;
-  getData: () => { objects: any };
+  getData: () => { objects: any[] };
   getJsonData: () => string;
   getImages: () => { src: string; file: File }[];
 };
 
+export interface FabricImageWithFile extends fabric.FabricImage {
+  _customRawFile: File;
+}
+
 export const ComposeCanvas = forwardRef<CanvasTools>((_props, ref) => {
   const wrapperRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null);
@@ -150,7 +154,7 @@ export const ComposeCanvas = forwardRef<CanvasTools>((_props, ref) => {
       });
     },
     getData: () => {
-      if (!fabricRef.current) return "";
+      if (!fabricRef.current) return { objects: [] };
       return fabricRef.current.toJSON();
     },
     getJsonData: () => {
@@ -159,8 +163,11 @@ export const ComposeCanvas = forwardRef<CanvasTools>((_props, ref) => {
     },
     getImages: () => {
       if (!fabricRef.current) return [];
-      return fabricRef.current.getObjects("Image").map((img: any) => ({
-        src: img._element.currentSrc,
+      const images = fabricRef.current.getObjects(
+        "Image",
+      ) as FabricImageWithFile[];
+      return images.map((img) => ({
+        src: (img.getElement() as HTMLImageElement).currentSrc,
         file: img._customRawFile,
       }));
     },
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
index de8d63b..44deb6b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ import { useKeyStore } from "../store/useKeyStore";
 import { CryptoUtils } from "../utils/crypto";
 
 export default function Editor() {
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  // check for existing letter
   const { public_id } = useParams();
   const letterIdRef = useRef<string>(public_id ?? "");
-  const navigate = useNavigate();
+
   const [isSealing, setIsSealing] = useState(false);
   const [isSaveSuccess, setIsSaveSuccess] = useState(false);
 
@@ -40,9 +42,11 @@ export default function Editor() {
 
   async function handleSeal(): Promise<void> {
     if (!public_id) {
+      // if no uuid slug, then generate a new one and update params
       letterIdRef.current = crypto.randomUUID();
       navigate(ROUTES.WRITE(letterIdRef.current), { replace: true });
     }
+
     if (isSealing) return;
     setIsSealing(true);
     const cryptoUtils = new CryptoUtils();
@@ -79,7 +83,11 @@ export default function Editor() {
       JSON.stringify(canvasData),
       masterKey,
     );
-    const encrypted_metadata = "";
+
+    const encrypted_metadata = await cryptoUtils.encryptMetadata(
+      { recipient },
+      masterKey,
+    );
 
     // upload to server
     /*
@@ -98,7 +106,7 @@ export default function Editor() {
     formData.append("status", "SEALED");
     formData.append("encrypted_content", encrypted_letter.encrypted_content);
     formData.append("encrypted_dek", encrypted_letter.encrypted_dek);
-    formData.append("encrypted_metadata", encrypted_metadata);
+    formData.append("encrypted_metadata", encrypted_metadata.encrypted_content);
     encImageFilesMap.forEach((image, filename) => {
       formData.append("image_files", image, filename);
     });