We Use Canva Like A Boss for Graphic Design

In this week’s WordPress Wednesday, we continue talking about different tools we find amazing, and this week’s entry is Canva for graphic design. We’d like to show you a little bit about Canva, which you can use to create graphics for free. There is a pro version of Canva, but the free version is sufficiently amazing for most users. 

Canva: Graphic Design for Non-Graphic Designers

If you have any sort of graphic needs, but you’re not a graphic designer and aren’t in a position to hire one, Canva is a great place to start. To start, simply create a free account. 

When you sign in, you can select the type of graphic you need, and Canva has pre-built templates to get your started, or you can begin one from scratch.

In the video, you can see just a few of the templates available within Canva. And it has a great search function, so you can likely find a template there that could work for you with just a few small tweaks. 

Canva Example: Create a Facebook Post

If you watch the video, you’ll see we take a look at what a Facebook post might look like. When you open up Canva, the first thing you’ll see is a blank canvas and a whole bunch of templates on the side.

Change a Color in Canva

We pick a template to show you just how easy it is to edit them. We start with a nice, simple one. Now, maybe you like the design, but it includes yellow, whereas your brand color is green. You simple click on the element for which you want to change the color, and then click on the small, colored square in the top menu. 

That pops open a window where you can select from some common color options arrayed at the bottom, search for a color by simply typing “green” next to the search magnifying glass icon, or even enter a hex code for your precise brand shade of green. 

Change a Font in Canva

Next, let’s say one of your brand fonts is Montserrat, so you want to revise that, as well. Click on a text element, and a font drop-down menu will appear at the top of the canvas. Again, you can search by a specific font name, by categories such as “script” or “handwriting,” or you can simply scroll down the list of available fonts until you find what you’re looking for. 

Add or Change a Picture or Other Element in Canva

If you want to remove an element, click on it, then click the little trash can that appears. You can also hit the ‘delete’ key to remove the element that’s currently highlighted. 

To add a different element, click on – you guessed it – “Elements” on the left-hand menu. Scroll down the options to find the type of element you’re looking for. There are pictures, shapes, lines, illustrations, and more. Click on the element you want to add, then drag it to where you want it in your graphic. 

Get Even Fancier in Canva

In addition to being able to select from a ton of elements you can move around at will, Canva has some additional features for helping you hit the right aesthetic note. For example, there are ways to include grids of pictures and “frames” you can add a photo to so that it fits in a perfect circle, another geometric shape, or even funky, wavy shapes. 

The left menu will offer you both free and “pro” elements (those are shown with a little crown icon on them). You can filter any search you perform to only include free elements, so that you don’t accidentally add a pro element. If you do select a pro element on a free account, Canva will let you add it to your design. However, it will not allow you to download and use that design unless you upgrade. 

Using Your Own Images in Canva

Both the free and premium versions of Canva also allow you to add your own images. This is handy when you want your design to include a picture of you, your team, a product, or something in your office. 

Instead of selecting text or elements on the left menu, click on “Uploads.” Canva will display any pictures you’ve previously uploaded to your account. To add a new image, click on “Upload image” and navigate to where the image lives on your computer. 

Staying Organized in Canva

One of our favorite features in Canva is folders. From the Canva home page, select “Projects” from the menu on the left. It will show you your folders for “Designs” and “Images.” You can create a new folder by clicking on the “Add New” button, which appears with a “+” sign on the top right of your screen. Adding folders allows you to organize your designs by type or by project. 

Downloading Your Designs in Canva

To see an example, watch the video where we update our WordPress Wednesday template with a new post title and then download it. 

To download your design, open the design and click on the “Share” button on the top right. A menu pops up that allows you to share the design with others using a link and to download the design. When you select download, Canva gives you file options. You can download the design as PNG, JPEG, and even as a PDF. 

Publishing Directly from Canva

A final feature we’d like to mention is that Canva has the option to publish your designs directly to your Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr, once you connect those accounts. To do that, you again select the “Share” button, then “Share on Social” from the drop-down menu. Play around in that menu, and you’ll see dozens of other ways to share your designs. 

Resizing – Canva Pro Option Only

In the video, we demonstrate how to resize an image, which is an option on the top menu of any open design. Canva used to allow you to create a second design in a new size. For example, you created a design for a Twitter post but also want to use it on Facebook. Now, that’s become an option only for Canva Pro users. 

At the End of the Day: Canva Rocks!

Trust us when we tell you that Canva has helped tons of small business owners to create professional looking graphics without having to learn complicated graphic design software (that tends to be pricey, anyway) or hiring a graphic designer. 

Go see what you can create with it!

Use Canva Like a Boss