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Abstract

up.</p><figure id="2108"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*EEJ_UcUPNsnvTJqzcM5I5A.png"><figcaption>Canva’s magic recommendations, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="83e0">Select Different Layers</h2><p id="53dd"><b>Mac: </b>CMD + Left-click</p><p id="bc47"><b>Windows: </b>CTRL +Left-click</p><p id="8db3">This simple shortcut allows switching between layers that overlap each other.</p><figure id="d3dc"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*772HEmnhv_WHz8gR95dNYA.png"><figcaption>Canva’s layers, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="a7ce">Edit Videos</h2><p id="72fe">On Canva’s home page, there is a frequently overlooked option to create a video. While it doesn’t have all the features of the professional video editing software, it’s so much easier to use than, say, Adobe Premiere Pro!</p><figure id="0f05"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*P2gYXcBNuU1HSrA03QvesQ.png"><figcaption>Canva’s main menu, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="4ca6">Create GIFs</h2><p id="41d5">Canva has a lot of animated elements that you can mix and match. However, you can also add small videos to the views, edit them, and then save them as GIFs.</p><h2 id="16a8">Upload to Pinterest</h2><p id="e546">The small button with three dots in the upper right corner has so many options to choose from! My favorite ones are the one that sends designs directly to Pinterest and the one that allows scheduling posts. All of the integrations work seamlessly — you can add a name, description, and link directly from Canva. No need to open anything else.</p><figure id="e90b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*kbixHDfRJ08c9TU47_Bo9w.png"><figcaption>Canva’s publish options, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="ec1b">Create Templates</h2><p id="aad5">When you create something particularly nice, you can convert it into a template (just like those you see on the left panel) and share them with others. To do so, click on a <b>Share</b> button and select the second option.</p><figure id="a902"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*LVjQB2FhKur76Bo4LSR_yA.png"><figcaption>Create Canva templates, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="5dd4">Create a Product or a Mockup</h2><p id="6cd4">Canva has a lot of built-in integrations, like the one with Pinterest that we’ve discussed earlier. But on the same menu pane on the right, there is an entire section called Print that will open your design in the new editor. This option is perfect for designing T-shirts, mugs, stickers, photobooks…basically, anything you can think of.</p><figure id="5cd9"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*gjpUKkNb-R_eQPysZ-s5Wg.png"><figcaption>Canva print options, created by

Options

author</figcaption></figure><p id="d039">Alternatively, you can use the integration with Smartmock-ups to create a realistically looking mockup of your future product. The most popular use for this feature is creating e-book covers (Canva has a lot of templates for that!) that look like real books.</p><figure id="3dde"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Op6omOU-z1hbbd_0tBKCVw.png"><figcaption>Canva mock ups, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="0579">Create Talking Presentations</h2><p id="120e">Next, there is an option to create a talking presentation. Select a template for presentations (or design your own) and use an option to <b>Present and record</b> to add your voice to it. Neat!</p><figure id="beab"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*cIKMKIGTvNpgARrG4PM3_g.png"><figcaption>Canva talking presentations, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="c4cb">Brand Kit</h2><p id="4346">If you are struggling with creating a brand identity, Canva has a <b>brand kit</b> feature that will help you to stay consistent and organized. Let’s start by picking the color palette. The simplest way to do that is to find a photo that you really like and upload it to Canva. Then, click on the bottom layer and choose a color wheel in the upper left corner to see the photo colors. From there, you can select Add your brand colors in Brand Kit and start creating a nice style guide for your brand.</p><figure id="09d9"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*kx8bkbOfw7b9TpohV29ZpA.png"><figcaption>Canva Brand Kit, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="2825">Scale Proportionally</h2><p id="5c3d"><b>Mac: </b>ALT+ drag</p><p id="10e0">Here is another useful shortcut I wish I knew earlier. Just like with the Adobe programs, hold the ALT key when you resize your objects to keep the proportions intact.</p><h2 id="ee75">Add Comments and Mentions</h2><p id="0422">Right-click anywhere on the layout to leave a comment for your future self or to mention someone else who is working on the same design.</p><figure id="6a3d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*zlK4cwBhUiK6hyG_2k938Q.png"><figcaption>Canva’s comments and mentions, created by author</figcaption></figure><h2 id="be71">Canva Design School</h2><p id="e62e">Canva courses, workshops, webinars, and one-on-one training sessions spring up like mushrooms nowadays. But in my opinion, an expensive course won’t make you a professional designer in less than an hour, even (and especially) if they claim to do so. Professional designers don’t use Canva anyway. If you want to learn more about this great tool, I would recommend taking one of the courses from Canva’s <a href="https://designschool.canva.com/courses/">free design school</a> instead.</p></article></body>

My Favorite Canva Tips And Tricks

Create more quality content faster.

Canva is like Photoshop for creatively challenged. Since I’m one of those people, I love Canva for its simplicity and — especially — ready-to-use templates. When Photoshop makes me feel helpless, Canva always comes to the rescue. It allows creating beautiful digital and print graphics, GIFs, and even small videos in a matter of minutes.

When It’s Not Wise To Use Canva

Once you start using Canva on a daily basis, it’s tempting to start using it for everything. Resist the temptation because Canva is not a one-size-fits-all solution. While you can use it to create cool graphics easily, I don’t recommend using Canva for designing logos. Canva is not a vector-based program so the logos won’t be scalable. They will look nice, sure, but as soon as you try to repurpose your logo and resize it for some other website, you’ll see what I’m talking about. For logo design, there are better tools out there like Adobe Illustrator or Figma:

How to Create a Simple Logo in Figma: a Guide For Non-Designers

I’m not a designer but I wanted to show you these free tools

medium.com

For everything else, there is Canva.

Magic Resize

Most of the creators post on more than one platform and figuring out each platform’s aspect ratios can be such a pain! Canva’s developers are obviously very thoughtful people because they included the magic resize option. Click on resize and select all platforms that apply.

Magic Recommendations

Select a subcategory in the Elements menu to see the magic recommendation — images similar to the last one you chose. Keep in mind that you won’t see them on the All tab. Also, you need to click on them twice sometimes to see that extremely useful menu pop up.

Select Different Layers

Mac: CMD + Left-click

Windows: CTRL +Left-click

This simple shortcut allows switching between layers that overlap each other.

Edit Videos

On Canva’s home page, there is a frequently overlooked option to create a video. While it doesn’t have all the features of the professional video editing software, it’s so much easier to use than, say, Adobe Premiere Pro!

Create GIFs

Canva has a lot of animated elements that you can mix and match. However, you can also add small videos to the views, edit them, and then save them as GIFs.

Upload to Pinterest

The small button with three dots in the upper right corner has so many options to choose from! My favorite ones are the one that sends designs directly to Pinterest and the one that allows scheduling posts. All of the integrations work seamlessly — you can add a name, description, and link directly from Canva. No need to open anything else.

Canva’s publish options, created by author

Create Templates

When you create something particularly nice, you can convert it into a template (just like those you see on the left panel) and share them with others. To do so, click on a Share button and select the second option.

Create Canva templates, created by author

Create a Product or a Mockup

Canva has a lot of built-in integrations, like the one with Pinterest that we’ve discussed earlier. But on the same menu pane on the right, there is an entire section called Print that will open your design in the new editor. This option is perfect for designing T-shirts, mugs, stickers, photobooks…basically, anything you can think of.

Alternatively, you can use the integration with Smartmock-ups to create a realistically looking mockup of your future product. The most popular use for this feature is creating e-book covers (Canva has a lot of templates for that!) that look like real books.

Create Talking Presentations

Next, there is an option to create a talking presentation. Select a template for presentations (or design your own) and use an option to Present and record to add your voice to it. Neat!

Canva talking presentations, created by author

Brand Kit

If you are struggling with creating a brand identity, Canva has a brand kit feature that will help you to stay consistent and organized. Let’s start by picking the color palette. The simplest way to do that is to find a photo that you really like and upload it to Canva. Then, click on the bottom layer and choose a color wheel in the upper left corner to see the photo colors. From there, you can select Add your brand colors in Brand Kit and start creating a nice style guide for your brand.

Scale Proportionally

Mac: ALT+ drag

Here is another useful shortcut I wish I knew earlier. Just like with the Adobe programs, hold the ALT key when you resize your objects to keep the proportions intact.

Add Comments and Mentions

Right-click anywhere on the layout to leave a comment for your future self or to mention someone else who is working on the same design.

Canva’s comments and mentions, created by author

Canva Design School

Canva courses, workshops, webinars, and one-on-one training sessions spring up like mushrooms nowadays. But in my opinion, an expensive course won’t make you a professional designer in less than an hour, even (and especially) if they claim to do so. Professional designers don’t use Canva anyway. If you want to learn more about this great tool, I would recommend taking one of the courses from Canva’s free design school instead.