Using Canva.com to Design a Banner
Open your browser and go to Canva.com
If you have not used Canva previously, register for a free account. Sign in if you already have an account.
Once you have logged on, click on Custom Size. If you are using a free account, you must do this first. You are not able to choose a template first because you will not be able to resize the design.
NOTICE—be sure to change it from pixels (px) to INCHES!! You will enter the Width and the Height of your banner. For example, you can enter 36 x 24 to make a 3 foot by 2 foot banner.
This will give you a blank canvas and you can start designing your banner.
Canva offers a wide variety of features you can use. For this example we will focus on two basic options:
Elements and Text.
Searched for an image in elements by keyword (birthday, dog, balloons, etc).
You can filter your search by photos, graphics, etc.
Not all images are free. Those with a crown cost money, but there are plenty of free images you can use. Click on the element you want to use and it will insert it onto your canvas. If you see watermarks on the design, you will have to pay to use that image.
Use the corners to resize the image. By using the corner handles (dots), you keep the image in proportion and will not lose any of the image.
You can add additional elements if desired. Move them and resize them as desired.
What you see on the canvas is what will print. If there is white space, that will be considered part of the print job. When printing on the large format printer, there will always be a white margin around your design. It will not print edge to edge. Do not add a margin to your design, your design must be no larger than the printable area of the material you are using on at least one side.
You can also add text to your design.
If you want to add any wording, click on text. Click on the type of text you want - heading/subheading/body. You can always change it. Caution: if you are creating a large banner, the box that is inserted may be very small and difficult to see. Use the slide bar along the bottom to increase the size of your design and look for a text box (often in the middle of the design).
Type what you want in the box. You can always make changes (font type, size, color, etc)
To change the font (how the letters look) highlight the text and click on the name of the font that is currently being used. A list of available fonts will appear along the left side. Those with crowns cost money.
To change the size of the text, highlight the text and enter a different number in the box along the top beside the font name. You can also select the box the text is in and drag the box by the dots in the corners to make the text larger or smaller.
Color of font, highlight the text and click on the A that has a color line underneath along the top of the design. Choose the color you want for your font.
Change the space between the lines and between the letters of your text box by clicking on the T with a two sided arrow underneath.
If you want to move the text box or any small graphic around the canvas, place the cursor over that feature, hold the left mouse button down and drag the box to the location you want it.
When your document is finished, you will need to download the file. Files may be emailed to the Imagine Lab or brought in on a flash drive. The files should be saved as a PDF.
Click on Share
Click on Download.
Choose the file type you want to save and click on Download.
Your document will be automatically saved in your Canva account, so if you need to make any changes, you can log into your account and make the necessary changes.
For more help on using Canva, visit the Canva Essentials page.
Canva.com