Canva is a popular online graphic design platform that makes it easy for anyone to create beautiful designs. One of the most useful features of Canva is the ability to save your designs as templates and share them with others. This allows you to reuse designs, collaborate with team members, and even sell templates.
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Sharing Templates
Sharing templates in Canva allows others to access a copy of your design that they can then customize. The original template remains untouched. There are a few ways to share Canva templates:
- Open the design you want to share as a template
- Click “Share” in the top menu bar
- Select “Template link”
- Copy the link and share with anyone you want to access the template
When someone opens the template link, a copy of your original design will be created in their Canva account. They can then edit and customize it without affecting your original.
If you have Canva for Teams, you can share templates within your team.
- Create a “Team templates” folder
- Add any designs you want to share to this folder
- Set permissions on who can view and edit templates
This makes it easy to maintain brand consistency and facilitate collaboration on designs.
You can also export your Canva design and share the file.
- Download design as a PDF, JPG, or PNG file
- Share saved file via email, cloud storage, etc.
This allows others to view your design but not customize it like a template.
Exporting Design Files
When you’re ready to use your finished Canva design files for printing or other needs, you can export in different file types.
Image Files
Export as JPG or PNG for digital use.
- JPG – Choose image quality and scale. Smaller files good for web.
- PNG – Retains transparency. Good for digital graphics.
Print Files
Export as PDF for high quality printing.
- PDF Print – Choose standard or high quality. More options for commercial printing.
- PDF Standard – Lower quality but smaller file. Good for desktop printing.
Other Files
Canva can also export as:
- PPTX for PowerPoint presentations
- SVG for scalable vector graphics
- Video MP4
The export dialogue box shows recommended file types for different design types.
Customizing Export Settings
When exporting print files, you can customize settings for optimal printing:
Print Quality
- Color mode – RGB for digital use or CMYK for commercial printing
- Resolution – 300 or 600 DPI recommended for sharp printing
Print Size
- Dimensions – Match print dimensions needed
- Orientation – Portrait or landscape
- Scale – Increase or decrease print size
Print Finishing
- Bleed – Extend design past trim lines to avoid white edges
- Crop marks – Add cut lines to guide production
Collaborating with Your Team
Canva has a wide range of features to enable team collaboration on designs:
Create folders for different projects, clients, or campaigns. Set permissions on who can access and edit.
Leave Comments
Annotate designs with feedback and tasks directly on the design. Reply in threads.
Version History
Canva saves a history of design versions. Revert to old versions or view revision progress.
Design Insights
See design activity – who viewed it, commented, exported, etc. Track work progress.
With its powerful collaboration tools combined with the ability to easily save, export, and share templates, Canva can facilitate teamwork and consistency across all your design projects.
Tips for Effective Use of Canva
Here are some top tips for getting the most out of Canva:
Maintain Brand Consistency
Upload brand fonts, colors palette, and logo to create on-brand templates. Share with your team.
Use Layouts Thoughtfully
Browse Canva’s layouts to kickstart your design instead of starting completely from scratch.
Watch for Paid Elements
Some elements have a fee associated. Hover to view pricing before using if you have a free account.
Create a Style Guide
Define fonts, colors, and logo guidelines. This will streamline design work in Canva.
Periodically Save Versions
Save versions as you work so you can go back to earlier iterations if needed.
By following these best practices and taking advantage of Canva’s extensive features for sharing, exporting, and team collaboration, you can create a powerful graphic design workflow.
