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Last updated: March 5, 2024 by Daniela
Canva is the ultimate business tool for designers, marketers, and content creators alike. In addition to creating eye-catching graphics, you can also use it to edit videos, create presentations, and create digital products to sell for your business. It’s crazy to think you can actually make money with Canva, but it’s true.
This is my favorite graphic design tool that I use whenever I need to create visuals for my blog, social media, and business (and remote side hustle). In addition to content creation, I love creating digital products, social media posts, images for blogs, graphics for internal documents, and more.
That can’t be denied. Canva’s feature set is enough to make it comparable in price to Adobe Photoshop. However, this tool has powerful features that can make it confusing for beginners to know how to get the most out of it.
Want to try Canva? Read my personal review of Canva.
17 Canva hacks and tips for creatives
Read on for some Canva hacks, tips, and features to speed up your design process and level up how you use Canva designs in your personal and professional life.
1. Keyboard shortcuts
Canva has an incredible amount of keyboard shortcuts, but we’ve listed the top four in this guide as the most useful shortcuts for your designs. Master them and add more.
- Press “R” to add a rectangle to your design
- Press “T” to add text
- Press “C” to add a circle
- Hold “Control/Command” and press parentheses.[ ]” key to move the element to another layer.
2. QR code
Search for “QR code” within the app. Paste the link in the URL box to generate a code and design with QR codes.
3. Type craft
Search for “Type Craft” in the app. Select the text you want to change, including the font, text color, and any edits you want to make to the shape. Design with new text shapes.
4. Smart Mockup
Search for “smart mockups” in the app. Click on the Mockups app and find the design you’re interested in. Use uploads or images within these mockups in your designs.
5. Product photos
Use the same mockup app as above and scroll until you find a product mockup that fits your brand. These mockups will take your product idea to the next level and significantly speed up the process of bringing your product to market.
6. Content Planner
When you’re done with your design, click the “Share” button in the top right corner and find the “Share on Social” button in the drop-down menu. Connect to your social media channels and start scheduling content directly from Canva (also a great tool for social media managers).
7. Background remover
Before this feature was part of the Magic Studio update,[効果]It was a humble photo editing option on the tab. This feature allows you to remove all distractions from your photos, leaving sharp objects to play with and style in any way you can imagine. You can also adjust how much or less of the background is removed when the image has been analyzed.
8. Search for graphics and photos by artist
Click on the “i” circle icon to see the image name and artist name below. Then click on the artist name to see more designs and photos.
9. Add negative space to your photos
I use this Canva hack all the time when creating Pinterest graphics. This will cause that text to appear at the top.
Take the original photo and place it at the bottom of the template.
Click on the multicolored icon to display the eyedropper icon and click on it. Then fill the rest of the palette with that color.
Finished product:
10. “See more of this” feature
Click the three dots at the top left of any element and click the “More” item from the menu.
11. Custom shadow
To create a custom shadow on a photo, select the photo after placing it in the template. Go to Effects -> Shadows. Then select and customize the type of shadow you want for your image.
12. Searching for colors in graphics and images
Unfortunately, not all graphics and images can be customized. Sometimes you need specific colors for your assets, especially if you’re trying to match your brand.
To search for graphics or images of a specific color, change your search settings by clicking the icon on the far right of the search bar. Click the multicolor icon and enter the custom color you’re looking for. Then click Apply.
13. Change image color
This is a great hack for anyone who wants to sell digital art on Etsy. Photo and graphic effects can help you come up with all sorts of inspiration when creating new graphic art pieces.
To use this feature, click on the image placed on the template and click Edit Photo. Go to Duotone Effects and select the color you want to change.
14. Project folder
Canva’s project folder area is a feature you’ll always use. It’s easy to get confused when you’re working on multiple designs, and before you know it, the design you created a few weeks ago has been moved to the bottom of your Home dashboard and you can’t find it anymore.
Sorting your designs into different folders and making it a habit will make a big difference in your process. Believe please. I also don’t like losing things.
15. Starred Folder
I didn’t notice star folders the first time I used this tool. However, it’s a great way to keep track of the types of graphics and images that suit your tastes and might fit into future design projects.
Click the three dots at the top of the graphic and click the star icon to save the asset.
16. Brand kit
If you’re a creative person or run a specific brand you’re designing for, a branding kit will be your best friend. When you set all your brand colors, logo, and fonts on one page, that asset is set as the default for every new design file you create.
17. Magic Studio
Canva Magic Studio is Canva’s new AI secret weapon. It’s a suite of AI tools that help teams do everything from design to writing to editing and more.
The AI tools included in Canva’s Magic Studio include:
- Magic Media with AI image generation
- magic eraser
- magic expand
- magic grab
- magic edit
- Get text
- magic light
- magic morph
- magic animate
- Magic design for videos and images
This is just the beginning of Canva’s AI and is one of the top hacks for this tool. As more tools are introduced, Canva becomes even more powerful and easier to use.
———>Click here to try Canva.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can I get Canva Pro for free?
Get Canva Pro for free with a 30-day free trial, join the Canva Pro education program for eligible students and teachers, become part of a registered nonprofit organization, or share it with others through our affiliate program. There are several ways to do this, including introducing them to Canva. To get free access.
How can I improve at Canva?
Find Canva’s free training and educational resources at Free Blog and Design School. It’s helpful to follow creators who like to share Canva tutorials for free on social media so you can see how others are using Canva for business (or even personal use).
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Daniella is the creator and author of iliketodabble.com. When she and her wife Alexandra are not traveling the world or playing with their seven or more animals, they are dabbling and working toward a future of financial freedom.