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STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS

ON HOW TO USE CANVA

Jovita Davis—davisjov@gmail.com

Jerilyn Lynn—jlynn6@ycschools.us

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CANVA

Canva provides users with a simple new way to design. Its drag and drop

functionality enables user to create presentations, posters, one-page documents, social media posts, and etc. Canva provides teachers and students with the tools

they need to bring their stories to life.

Canva can be accessed through your Facebook account, Google, or other email

accounts.

Documents created in Canva can be shared with others via email, Facebook,

Youtube and etc.

DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO USE CANVA:

Go to www.canva.com and sign up for this free program.

Once you have logged into Canva your screen will change and look like the

following Canva dashboard. Click on Create a Design to see all the designs that

can be created. Some designs have a dollar amount in the right hand corner,

which require you to insert your credit card. Users have the option to pay for the

entire design or delete the image that has the watermark and continue with the

Canva tool Palette Canva dashboard work area

As new users to Canva will nothave any designs in the section All Your

designs because nothing has been saved yet. As you continue to use Canva

and save your items they will be stored for you to re-use, edit, and etc.

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2. Click on Create a Design and view all of the popular design preset templates

as well as different designs that can be created. The preset templates designs

range from Facebook graphics, blog covers, posters, documents, ads, and etc. All

of the templates are set for the exact size and constantly updated.

If you don’t see the width and height of a specific design click on Use Custom

designs and widths and enter your own dimensions.

No matter what design you wish to create the editing tool palette is used for all

modifications.

TIP:

WHEN USING THE FREE VERSION OF CANVA THERE WILL BE

SOME IMAGES THAT REQUIRE PAYMENT. THE DIRECTIONS

BELOW WILL SHOW USERS WHAT TO DO.

Click here if you don’t see

the width and height you

want

Enter the width and height

here along with pixels if need-

ed.

Some of the images in Canva are not free and in case you select an image that

has a $(dollar) amount in the right hand corner along with a Canva watermark

you have two options that you can do: (1). Enter your credit card to keep the

image or (2) click on the paid image and click on the right hand side and click

remove image. The image will be removed, and all other information is still

there. You can also find your own image and double click so it can be

inserted.

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This is a paid Canva image that

requires your credit card

With image highlighted

click here and remove

image.

Editing Tool Palette

Search option

Layouts

Elements

Font types

Various backgrounds

Images to be uploaded to canvas

These tools are used to help edit any

design that users wish to create in

Canva.

Detailed explanation on how the editing tool palette works

The search option allows you to type in a specific word within Canva to search

for graphics pertaining to that topic.

Layouts displays all the different types of designs users can use or allows users

to create their own.

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Elements displays all of the free photos within Canva as well as allowing users

to upload and store their own photos.

Font types has the three main options of different fonts that can be used such

as: headings, sub headings, and small body text. All fonts types can be edited

and discarded if not needed.

Various backgrounds can be used from the preset designs, or by clicking on

the + sign allowing users to create their own color or color patterns.

Images to be uploaded to canvas users can select the preset images and

re-size the photo to the size you want it to be. Users also have the option of

uploading their own photos.

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WHEN USERS BEGIN A PROJECT ITS ALWAYS ON A BLANK CANVAS AND AS

LONG AS THE HANDLES ARE AROUND THE OBJECT(S) IT CAN BE PLACED

ANYWHERE ON THE PAGE.

Layouts has tons of preset designs which can be edited. Click on the

design to be edited and all of your tools for editing becomes available.

Click here for more options for changing text

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When you click on Elements a ton of pre selected pictures, shapes, lines,

illustrations, charts, and other various templates become available.

Searches is used to help users find images stored within Canva.

Adjustments to objects/pictures to the right of Arrange click and the

Transparency option becomes available, allowing user to adjust the color of the

picture/object.

Users can also upload their own images into Canva and adapt them to work with

pre-set designs.

1. Select desired template, and click on the photo to be removed and click on

trash.

2. Click on Upload click Upload images go to desktop select image and

Image will be placed on photo resize if necessary.

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Still working within Elements anything that’s uploaded into Canva remains in

your uploaded images.

Filters can be added to images by clicking on the image and clicking on image

filters and selecting desired filter and making many adjustments.

Text (font types) are created by clicking on add heading and it will

appear on the canvas. Click on the word and it will appear in a box,

the drop down selection box will appear with different fonts to

choice from. All text can be edited and those not needed can be

placed in the trash. Font color

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To create background colors click on the + sign to see the color wheel

for additional colors.

If you have text on the screen and want to add a photo select photo making sure

the handles are around the photo and click the Arrange button to move your

picture to the front or back of your text.

Once you have completed your design click on download and decide how you are

going to save your design as a jpeg, gif, png or print. Click download

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Once everything has been completed user can go back to the main page and click

on All your designs and the design that you just created will appear along with-

all other work you’ve created. Click on the drop down arrow of your current

design and click Make a Copy and this allows you to make a template of your

work. If you choose to make modifications to the design it can be done without

having to re-create that same design.

LEARNING HOW TO DO FREE STYLE DESIGNING ON A BLANK CANVAS

Let’s Get Started:

1. Click Background and select a background of your choice and re-size it to the

entire workspace.

2. Click on Text scroll down and select a font from the pre-designed and

Delete the text suggested and type: How To Use Canva. Delete all other text

not needed.

3. Click add A Sub heading drag beneath main topic type YouTube Tutorial

4. Click on Elements and add a shape of your choice, arrange and send it to the

back so the font comes to the front.

5. Highlight your shape and click Element on the color section and select a color

for your shape.

Duplicate design text changed.

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6. To save Your work Click on the download button and click .jpeg.

Canva will save and download your design.

Click on title and name it Facebook Title Image. Go back to the main page

and your work will be saved as a template.

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All works created and saved in Canva are stored within Canva. IF YOU

WANT TO SAVE YOUR OWN WORK YOU WILL HAVE TO CLICK ON PRINT

SCREEN AND OPEN A WORD DOCUMENT PASTE IT THERE AND RIGHT

MOUSE CLICK ON THE IMATGE CLICK SAVE AS PICTURE , NAME IT, AND

SAVE.

CANVA TIPS AND TRICKS

Users have the option of grouping pre-set designs as well as ungrouping them.

1. Click Create a Design and scroll down to Logo.

2. Click on Melting Pot

Our free style design

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3. Double click the design and highlight all of the elements

4. The group option will appear click on group and all the elements are

grouped together.

5. To ungroup the elements click on the elements and click ungroup.

6. Elements are centered because Canva provides gridlines.

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1. A shortcut to adding text to Canva is click on your workspace and type the

letter T and the textbox will appear allowing user to insert text.

2. Canva saves your work periodically however, a shortcut to saving is hit

CTRL and S which saves it too.

3. To place borders around text which is different than going to elements and

clicking on shapes. Click in the Search box and type borders highlight the text

and click CTRL + Shift “B” (shortcuts for the PC)

Shortcuts for the MAC

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4. To play around with the size of the text press the CTRL + Shift + “+” or “-”

signs on the PC.

LET’S TRY THIS FUN CREATION USING TEXT IMAGES AND THE SEARCH

OPTION

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ALL LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE

SEARCH

1. In the Search section click on the letter E

Shortcuts for the MAC

Letter E is available within the search because it has the cloud and the green grass around it

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2. Click the letter L and place on the workspace.

3. Click the letter I and place on the workspace.

Once the letters are placed in the workspace Canva automatically centers and aligns the text.

Now we are going to add pictures to the text. If you have images saved click

on Upload and drag whatever image into the text. You have the option of us-

ing different images or the same one. Below is a sample of text images.

This YouTube Site offers a clever tip and trick on:

How to Make a Transparent Background on Canva.com for Free by Eric

LaFleche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gGAizMn_Tg

YouTube has a ton of tutorials that will help you with other designs and fun

things to do in Canva be sure to check them out.