Creating print-ready artwork can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Fortunately, Canva makes it easy to export print-ready artwork, so you can ensure that your final product looks professional and polished. Not sure how to go about this? Let us walk you through the process!
Step 1: Create Your Artwork
Navigate to the “Create a Design” button in the top right of the main screen in Canva (Figure 1). You will come to this screen (Figure 2), where you can either use a template or start your design from scratch.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Step 2: Navigate to the “Download” Section
After your design is ready to go, the next step is to export your art. Click on the “Share” button in the top right of your screen. You will see the options in Figure 3 below. Select “Download” (Figure 4).
Figure 3
Figure 4
Step 3: Change Your Export Settings
Exporting As PDFs
Your File Type setting will likely default to “PNG.” Make sure to click on PNG to see the rest of the options (Figure 5). This next step is the most important part: make sure your file type is “PDF (Print). This will give you the best output for printing. (Note: The difference between the Standard and Print PDFs are the inclusion of the “crop mark” and “color mode” options, as well as the output quality. Sttark does not use crop marks, so this selection is not needed if you’re submitting artwork to us. Instead, we use bleed.)
Figure 5
Figure 6
Selecting Color Mode
So this selection is not needed if you’re submitting artwork to us—however, if you’re using a different printer, they may require crop marks; double check with your printer for any settings they would like you to use. Selecting color mode, however, is an important step in this process. Ensure that you set your artwork to CMYK mode for printing. RGB is the color mode for digital assets like social media posts or blog posts, such as this.
NOTE: If you are using the free version of Canva, you will only be able to export your art in RGB. That’s fine—our Prepress Team can handle changing the color mode for you. Just keep in mind that there may be slight color shifts in your artwork. Neons will be dull and vibrant colors may appear more muted. If you want more information about RGB vs. CMYK, click here to view our infographic.
Exporting as a PDF is the best option for print-ready artwork because it will keep the artwork editable. Depending on what elements you have in your art (images, text, or other vector graphics), you will still be able to make changes to it using other graphic design software.
Figure 7
Make sure to keep the “Flatten PDF” selection UNCHECKED (Figure 7 above). If you check it, Canva will flatten your artwork into a single image, and you won’t be able to edit any text or vector elements that existed in your original art.
Just a heads up, if you’re exporting your art as a PDF and you don’t flatten it, your text will still be editable (which is great!). But please note, some of the fonts Canva offers aren’t open-source, which means they’re not free for everyone to use for any purpose. If we need to make changes to your art and use that exact font, there might be an extra fee. But don’t worry, we can always look for a similar font at no extra cost if you don’t want to pay for the licensing fees of the original font(s) (if a license is needed)!
Once your settings are correct, that’s it! Just hit “Download,” and you’re ready to go! You can upload your PDF directly to your order.
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to our Customer Care Team here. Check out our FAQs as well for all your artwork-related questions.
You may also like:
– Sttark’s Guide to Making Print-Ready Designs in Canva
– Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Own Product Label
– 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Designing Cosmetic Labels
