Preparing Artwork for Print using Canva.

Written By Guest User

Get your Canva design right for print every time! With these 4 SIMPLE STEPS.

 

Download the video tutorial here, or follow the 4 simple steps below.

G’Day listeners, this is a quick video/podcast on preparing Artwork for Print using Canva;

A heads up, this not a how to design in Canva, this is how to prepare the file for your printer.

STEP 1:

Number one, make sure your page size is correct. You could use a Template, but, take full control and tell Canva what you want.

  • Go to the ‘Custom Size’ button,

  • choose millimetres (we don’t use pixels), type in the size of your document. In this case we are making an A6 card, 105mm x 148mm.



  • STEP 2:

Now we have a page, but we want more, we need more.

  • Rulers, File/Show Rulers;

  • Margins, File/Show Margins. Margins give you a ‘Safe Zone’ so you don’t go too close to the edge of the page. Canva fixes these depending on the page size you choose and you can not alter them. However if you want different margins you can

  • Drag Guides from the Ruler Bar and set them where you will. You can also use guides to help you align other elements.


    STEP 3:

Next, BLEED, your printer insists on Bleed (the trim safety zone),

  • File/Show Print Bleed. You can see that now an extra surrounding area has been added to your document. The outside dotted line is the edge of your page, out from that is your Bleed Area and you will continue images/graphics etc. into that area.

  • Remember, at some stage, preferably early in the piece, Save Your Document.

Magic time, time to design your artwork, remembering to extend any image that reaches thepage edge into the Bleed Area which is now greyed out but you should still see a line.


STEP 4:

Once you are happy with your design and have checked that everything is correct,

  • Generate a file for your printer. That will be a PDF. Go to ‘Share’ and choose,‘Download’. Never send your printer a .png file, even if Canva suggests it.

  • In the pull down menu choose ‘PDF Print’, ensure you check the box, ‘Crop Marks and Bleed’.

  • You can save the settings for next time if you want. (‘Flatten PDF’ would only be necessary if you do some crazy design things.)

REMEMBER THIS;

By default Canva will save your PDF to your Downloads Folder. You will see that everything is there, including Bleed and Trims, send the file to your printer.

SO THATS IT, I hope something it all that may prove useful, but, please remember if you have a question, or you’re a little unsure of how to prepare something for print, give me a call,

Frank at Ink Printing 04 33 80 1958

Guest User
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