Professional Printing with Canva Designs | prepress | how to design with Canva

Professional Printing with Canva

Canva is a great online tool for people who want to design flyers and cards. It is great for those that don’t want to spend years studying Graphic Design or thousands a year in software. It has a plethora of designs / elements and largely easy to use. It is however important to know of its limitations and how to setup the file correctly.
The most important aspect of quality printing, are:

Warning Summary

Canva has been making a push to reduce functionality and make life harder to use their online designer to take to printers such as ourselves.
They are actively pushing to get you to print through them.
We see no problem with competition, generally people come to us because they expect service and quality.

The real issue is now you reqire .SVG files:

1. Originally, you used to be able to paste vector elements into Canva. Now, not only do you need to upload a file and place a file, but they will not allow you to export vector artwork for uploaded .PDFs. Only .SVG.
   For example, you upload a .PDF vector version of you logo, but when exported as a PDF, it converts the vector to bitmap (which may result in substandard print ). You can only upload .SVG version of your logo if you want to export a vector version of your logo.
   
2. Considering that most businesses have been supplied a .pdf version of your logo, if you do not have an .SVG version, you will need to get it converted.
3. Keep in mind, any print finishing (spot UV / foil / Embossing etc) must be vector artwork.
   If you don't know what vector artwork is, please check this link

We have a pro Canva account which allows us to export files in CMYK.
This does not allow CMYK colour use when designing, rather converts colours when exporting.
Hex and RGB are not used in printing, so we only look at CMYK.

1. RGB workspace: Print is CMYK workspace - colours can change dramatically
2. Limited Artboard Size: Canva's maximum artboard size is 8,000 x 3,125 px.
   This equates to 2,116 x 827mm .
3. Importing vector elements: It can be done, but CAN be a pain getting to required size.
4. Exporting vector elements: It can be done, but if using your logo etc, it MUST BE imported from an SVG file.

Supplying Canva Files

Note, after your artwork has been shared with us, all required edits must be done at our end as Canva is no longer used to make your artwork 'print ready' .
It is recommended to be descriptive when naming your Canva file. For example if you have a business card with foil stamping “ business name – foil business cards”.

1. Click ‘share’ button on the top right of the screen
2. Click 'Copy Link button
3. Email us the link.

If sending us Canva artwork, you will have the options:

1. We print ‘as is’ - and run the gamble of print quality
   or:
2. We ‘fix’ the artwork to make it print ready.
   This requires you to 'SHARE' the canva file with us
   and potentially requires you to also send us:
   • all photos used
   • graphical elements (such as logos) – these should be in vector format
   • fonts used (if you require any changes made to text )

PDF Export Warnings!

Warning - check the exported PDF file to see if elements have been cropped!
Some elements, especially smaller elements such as contact icons ( such as phone, web etc) may crop. Check out this example:

Here is the original Canva file:

Using our Templates

On each of our product pages we have templates for Adobe (Illustrator and InDesign) and for Canva.
These can be found by going to the ‘templates tab’.
For Canva, simply click the link to be directed to the product specific template in Canva. The first page will contain notes as to the products trim size, required bleed and safe size. It will also note additional product specific artwork notes including print finishing requirements.

Setting up your own document

For this example, we will be using an A4 flyer.

1. Click ‘create a design’ button
2. Click ‘custom Size’ button
   
3. In the Custom Size box, first change to mm
4. Enter width: 210 & height: 297
5. Show print bleed (File > Show print bleed)
   

Design with Vector

Remember to use elements vector if possible.
‘Vector’ artwork allows modifying of artwork without compromising it. It also allows scaling it without loss of quality.
(note: 'Fonts' are created with vector artwork)
It is important to note, that if you want a product with ‘print finishing’ (spot UV, Foil stamping, Embossing etc ) ‘Vector’ / editable artwork is required.
Vector artwork can be used in the following external file formats:

• .SVG
• .PDF
• .AI
• .EPS

This does not mean artwork in these files are made in vector, rather these file formats support it.
The following file types are incapable of containing vecore artwork:

• .JPG
• .GIF
• .PNG

So how do you tell if artwork is made with vector?
Say for example you have a .PDF document, if you zoom in to 6,000% and it pixelates, it is NOT vector. If you see it ‘redraw’ itself, it IS vector.
The good news is vector element can be imported / pasted into Canva.

You can read more about what vector artwork is here

Elements library

One of the great things about Canva is the ‘clip art’ library it offers. The problem is that elements are not groped into classifications. Videos, audio ‘bitmap (bmp) art and ‘vector’ (editable) art are all thrown in together. You can search for “vector” but will find many results require a ‘premium’ subscription (at the time of writing this article, is cost is $165 per year ).

In this example, say you are a florist and want a business card with Gold foil stamping.

1. Click ‘text’ add your business name and assign the font
2. go to ‘element tab’
3. select an image of flowers and place on the page

4. Select the placed image
5. Click ‘edit image’
6. Note the ‘Adjust panel’

This panel provides modifying properties to the image, however we cannot select elements of the image to assign a color to it, or change the line thickness of its outline for example.

So in this example, the only thing we could foil stamp woudl be the text 'My Florist' because it is the onl element that is 'vecotor / editable'.
So what can we do?
We can look for other vector artwork. This time we look for something more plain.

7. Select the newly placed artwork
8. You will see a colour swatch next to ‘edit image’ > click it.
   Now you will see ‘document colours’ panel on the left.
9. Click a different colour

You will now see the artwork has changed colour. This shows that the artwork is vector and ‘ editable’ .
This means it can be used for print finishing (such as foil stamping, spot UV or embossing).
Print finishing requires a 'single colour' (spot swatch) to be assigned to it so a 'printing plate' or ' block' to be made.

Colour usage

Canva uses the colour mode RGB (Red Green Blue) – this is ‘screen’ mode colouring.
Printing uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
In this example, we will make background colors to show you how printing variances occur
We have added three boxes

• BOX 1: Neon green – with colour #00FF29
  
• BOX 2: Black – with colour #000000
  
• BOX 3: Rich Black – with colour #010001
  
• Select “PDF PRINT”
• Tick ‘crop marks and bleed’
• Tick ‘download’
  You will notice all looks OK in the PDF.. but from a print perspective, let’s have a closer look.
  In Illustrator we changed the colour mode from RGB to CMYK (file > colour mode)
  1. You can see BOX 1: neon green – looks vastly different. This is the colour it will print
  2. You can see the differences of BOX 2 and BOX 3.
     In the RGB, very little difference, in CMYK a slight but an important difference
     
  3. Now let’s compare the RGB Values to the CMYK (print) values
     1. BOX 1: Neon Green
        R = 0
        G = 255
        B = 41
        
        
        When the document is converted from RGB to CMYK:
        C = 62.16
        M = 0
        Y = 100
        K = 0
        
        
        
     2. BOX 2: Black
        R = 0
        G = 0
        B = 0
        
        
        When the document is converted from RGB to CMYK:
        C = 0
        M = 0
        Y = 0
        K = 100
        
        
        
     3. BOX 3: Rich Black
        R = 1
        G = 0
        B = 1
        
        
        When the document is converted from RGB to CMYK:
        C = 74.65
        M = 68.3
        Y = 66.38
        K = 89.51
        
        
        This print result for this will likely turn out a ‘muddy’ black.
        For MOST of our products, the required CMYK values for ‘rich black ‘ needs to be:
        C = 60
        M = 50
        Y = 50
        K = 100
        

So seeing as though Canva only supports RGB colours, how are you supposed to figure out how to make a ritch black?
Simply put you cannot.
This is because canva ONLY use the RGB colour profile.

You can test this yourself by using the CMYK to RGB conversion tool

1. Add C = 60 | M = 50 | Y = 50 | K = 100
2. Click the conversion button

For photos or illustrations, you can use online tools to convert from RGB to CMYK such as https://www.pdf2cmyk.com/

You can still use Canva to design, just keep in mind you will likely not be able to supply print ready artwork.

Printing with Canva

You will notice Canva offers a printing service. First of all, ask yourself do they provide the detail as listed above? Where are the goods actually printed?
Do they offer phone support?
Print promotion offers piece of mind that your products will be professional printed. We also offer a class leading range of stock options for cards, flyers pamphlets and more.

Standard Stock Range

Stock	Specs	Printing method	Image
Gloss See flyers printing	113 GSM: TBA mm thick ≅ 128 GSM: 0.11 mm thick ≅ 150 GSM: 0.13 mm thick ≅ 250 GSM: 0.24 mm thick ≅ gloss finish	Digital & Offset
Silk Matt See flyers printing	150 GSM: 0.12 mm thick ≅ 170 GSM: 0.15 mm thick ≅ gloss finish	Digital & Offset
Laser See flyers printing	100 GSM: 0.11 mm thick ≅ 140 GSM: TBA mm thick ≅ 300 GSM: 0.17 mm thick ≅ matt finish waxy feel	Digital & Offset
EcoStar Laser See flyers printing	100 GSM: 0.11 mm thick ≅ 140 GSM: 0.17 mm thick ≅ 350 GSM: 0.45 mm thick ≅ matt finish waxy feel 100% recycled	Digital & Offset
EcoStar Silk See flyers printing	150 GSM: 0.12 mm thick ≅ 250 GSM: 0.21 mm thick ≅ semi gloss finish 100% recycled	Digital & Offset
Knight Premium Smooth See flyers printing	120 GSM: 0.13 mm thick ≅ matt finish waxy feel	Digital & Offset
Artboard See flyers printing	350 GSM: 0.4 mm thick ≅ semi gloss finish can only be scored and supplied flat	Digital & Offset
1 side Coated Page coming soon	350 GSM: 0.53 mm thick ≅ gloss finish on front can only be scored and supplied flat	Digital & Offset
Linen See flyers printing	350 GSM: 0.4 mm thick ≅ matt finish linen textured can only be scored and supplied flat	Digital Only

Uncoated Stock Range (for cards)

Specs	Image:
550gsm Premium Cotton Great for thick, high end business cards. 0.72mm thick ≅ Largest size = 90 x 53mm Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✔ Finishing ✔ Print options
450gsm Craft Great for earthy business cards and packaging. 0.7mm thick ≅ Largest size = A4 Full coverage print ✖ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options
360gsm Numill Great for earthy business cards and packaging. 0.6mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✖ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options
335-350gsm Textured Great for high end business cards. 0.35-0.4mm thick ≅ Largest size = 150 x 150mm Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options
350gsm Premium Great for standard thickness premium cards and flyers. 0.4mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3; Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options
350gsm Linen Great for earthy business cards and flyers. 0.4mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✖ Print options
250gsm Recycled Great for earthy business cards and flyers. TBA thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✖ Print options
350gsm Recycled Great for earthy business cards and flyers. 0.4mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✖ Print options
300gsm Recycled Great for earthy business cards and flyers. 0.37mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✖ Print options
300gsm Laid 0.43mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✖ Print options

Laminated Stock Range (for cards)

Specs:	Image:
450gsm Matt Velvet 0.5mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options
350gsm Matt 0.45mm thick ≅ Largest size = A3 Full coverage print ✔ Edged print ✖ Finishing ✔ Print options

In summary, for printers, Canva can be worse than Covid...

... but we have the knowhow to ensure you get the best possible results

If you want to make the most of your next print project,
give us a bell on 1300 669 211 to see what sets us apart.