How to Produce a Print-Ready File from Canva

Before diving into your design, ensure your Canva project is set to the exact dimensions of the final printed product. For example, if an A5 page is required, set your artwork to A5 dimensions from the start:

1. Open Canva and start a new design.
2. Click “Custom Size” and enter the specific width and height in millimetres. (A5 is 148 mm x 210 mm.)

Accurate page sizing helps avoid issues with scaling or distortion when printing.

Bleed refers to the extra area beyond the edge of your design that ensures no white borders appear when the file is trimmed. Without bleed, small misalignments during cutting could lead to unwanted edges.

1. Click on File in the top-left corner.
2. Select Show print bleed. A dotted line will appear, marking the edge of the final design area. Ensure all background images and colours extend beyond this line.

Just as bleed protects against accidental white edges, internal margins protect important elements like text from being trimmed off. Follow these guidelines:

• Leave a minimum of 3mm margin between the edge of the page and critical elements.
• For larger designs, increase the margin:
• 5mm for pages up to A3.
• 10mm for pages larger than A3.

This buffer ensures the design remains intact after trimming.

Avoid cramming too much text into the design. Font size and readability are key:

• Use a minimum of 9pt for standard fonts. Some fonts may appear smaller at the same size, so test the design.
• Print a sample at home to verify readability at actual size.
• If a printer is not available, approximate the printed page size on the screen to test readability, keeping in mind that backlit screens may make text appear easier to read.

Before exporting, double-check your design:

• Text and Images: Ensure all text is within the safe area (inside the dotted bleed line).
• Resolution: Use high-resolution images to avoid pixelation.
• Spelling and Grammar: Proofread the content thoroughly.

Once the design is complete, follow these steps to export it as a print-ready file:

1. Click on the Share button in the top-right corner.
2. Select Download.
3. In the File type dropdown, choose PDF Print for high-quality output.

Tick the boxes for Crop marks and bleed. Crop marks show where the file will be trimmed, and the bleed ensures edge-to-edge printing.

For accurate colour reproduction in print, switch to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colour mode. Canva defaults to RGB, which is best for digital screens but may cause colour discrepancies in print.

1. Under Colour Profile, choose CMYK. (Note: This feature is available for Canva Pro users.)
2. If using the free version, be aware that colours may shift slightly when converted by the printer.

Pro Tip: The colours on the actual printed page will probably be different from what is seen on screen. There are many technical reasons behind this, so if exact colour accuracy is important, it is advisable to work with the print supplier to get a printed proof before production starts.

After downloading the PDF:

• Open the file using a PDF viewer.
• Check for:
• Bleed and Crop Marks: Ensure these are present.
• Text and Images: Verify alignment and legibility.
• Colours: Ensure they appear as expected.

If colours look off, return to Canva to adjust them and re-export the file. Double-check with the printer to confirm specific requirements.

• Forgetting Bleed: Always extend backgrounds or images to the bleed line.
• Not Using CMYK: RGB colours may look vibrant on screen but appear muted in print.
• Flattening PDFs: Avoid ticking the “Flatten PDF” option, as it prevents text and vector elements from being editable later.