Image created with Canva

Canva Tutorial, Tips, and Tricks

Graphic design can be intimidating, but Canva makes it easy. With Canva, you don't have to have any previous experience with Adobe Photoshop or any other editing platform. Canva is straightforward, simple, and, most importantly, free!

Tutorial:

1. To start, you'll need to choose dimensions for your image. You can either select the "Album Cover" template or select "Custom Size" and enter 1400 x 1400 px. These dimensions look the best on our sites.
2. Once you've opened a new design, you'll see a white square in the middle of the screen surrounded by menus and toolbars. This is your blank canvas!
3. You can then choose a template design from a library by clicking the "Templates" tab on the left-hand toolbar. These templates will help you quickly create a professional-looking design without any hassle!
4. After selecting a template, you can delete unwanted elements, swap out the background image, and change the text to accurately represent your article.
5. Once your text and images are good to go, you can mess around with the text style, font, image shapes and frames, lines, etc. The possibilities are endless so just have fun with it!
6. When you're ready to download your design, use an accurate, descriptive filename so you'll be able to quickly locate the image. Click the Download button on the top-right toolbar, and you'll see a list of file types to choose from. We recommend using the PNG format for a high-quality web image. 
7. Head back over to your article and add an image capsule in the HubTool. Upload your image, and don't forget to attribute and source it correctly. In the source caption, put "Image created with Canva" and in the Source URL caption, put "http://canva.com"
   Don't forget to come up with a clever image description caption as well!
8. That's it! You're done! Enjoy your beautiful image!

Tips:

• All individual colors used in the design are saved in the color tab; use this to create a distinctive color scheme. 
• Notice a mistake after you saved your picture and closed your tab? No worries! Canva automatically saves each design. Just go to the homepage, scroll down to the "Your Designs" sections, and every design you've ever created should appear there!
• Accidentally delete a design? Go to the homepage and find the section labeled "Trash" on the left-hand toolbar tab, click, and you should be able to find your deleted design. All trash items are automatically saved for 30 days after their deletion. 

Tricks:

• You can try Canva Pro free for 30 days! Canva Pro gives you more templates, photos, and graphics to use. 
• To learn about all the different Canva tutorials directly from the Canva team, go here! 
• Canva also has a program called " Courses" to take classes on several different graphic design aspects.

Image created with Canva

Why Should You Create a Top Image?

We at HubPages want appealing top images because that image will be the icon for your article on our sites! If an article has a well-designed icon, it will entice readers to click, read, and interact with your article. 

If your article doesn't include a top image, the first image in your article will automatically generate as the icon. Sometimes these images don't accurately represent the whole article and can come across as confusing to readers. To avoid this, we highly recommend having a top image that accurately reflects the content of the articles.

Play it safe and always include a top image!

Anjali Elizabeth, From India, 1 Fans, 6 Hubs, Joined 4 weeks ago

Women Scientists

Anjali Elizabeth is a newer member of the HubPages community and describes themselves as a "being who is in conflict with everything around them on a daily basis." When they aren't writing articles about how to start a reading habit or women scientists, they can be found reading, writing, researching, or doing mathematics.

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