Canva Template Guide

A beginner friendly walkthrough
for first time Canva users

Introduction

Each of our premade template products are available instantly, and 100% editable. To facilitate this, they are hosted on and accessed on a site called Canva. Like most sites, Canva’s interface is subject to various modifications in each update. Whether you’re a first time Canva user, or haven’t used it in a few updates, these step by step instructions should help you use any premade templates purchased through our Etsy shop.

Quick Navigation

Step 1. Accessing Your Template

Upon purchasing our templates you are given access to a “digital download” through Etsy. This download is ready instantly, and can be downloaded directly from the product page where you purchased it, or from the account dropdown at the top right of Etsy’s page under Purchases and Reviews. Etsy also provides an article on How to Download Digital Items.

The digital download we provide is a PDF file that contains an access link to your Canva template. Clicking the link in the PDF will redirect you to your template. This screen will have a preview of your template, along with a button at the bottom that allows you to use it. Click the “use template” button. If you are not logged into Canva, you will be given a prompt to login or create a free Canva account if you do not yet have one. Once logged into Canva you will be taken to your template.

Step 2. Editing Your Template

Each template can be completely customized to suit your needs. Simply click on any element of the design to get started. You can modify the text as desired to say whatever you’d like. You can also change the font, adjust the size and color, drag the text box to move it, and more! Most graphic images are able to be customized in similar ways, so feel free to get creative if the mood strikes you!

We do our best to arrange the elements of our templates so they are as simple as possible to edit. If you are having trouble selecting a specific object, you can make use of the Layers menu. Upon clicking any element on the template, a horizontal toolbar should appear at the top of your workspace. Select the Position option, and a new interface will open (left hand side of the page on desktop version). Select the Layers tab at the top, and you will see all the different layers in your template.

By using that layers menu, you can directly select any of the elements on the page by clicking the corresponding layer. This should highlight the boundary box for your chosen element, and clicking that box should enable you to edit it. Alternatively, you can select and drag your chosen layer to the top of the layer list if you are still having difficulty selecting it. This will layer it on top of everything else for easy accessibility.

Step 3. Saving Your Template

Once you are finished modifying your template it’s time to save. In the top right corner of your Canva workspace you will find a button labeled ↑ Share. Clicking that will provide a dropdown menu. In that menu it will give you the option to ↓ Download. Once you click the Download button, a new menu will pop up. This allows you to do things like designate what file type you would like your template to be saved as, or designate specific pages to print.


We recommend saving most of our templates as a PNG file, as it will give you the best quality for your print. Once your desired settings are selected, click the Download button at the bottom of the dialogue. Save your file in whatever destination you desire, and it will be stored on your device.

By default designs with multiple pages are saved as zip files if more than one page is selected. If you are unfamiliar with zip files, you can select each page one at a time and download them individually to avoid having them zip.

Step 4. Printing Your Template

Now that you’ve downloaded your creation you will be able to use it however you’d like! You can print it from your home printer, or share it digitally with others as an image.

All that’s left is enjoying your design! We hope it helps make whatever occasion you purchased it for all the more special! If you have any further questions about how to access or edit this template, please reach out to us on Etsy. We’ll be happy to assist!

If you’re satisfied with your purchase, we would love some feedback on Etsy! You can leave feedback under the Purchases and Reviews section inside of your account. Your reviews directly impact our visibility on Etsy and enable us to grow, so sharing some love is greatly appreciated! Thank you for your support! 😻

Tips and Tricks

This section is a short collection of some tips & tricks to enhance your experience. Reading this section isn’t mandatory, but it can help you have more fun with the template! 😸

✸ Food for Thought When Printing at Home:

  • By default full page templates are 8.5” x 11” inches. This is the standard size for home printers.

  • If your template has more than one side, just reload the paper and print on the back!

  • Printing on the back is optional, of course! You also save ink by making things single sided.

  • For a more premium look, try a thicker paper weight.

  • 80 lb / 215 GSM paper is usually fine for most home printers.

✸ Professional Printing With Canva:

  • Canva also offers professional printing services from their site.

  • To access, choose the “Print with Canva” button next to share.

  • They have an assortment of paper types and finishes to choose from.

  • At the volume of ~10-25 flyers their pricing is comparable to most office stores.

  • Bulk orders at Canva yield higher discounts, so it’s more cost effective at 25+ prints.

✸ Professional Printing Locally:

  • Many office stores have print centers inside of them.

  • If you would like a nicer quality paper, or have a lot of ink heavy pages, this may be most cost effective.

  • Print centers have an assortment of paper types and finishes to choose from.

  • Many of these stores allow you to upload your order online for pickup in store; some even deliver!