Canva Artwork Guide

Canva makes it easy to design at the right size and export a file ready for print. Start from one of our ready-sized Canva canvases, or set up your own custom-size design using the steps below.

Before you start

Check the artwork set-up on the product page: bleed and safe-zone sizes vary by product (most small-format print uses 3mm, while banners and displays need much more).

Think about your paper too, as it changes how colours look:

• Gloss and silk papers give brighter colours and stronger contrast.
• Uncoated and kraft papers absorb more ink, giving a softer, more muted look.

1. Set up your design

Option A: use one of our Canva canvases

1. Open the Canva templates page and choose your product and size.
2. Click Open in Canva, then Use template to make your own copy.
3. Delete the guide text before you design.

Option B: create a custom size

Best for custom sizes such as shaped signs, labels and stickers.

1. In Canva, choose Create a design → Custom size.
2. Set the units to mm.
3. Enter the finished (trimmed) width and height of your product.
4. Check the numbers, then click Create new design.

On Canva Free, the size can't be changed once the design is created, so double-check before you start.

2. Turn on print bleed

For products with a standard 3mm bleed, go to File → Settings → Show print bleed. Canva shows a 3mm border around the edge: stretch any backgrounds, photos or patterns that should reach the edge right out into it.

Don't use Canva's Show margins setting, as it doesn't match print safe zones.

Products with a larger bleed (banners, roller banners, flags and displays): Canva's built-in bleed is only about 3mm, so add the bleed to the page size instead. For example, a product with 25mm bleed needs the width and height each increased by 50mm, with backgrounds running to the very edge.

3. Add safe-zone guides

Keep important content at least 3mm inside the trim edge on most small-format products (check the product page for yours).

1. Turn on rulers with File → Settings → Show rulers and guides (or Shift + R).
2. Add a rectangle (Elements → Shapes, or press R).
3. With it selected, open Position → Advanced and unlock the size ratio.
4. Set it to the safe-zone size: the finished size minus twice the safe zone. For a 3mm safe zone on A4 (210 x 297mm), that's 204 x 291mm.
5. Centre it horizontally and vertically.
6. Drag guides from the rulers to each edge of the rectangle; they snap into place.
7. Delete the rectangle.

Keep all text, logos and key images inside the guides.

4. Design and check your artwork

• Keep important content inside the safe zone.
• Run edge-to-edge backgrounds fully into the bleed.
• Use high-resolution images to avoid a blurry or pixelated print.
• Use strong contrast and avoid placing very similar shades side by side.
• Give light printed areas at least 15% ink coverage so they show up.
• Keep at least 24% contrast between dark colours and their background.

A note on colour: Canva works in RGB screen colours, so what you see isn't an exact preview of print. Very bright colours (neon pinks, electric blues, vivid purples) are the most likely to shift when converted to print colours.

5. Export a print-ready PDF

1. Click Share → Download.
2. Choose PDF Print.
3. Choose CMYK as the colour profile, if your Canva plan offers it (Canva Pro and some paid plans).
4. Tick Crop marks and bleed if you used Show print bleed.
5. Download the PDF and send it to us.

Without CMYK, your file is converted from RGB during production and colours may shift slightly. We don't need crop marks, but Canva adds them with bleed, which is fine. Don't add any extra crop marks yourself.

6. Check your PDF

Open the downloaded PDF and check that:

• the page size and orientation are right;
• everything important sits inside the safe zone;
• edge-to-edge artwork runs into the bleed;
• images look sharp; and
• no guide text, shapes or template notes are left in the design.

If colour is critical (for example, brand colours), ask us about a printed proof before a larger run. And remember: we check every file before it goes to print.