Create Stunning Graphic Designs with Canva
Posted: August 13, 2014
Over the years I've stumbled may way through Photoshop– usually with limited success. I've never learned how to use the endless selection of Photoshop tools, which really limits my designs.
Introducing Canva, the amazingly simple graphic design creator that makes it simple, accessible and affordable for anyone to create stunning graphic designs. It's a great way to create images to market your book, blog or business. Create designs for web or for print– including blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, Kindle book covers and much more.
First, you will need to sign up for an account at Canva.com, which is very easy to do. Canva will then give you a 23 second demonstration of the online image editor. Yes, you read that right- a 23 second demo!
Next, Canva will step you through a fun, interactive tutorial called, "5 Starter Challenges." In a few minutes, you will be ready to create your very first Canva design.
The design interface is simple and intuitive. Most everything you do on Canva is drag and drop. For example, choose from a variety of backgrounds, then drag the background into your design layout. Need to resize an image inside your design? No problem. Simply grab the corners and resize it with your mouse.
To get you started, Canva provides a variety of popular templates. Choose from Google+ Photo, Social Media, Facebook Cover, Blog Graphic, Kindle Cover, Business Card, Pinterest and more. Alternatively, you can choose your own custom dimensions.
My favorite way to work with Canva is to import my own images and then combine them with the variety of free backgrounds, text badges, icons and fonts. Canva also provides an extensive library of royalty-free images for just $1 each.
When you are ready to take your designs a step further, check out Canva's library of quick and easy design tutorials.
If you enjoyed learning about Canva, download my free, one-page resource guide, "My 5 Favorite Free Online Tools for Getting Stuff Done," at http://suebmedia.com/five-favorite-tools.
Sue Bookhout is a freelance outdoor communicator who specializes in content marketing solutions for the hunting, shooting and fishing industry, and the owner and operator of Sue Bookhout Web Design & Marketing. She's skilled in the WordPress platform, social media, SEO, and internet marketing. Sue lives in sunny Cazenovia, NY and has been a member of POMA since 2009.