From Ease of Use to Versatile Creativity: Discover What is Canva Good for? 10 Reasons to Use it for Design
Canva is an excellent graphic design program that serves as
a more affordable and user-friendly alternative to the Adobe suite. While Adobe
remains a significant player in the field of graphic design, Canva is
fulfilling the needs that Adobe may not be addressing directly. In other words,
Canva is meeting the specific requirements of users that Adobe might not be
able to fulfill. So, let's explore what Canva is good for exactly.
Canva is ideal for individuals who require a graphic design
program for creating cards, social media posts, infographics, and much more.
Canva stands out with its extensive library of photos and elements compared to
other graphic design programs, allowing users to incorporate them into their
designs.
In summary, there are many things that Canva can do, that other graphic design programs may not, and vice versa. Understanding where Canva can truly be useful and where it might fall short helps us choose the right program for our needs and designs. Let's delve into why Canva is suitable for certain purposes and why.
1. Canva is Good for Basic Graphic Design
As we all know, Canva is a graphic design program that
differs significantly from drawing programs like Procreate. This means that you
cannot draw with the same stylus on Canva as you would on Procreate. However,
you can use images, fonts, shapes, and elements to create designs.
While Canva can do a lot as a graphic design program, it is
incapable of doing everything. This is why we categorize Canva as a
"basic" graphic design tool rather than an "advanced"
graphic design category.
Advanced graphic design techniques, such as easily curving
text, are beyond Canva's capabilities. For such tasks, using one of the Adobe
programs would be more appropriate.
Additionally, Canva cannot perform extensive manipulation on
photos. Custom cropping, color adjustments, and object adjustments are not
possible with Canva. Therefore, for more advanced techniques, you may prefer
using a program like Photoshop.
Although Canva is a "basic" graphic design
program, many people do not feel the need for advanced techniques found in
programs like the Adobe suite. Personally, I do not want to pay more dollars
for a program that has features I will never use.
Therefore, Canva is our first choice because it fits within
our budget and can do everything I want. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Besides, Canva also offers us some unique features that we
don't get with other programs. Some of these features make Canva genuinely
stand out from other platforms and may be worth the subscription price.
We will discuss these features in this article, and many of them may make you prefer getting a Canva Pro subscription to access them.
2. Canva is Good for Pre-Made Templates
When you open a new design in Canva, you'll see a set of
pre-made templates on the left side of the screen, which you can use for your
design. Calling these pre-made templates a 'set' would be incorrect because, in
reality, it is an endless scroll of beautifully and professionally designed
templates.
In this case, if you need a grab-and-go design, Canva is the
place where you'd want to be.
If you need social media posts in bulk, or if you require a
quick card that you can customize with a photo and print out, or if you need a
banner for a professionally themed event, then you are truly fortunate because
you can use Canva.
We especially find Canva templates most helpful for
infographics. This is because it already has pre-made blocks and chunks that
only require a quick editing session.
Indeed, Canva's templates are like a fantastic gift, especially for those who want to create a great design quickly but also want it to be beautiful at the same time.
3. Canva is Good for Images
Let's say you've selected a beautiful Canva template for
your design, but you want to add a different image to it. In that case, we
would say you are very fortunate because Canva has a vast library of excellent
photos that you can use in your design.
Canva's photo library includes everything from people to
landscapes, objects to interiors. It has photos related to every subject you
can imagine.
For any graphic beginner, finding stock photos for their
design can be a frustrating and expensive task. Searching on various platforms
for specific photos and paying for each one can be laborious. So, a beginner
might not prefer such a situation. Instead, if they need an image, they can
simply search related keywords on Canva, and they will get multiple options all
in one place, which is likely to meet their needs.
Although what you can and cannot do with Canva images might
be a concern. Especially when you are thinking about selling your Canva-made
designs, it becomes an important question.
Don't worry; we're here. According to Canva's license
agreement, you can use all free media for your commercial and non-commercial
purposes. Additionally, the Canva license agreement states that if you use a
picture of an icon, person, etc., you need to make sure you have the right to
represent it. You cannot manipulate or resell it, etc.
So, if you are thinking about using Canva images, you should
first read and understand the Canva license agreement. This ensures that you
have the latest and most accurate information. KeepCanva cannot be held
responsible for any work done with Canva images that goes against their
agreement.
Now that we've given our disclaimer, let's move on. Canva
indeed has a treasure trove of images that not only bring your design to life
but also make our design process much easier and efficient.
If you use Canva's free plan, you get free access to a
plethora of images. However, if you use the Canva Pro plan, you get access to
75 million stock photos, videos, and elements.
If you divide the cost of a Canva Pro subscription by the number of images, you'll find that you're talking about fractions of a penny. So, it wouldn't be wrong to say that paying for each individual stock photo is much more expensive compared to this cost-effective option.
4. Canva is Good for Elements
If you think Canva's images are excellent, then you will
love its elements even more. Elements are non-image design features that you
can add to your creations, including hand-drawn illustrations, digitally-drawn
illustrations, frames, borders, and much more.
We hesitate to say what we like more, Canva's images or
Canva elements, because both are equally amazing and equally useful.
You might need to add a cute animal to a birthday card, or
add a flower to a wedding invitation card, or add a sleek border to your
client's flyer.
This is why we consider Canva elements invaluable. It is because we do not know of any other program that provides so many amazing design resources at a relatively cheap subscription price.
5. Canva is Good for Fonts
When it comes to Canva fonts, you get a wide variety of
excellent fonts that you can use for your designs. Perhaps this is also the
reason that many times when we are creating a design on Canva, it becomes
challenging to select one font from so many excellent options for our design.
On Canva, you can find fonts for every style, from script
fonts to corporate fonts, boxy fonts, and airy fonts. Here, you have fonts for
every style you might need.
After reading the four points mentioned above, you must have realized that Canva is a boon for those who want access to pre-made design assets. This is why Canva truly shines in an area where people do not want to create everything from scratch.
6. Canva is Good for Removing the Backgrounds From Images
Canva Pro provides you with the ability to remove the background
from your images. To do this, you simply need to drag a full image into your
design and click on "Background Remover" in the "Effects"
tab. Within a few seconds, the background of your image will be removed.
Canva's background remover tool works exceptionally well. We
have tried many online and offline background removal tools, but they do not
work as well as Canva. On the other hand, doing this manually can take a lot of
time. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that Canva's background remover
is pretty incredible.
However, it doesn't mean that it's perfect. Sometimes,
Canva's background remover tool may not work correctly. If you have an image
with a very busy or cluttered background, it becomes difficult for the program
to decide what to remove. Fortunately, Canva provides a quick way to adjust it.
If you use the background remover tool and feel that there
are still many pieces in your image that need to be removed, you can click on
the little minus icon in the left toolbar. This allows you to manually erase
everything you want to remove from your image.
On the other hand, if you feel that the background remover has removed too much from your image, you can simply click on the little plus icon to restore those parts of your image that you want to keep.
7. Canva is Good for Collaborating
If you work with a design team or need to collaborate with
other individuals in creating designs, Canva can be an excellent graphic design
program to consider. Within Canva, you can create teams, share your designs
with them, and collaborate with others to bring your creations to life.
One notable feature of Canva's sharing functionality is that
when you initiate sharing, you can collaborate on a design together. Alternatively,
you can use Canva's sharing feature to send designs to others and instruct them
to add those to their own Canva design gallery.
Another positive aspect of collaborating with others on
Canva is the ability to use Canva's Brand Kit to store all your logos, fonts,
colors, and more.
This helps your team stay organized on a single page
regarding your brand's design assets, preventing any frustration caused by
using random fonts or elements.
The team features of Canva are particularly effective for collaborating seamlessly with others during your graphic design process. It's important to note that each team member should have a Canva Pro subscription if everyone wants to leverage the Canva Pro features.
8. Canva is Good for Storing Your Designs Without Taking Up Computer Space
If you don't know, we'll tell you that Canva is a web-based
program, meaning it doesn't take up any space on your computer. On the other
hand, with Canva Pro, you get 100GB of storage within Canva's system, which you
can use to store all your designs.
Especially for an artist, consuming your computer storage space with large design files is quite easy. Therefore, with Canva, getting an extra 100GB of storage space is beneficial, and you can use it for all things related to Canva.
9. Canva is Good for Accessing Your Designs Anywhere
Since Canva is a web-based program, you can access all your
Canva designs anytime and from anywhere. It's not necessary for the computer
where your design is stored to be with you. With Canva, you can access all your
designs on any device with an internet connection.
You can access Canva using any computer through their
webpage. If you are using a phone or tablet, you simply need to download the
Canva app, and you can access all your designs this way.
While the reach to your Canva designs is excellent, there
are also some downsides. For example, if you don't have an internet connection,
you won't be able to access Canva. Therefore, it's crucial to reconsider if you
are working on your designs in a place that is an internet-free zone.
Personally, we prefer to keep all our designs in the cloud. Doing so allows us to access them across different devices without manual transfers. Additionally, if anything happens to our computer, we can be satisfied knowing that all our designs are safe in the cloud.
10. Canva is Good for Quick Graphic Design Projects
Reading through all the points we have mentioned, you can
understand that Canva's main focus is to provide access to pre-made design
assets, making your graphic design life easier and more skillful. Images,
fonts, elements, templates, collaboration features, and cloud-based storage
that you can access from anywhere and anytime together provide us with a
multitude of options for excellent graphic design projects.
You can quickly add effects to your designs, such as
blurring your images, adding highlights, removing backgrounds, and much more.
It is true that Canva may not incorporate many advanced techniques. However, truth be told, Canva is an excellent platform for artists who want to create beautiful designs quickly and easily without much hassle or stress.
Canva is Good for Bonus Points for Canva Lovers
Canva is Good for Usable Interface
The meaning of Canva's drag-and-drop layout is that you can
simply pick up what you want without any training. On the left side, you will
find a set of features where you can choose everything you want to add to your
design, and on the right side, you have your workspace where you create your
masterpiece.
As a beginner, you can open this platform, choose a template
for yourself, and edit your design with text and ideas. To the extent that even
schoolchildren have started using this tool for their homework.
This means that you can create presentations, graphics, or
photos for yourself without the training of a professional designer.
In addition to all this, Canva also offers us many ready-made icons, layouts, and templates. So, you can create something in minutes that looks professional, even if you don't understand font pairings and gradients.
Canva is Good for Printing Facilities
There will be many occasions when you want to print your
design. For example, you may want to print the menu for your restaurant, or
print a resume for your next job interview, or print a presentation for an
important client meeting.
When you choose to print, Canva provides you with the option
of professional print-quality files. If you want to print items or designs that
require a high-quality finish, such as a corporate brochure, this will prove to
be very useful for you.
In addition, Canva offers us a range of print settings,
including paper type and size.
Another benefit of Canva's print options is that it allows you to turn your design into a physical product.
Canva is Good for A Range of Pricing Options
Canva is an affordable tool that comes with different
pricing options, catering to occasional or amateur users as well as
professional design demands for businesses and enterprise users.
In addition to that, there is a free version of the Canva
tool available, which can be used for basic requirements only.
However, the Canva Free Version provides all the core
features needed to create any kind of graphic. This is the easiest way for
users to start with the platform and decide whether it is the right tool for
them before making any financial investments.
Canva's premium pricing option is known as the Canva Pro
plan. The Canva Pro plan starts at $9.95 per month. The main difference between
Canva Free version and Canva Pro plan is that with the Pro account, you get
access to additional features.
It includes various templates, graphics, icons, fonts, and images. Additionally, you get better export and printing options. Therefore, it is a better option for those who want to use this tool in a business environment.
Canva is Good for Customer Service Support
Canva customers have a lot of positive things to say about
the company's support team. Many Canva users mention that when they have
queries, the Canva team provides prompt and skillful answers. Moreover, most
customers describe their support team as helpful and friendly.
If you are new to graphic design, it is advisable to use a
tool that offers customer support. There might be instances where you want to
make changes to your graphic or move elements around, and you could get stuck
in the process. In such cases, contacting a support agent, sharing your
problem, and quickly resolving it without wasting your entire day is possible.
Customers can contact Canva's support team using one of the three methods, such as live chat, email, or phone. If you have a pro account, Canva's support team is obligated to respond within 24 hours.
Conclusion
I hope our article, 'What is Canva Good for? 10 Reasons to Use it for Design,' has satisfied you and provided you with significant assistance. If you are new to the field of graphic design, start using the Canva Free Version. However, if you want to use Canva for your business at a professional level, then you should subscribe to the Canva Pro Plan. This way, you can avoid any legal issues and fully benefit from it without second thoughts.
What is Canva primarily used for?
Canva is primarily used for graphic design, offering a user-friendly platform for creating a variety of designs such as cards, social media posts, infographics, and more.
How does Canva differ from advanced graphic design tools like Adobe?
Canva is categorized as a "basic" graphic design tool, suitable for users who don't require advanced techniques. Unlike Adobe, it focuses on ease of use and affordability.
What makes Canva suitable for basic graphic design?
Canva provides a wide range of pre-made templates, a vast library of images, elements, fonts, and features for quick and efficient graphic design projects.
Can Canva be used for professional designs, and what are its limitations?
Canva is suitable for professional designs with its extensive toolkit; however, it may not cover advanced techniques found in tools like Adobe, such as intricate photo manipulation.
How does Canva's background remover tool work, and is it effective?
Canva Pro offers a background remover tool, allowing users to easily remove backgrounds from images. While highly effective, it may face challenges with busy or cluttered backgrounds.
What design elements are available in Canva besides images?
Canva provides a variety of elements, including hand-drawn and digitally-drawn illustrations, frames, borders, and more, enhancing the overall design.
Is Canva suitable for collaboration in design projects?
Yes, Canva supports collaboration through team features, enabling users to create teams, share designs, and collaborate effectively. Each team member may require a Canva Pro subscription.
How does Canva handle storage, and is it accessible from different devices?
Canva, being web-based, doesn't consume computer space. Canva Pro offers 100GB of storage, and designs can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
Is Canva a good choice for quick graphic design projects?
Yes, Canva is designed for quick projects, offering features like effects, resizing, and a range of design assets for efficient graphic design.
What are the pricing options for Canva, and does it offer customer support?
Canva provides various pricing options, including a free version and a Canva Pro plan starting at $9.95 per month. Customer support is available through live chat, email, or phone, with a 24-hour response time for Pro accounts.