37 Canva Hacks, Best Canva Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Canva users employ a smarter approach to their work rather than putting in excessive effort. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user of Canva, these 37 valuable Canva hacks will save you time and guarantee a smooth workflow.

What are Canva Hacks?

Canva hacks are tips and tricks to make awesome designs faster. They include shortcuts and advanced features, helping users create pro designs easily.

We have compiled 37 useful Canva tips and tricks to improve your daily life.

List of Best Canva Hacks

Here is the list of best Canva hacks.

Align text in the center
Get rid of the video background
Filter elements
Choose a behind-the-scenes element
New features and shapes
Add gradient
Make your text curve
Draw on canva
Use infographics and graphs
Group or lock elements
Quick create
Add a background to your text
Integrate Pexels and Pixabay for free photos
Use shortcuts
Create a hyperlink
Secret codes for finding free elements
New effect for photos
Easily edit any PDF
Template links allow you to sell Canva templates
Embedded social site posts
QR codes
TypeCraft
Smart Mockups
Product Photos
Content Planner
Custom Shadows
Modify Image Color
Project Folders
Magic Studio
Magic Resize
Upload Fonts
Color Picker
Transparent Backgrounds
Grouping Elements
Effects and Filters
Animations
Brand Kit

Best 37 Canva Hacks in 2024

37 Canva hacks you need to know in 2024.

1. Align Text in the Center

This is one of the best Canva hacks for 2024.

Hey, want to make sure your text in the design looks nice and centered? All you gotta do is grab the little handle on the text box and move it to the edges of your drawing area. If you want more boxes with the same font and size, just copy the first one and move it down. Easy-peasy! Then you can change the words inside each box. Have fun!

2. Get Rid of the Video Background

Hey there! We are sure you’ve heard about Canva’s cool feature that removes the background from images, right? But did you know they also have something similar for videos? Yep, it’s a video background remover! It works just like the image one, but it’s for videos instead. Pretty neat, huh?

Just do these things to use it:

Pick a video part you want to work with.
Go to the “Edit video” option.
Click on “Remove background”. That’s it!

Well, you know what? This new thing they made is really cool, but it’s not always right. It might not work right now if you are working on a video with plenty of background activity.

But if the video background is just one color, like really simple, then it should work fine. Canva will probably make it even better in the future.

Instead of looking at all the pictures in Canva, just go to the side menu and tap the “Elements” option. Type in what you’re searching for and click on the “Filters”. You can choose the kind of picture you want by its format, color, how it’s placed, and if it moves or not. It’s like a special way to find exactly what you need!

4. Choose a Behind-The-Scenes Element

If you’ve ever made some cool designs using Canva, you might have observed that sometimes it is really hard to pick a picture or a box of words that are hiding behind something else.

Guess what? I’ve got some good news for you! There’s a super cool trick called a keyboard shortcut that can make things much easier!

So, imagine you have different layers stacked on top of each other. If you want to select a layer that’s hiding behind another one, you don’t have to worry. Tap the top layer while holding down the CTRL key. Then, tap again to choose the next one. Keep doing this until you find the layer you were searching for. It’s like playing a fun-clicking game!

Isn’t that awesome? Now you can quickly find and select the right layer without any trouble. Give it a try and see how handy this one of the Canva hacks can be!

5. New Features and Shapes

Hey, guess what? Canva has made a cool new update! Now, when you’re using the editor, you can add shapes to your designs. And guess what’s even cooler? You can put text inside those shapes too! Isn’t that awesome? You can choose different fonts, sizes, and colors, just like before.

Canva lets you easily change the shapes! It’s super simple. Just tap the shape you wish to change, go to the top panel, find “Shape,” and pick a new shape. Voila! You’ve got a different shape in no time!

If you want to put borders around your shapes, you can totally do that! Just pick the shape you want to change, click on the border style at the top, and decide how you want the border to look.

When you move your mouse over a line next to a shape, some special dots called “connection” dots will pop up! If you click and hold the line and then drop it onto one of those dots, it will connect the line to the shape. And you know what’s even cooler? If you want to connect the line to another shape, you can do the same thing at the other end!

6. Add Gradient

Gradients make things look cool! When you use Canva, you can have fun with lots of different colors, make things see-through or not, and even make the colors go in different directions. It’s like a special way to make pictures look awesome!

So, first, you must go to the “Elements“. When you find “gradient“, click on the word “graphics” that you see next to it.

After you pick a gradient in Canva that you really like, you can change it even more. Just look at the top and find some little colored boxes. There should be three of them. You can play around with those boxes to make the gradient look even cooler.

7. Make Your Text Curve

If you wish to make your text look curvy in Canva, it’s super easy! First, choose the text you want to work with. Then, look for the Effects option at the top and give it a click. A bunch of cool text styles will pop up. Now, pick the Curve style, and you can make your text curve in a really cool way. There’s a slider below that you can move to change how curvy it looks. With a slide to the left, you can even make your text curve in the opposite direction! It’s like magic!

8. Draw On Canva

The next and one of the best Canva hacks is Draw on Canva.

Canva just came out with their awesome new app called “Draw“! It’s super cool because you can actually draw pictures and designs that are already there or even start from scratch.

Okay, here’s how you can use it:

First, look at the bottom of the side panel in the Canva editor and find the “More” button. When you see it, click on it. It will open up a menu.
In that menu, look for the “Draw” app and click. This will add it to your editor.
Now, you can use a pen, a highlighter, or other drawing tools.
Next, pick the size, color, and transparency for your drawing tool. You can make it big or small, light or dark, and choose any color you like.
Once you’ve set everything up, it’s time to start drawing on Canva. Let your creativity flow!
When you’re done with your drawing, look at the top panel and click on “Done.” This will finish your drawing. And that’s it!

So, remember: Find “More“, click “Draw“, choose your tool and settings, draw on the canvas, click “Done“, and enjoy your creation!

9. Use Infographics and Graphs

Canva is a cool tool that turns numbers and information into awesome pictures! You can make bar charts, line charts, and even pictures that look like little drawings.

To find all these amazing charts, just go to the “Elements” section and scroll down until you see “Charts.” Click on “See all”, and you’ll find hundreds of different chart styles to choose from!

It’s great because you can customize each chart. You can make them bigger or smaller, add percentages, change the number of things in the chart and how they’re spaced out, or even pick different colors to make them look super fancy!

10. Group or Lock Elements

If you want to prevent some things from moving by accident, you can lock them. This way, they stay put, and you don’t mess things up when you’re working with them.

So, if you want to make something stay in one spot, here’s what you do: first, you have to pick it by clicking on it, and then look for the little lock symbol and click on it. That’s it! Oh, and if you want to lock more than one thing, just hold the shift key while choosing each thing and then click on the lock symbol. Easy peasy!

So, when you group things together, it’s like putting them in a special team. Once they’re in the group, if you pick one of them, all the other things in the group will be picked too. It’s kind of like they’re all friends, and they stick together.

11. Quick Create

If you want to make lots of cool designs in different shapes and sizes super easily, you should definitely try out Canva’s awesome “Quick Create” tool. It lets you create all sorts of amazing stuff with just a few clicks!

Follow these steps:

First, pick where you want your cool designs to go, like on Facebook, Instagram, or in an email header.
Next, type in the words you want to use.
If you wish, add your favorite picture and your own special logo.
Now, you get to choose from a few different design options.
Then, it’s time to pick the colors you want to use.
Finally, click the finish button.

12. Add a Background to Your Text

Hey there, instead of putting a shape below your words to keep them separate from other stuff in the design, you can just make the text look really cool instead.

First, click the text.
Then, click “Effects.”
Next, a bunch of cool choices will pop up, and one of them is called “Background.” Pick that one!

Now, get ready for the fun part. You’ll see some sliders that you can move around.

13. Integrate Pexels and Pixabay for Free Photos

Guess what? Canva has Pexels and Pixabay. This means you can actually get stock photos for free! Can you believe that? This was a surprise to us!

Follow the steps:

Look at the side of the editor where all the options are. Click on “Apps.”
Tap “Pixabay” or “Pexels.”
Get the images you want for free!

14. Use Shortcuts

The shortcuts hack is one of the best Canva hacks that make things easier! To help you out, we’ve included a picture below that shows all the shortcuts you can use. Take a look!

Action	Shortcut
Move up/down	CMD/CTRL + [ (down) or CMD/CTRL + ] (up)
Font size (Increase/Decrease)	CMD/CTRL + shift + > (increase)CMD/CTRL + shift + < (decrease)
Text box	T
Quick duplicate	CMD/CTRL + D

15. Create a Hyperlink

Follow these steps:

To make a hyperlink, just do this: press the “Control” on your keyboard and then press “C” to copy the text.
After that, find the “Link” icon and click on it.

Finally, paste it by pressing “Control” and “V“. And voila! Your hyperlink is ready to go.

16. Secret Codes for Finding Free Elements

If you want to search for free elements, all you must do is type these special codes into the search bar:

Type “brand: BAAAAP7rQ8M” to find awesome freebies.
Type “brand: BAAMOuJH0Ec” for more cool free elements.
And if you want even more, type “brand: BADeGZOX6Sc“!

Isn’t that amazing? Now you can unlock lots of free stuff on Canva using these secret codes.

17. New Effect for Photos

Canva just added some super cool photo effects! Now you can make the background of your pictures blurry while still keeping the main subject in focus. It’s really easy to do. Just follow these steps:

Choose a picture you like.
Click on “Edit picture.”
Look for “Auto Focus.”
Make the changes you want.
Click on “Apply.”

You can turn a photo into a cool painting. It’s super easy! Just follow these steps:

Pick a picture you like.
Click on “Edit image.”
Tap “Paint effects.“
Now, you get to select the type of paint effect you want. There are lots of options!
You can make some changes to the effect you picked.
Finally, click on “Apply” to see your photo magically transform into a beautiful painting!

You can now easily make photos look cooler in Canva by adding shadows!

Choose a picture you like.
Click on “Edit picture.”
Look for “Shadows” and put it in.
Select any shadow effect.
Click on “Apply.”

That’s it! Have fun creating your own masterpieces with this Canva hack.

18. Easily Edit Any PDF

You don’t have to use the original paper anymore to make any changes to your PDF.

Just go to your Canva home page.
Then, drag and drop the PDF onto the page, and it will upload by itself.
Once it’s open, moving, changing, and deleting parts are all possible.

19. Template Links Allow You to Sell Canva Templates

You can make cool templates and show them to your friends with one of these amazing Canva hacks. It’s really awesome!

So, how to create your own editable templates? Don’t worry; it’s super duper easy! Just follow some steps, and you’ll be a pro at it in no time!

First, make a cool design that you want to use again and again.
Make a folder named “template” for your Canva Pro design.
Next, look for a button that says “Share“. Click on it, and look for a link that says “Template.” Click on that link, and share your awesome design with others!

You can embed social site posts, it’s super easy!

Just follow these steps:

Look for the “Apps.”
Search for “Embeds.“
Copy the web address (URL) of the social media post you want to use.
Paste the link into Canva, and you’re all set!

21. QR Codes

This example stands out from other Canva hacks.

To make a QR code in Canva:

Open your project.
Go to “Apps.”
Search “QR Code.”
Pick “QR Code” or “ME-QR.”
Check “transparent background” for a clear QR code.

22. TypeCraft

TypeCraft in Canva lets you twist, stretch, and play with text creatively. Here’s how:

Open Canva, and find TypeCraft.
Type your text, and pick a font.
Choose style and color.
Shape your text using dials.
Add it to your design. TypeCraft is free, but Canva Pro offers extra features like transparent backgrounds and drop shadows.

23. Smart Mockups

To use Smartmockups in Canva, there are two ways:

From the Homepage:
- Go to Apps > Mockups.
- Find or choose a mockup.
- Select an image/design.
- Adjust colors and size if needed.
- Save or download your mockup.
From the Editor:
- Open Canva Assistant.
- Type “mockups” and click Mockups.
- Choose a mockup and add your design.
- Edit as necessary.
- To start fresh, select Clear mockup and add a new image.

Use Smartmockups in Canva for quick, beautiful high-res mockups, no need for Photoshop!

24. Product Photos

Scroll through the Mockups app above to find the mockups that match your brand. These mockups will boost your product idea and speed up getting it to market.

25. Content Planner

Canvas Content Planner lets you make, schedule, and post social media content across platforms all at once.

Just sign up for Canvas Pro Plan for a free 30-day trial to get started. With this tool, you can design, schedule, and collaborate on content with your team easily.

Plus, it comes with a handy content calendar to keep everything organized. You can also track how your posts are doing with metrics like impressions and likes.

To use it:

Just go to the Canvas homepage
click on “Content Planner”
start managing your social content efficiently from the calendar screen.

26. Custom Shadows

This method lets you create custom shadows in Canva by duplicating, shaping, blurring, and positioning behind the original object.

Add the object/image to your Canva design.
Duplicate the object (Ctrl+D for Windows, Cmd+D for Mac).
Change the duplicate to a matching shape (like a rounded rectangle for an iPhone).
Blur the duplicate (70% for a good shadow effect).
Position the blurred shape behind the original for the shadow.
Adjust position, size, and blur for the desired effect.
Customize the shadow color to match the background.

27. Modify Image Color

To change an image’s color in Canva:

Import your image.
Choose “Edit Photo” from the image.
Go to the Effects tab and pick “Duotone”.
Choose a color preset or make a custom selection. That’s it! Now you can adjust any image’s color in Canva without needing Photoshop.

28. Project Folders

Canva’s project folders are essential. Without them, it’s easy to lose track of designs buried in the dashboard.

Organizing your designs into folders is a game changer.

29. Magic Studio

Canvas Magic Studio offers AI-driven design tools to simplify content creation.

With features like Magic Design for quick image and video creation, Magic Switch for effortless format conversion, and Magic Media for text-to-video capabilities, users can create with ease and speed.

Magic Grab, Magic Expand, Magic Morph, and Magic Write further enhance design possibilities, making content creation more accessible and efficient.

30. Magic Resize

Magic Resize in Canva’s Pro version lets you quickly adjust your designs for different platforms without starting over. Here’s how:

Make your design.
Click ‘Resize’ at the top left.
Choose where you want to use your design.
Canva will make resized versions in new tabs.
Tweak each one for consistency.
If you’re a Pro user, you can download or share them right away.

31. Upload Fonts

To upload fonts to Canva:

Open your design and click “Text”.
Click the current font, then “Upload a Font”.
Have Canva Pro? Click “Upload a font” again.
Choose your font file (OTF, TTF, or WOFF).
Confirm you have the right licenses.
Wait for the upload and check for success.
It’s now in “Uploaded Fonts”!

32. Color Picker

In Canva, the Color Picker lets you match colors from images or design parts. Here’s how:

Get Canva Desktop App: Download it from canva.me/desktop.
Open a New Design.
Pick an Element: Click on what you want to recolor.
Click Color Preview: Choose “Add a new color.”
Use Color Picker: Click the dropper tool to grab a color from an image or design.

33. Transparent Backgrounds

To make a transparent background in Canva, you’ll need Canva Pro or Enterprise. Free Canva doesn’t offer this feature. With Pro or Enterprise, follow these steps:

Upload your image.
Click “Edit Image.”
Choose “Background Remover” on the left panel. Background vanishes.
To save with transparency, click “Share” and select PNG with ‘Transparent background’ checked.

34. Grouping Elements

Grouping elements in Canva is easy! Here’s how:

Website: Drag to select, press shift, then click group.
Mobile App: Tap, select multiple, then group.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl + G (Windows) or Cmd + G (Mac).
To ungroup, click ungroup or use the shortcut keys.

35. Effects and Filters

Canva has lots of tools to make your images and videos look better. You can add effects and filters easily with just a few clicks. They have free photo effects and one-click filters to jazz up your pictures.

Plus, you can tweak settings and try out different creative options to make cool content for your audience.

36. Animations

Canva offers powerful animation tools for creating engaging designs and videos. Key features include:

Animating Elements: Easily apply animations to design elements with different styles and adjustable settings.
Page Animations: Animate all elements on a page with one click, using combination presets and element timing.
Animated Stickers: Access a library of animated stickers, customizable with color changes.
Magic Animate: Instantly animate designs and presentations with one click, applicable to text, images, and graphics.
Animated Videos: Create video animations online, with editing and downloading options and no watermark.

37. Brand Kit

A Canva brand kit organizes your brand assets like logos, colors, and fonts. Here’s how to set it up:

Setting up a Brand Kit:

If you’re on Canva Pro, go to the “Brand” tab.
Click “Add Brand Kit” and name it.
Upload logo files in different formats.
Canva auto-generates a color palette from your logos.
You can manually add colors using hex codes.
Add brand fonts, specifying name, style, and size.
You can create multiple kits if you handle multiple brands.

Visit: Canva

Consider These Canva Hacks

In conclusion, these top 37 Canva hacks of 2024 are game-changers for anyone seeking to create stunning designs effortlessly.

From mastering advanced features to maximizing productivity, these Canva tips unlock the full potential. Embrace the power of Canva hacks and unleash your design process.

FAQs on Canva Hacks

How to get better on Canva?

To get better at Canva, pick great pics, mind the text style, organize your design well, use space wisely, keep things lined up, and play around with Canva’s tools and templates. Practice, try different looks, and check out what others do to make cool stuff faster.