In this post, I walk you through the basics of how to use Canva for your print on demand designs. With these tips and tricks under your belt, you’ll be able to create beautiful, professional-looking designs that will help your POD designs sell like hotcakes!
This post is about creating print on demand designs in Canva.
Do I Need Canva Pro for Print On Demand?
Canva Pro is a great investment for anyone serious about creating winning print on demand designs. Trust me – it’s worth every penny!
If you’re serious about creating winning designs for print on demand, then I recommend signing up for their pro version. You can get a 30 day free trial to Canva Pro here.
You’ll also get access to all of their premium features, which includes things like:
– Thousands of royalty-free images and graphics that are not available on the free plan
– Hundreds of fonts you can’t access with the free plan
– Advanced mockup tools
– The ability to resize your designs
Now that you know a little bit more about Canva Pro and what it can do for your POD business, let’s walk through the process of creating a winning design on the platform.
Want to take the guesswork out of creating print on demand designs and get sellable design templates? Check out the Easy Design Kit!
Setting Up Your Document Correctly
The first step to creating winning POD designs on Canva is to set up your document with the right dimensions. For print on demand, I recommend your document size be 4500×5400, which ensures that your designs will print out crisp and clear.
To set up your document, click on “Create a Design” and select the custom size icon. From there, enter the width and height (4500×5400).
Now that you have your document set up, it’s time to start learning how to create print on demand designs in Canva!
Creating Text Designs In Canva
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating text designs for your POD designs:
– Use easy-to-read fonts
– Stick to one or two fonts per design
Canva has text templates you can use as a foundation. Just make sure to switch up the look!
There are a few more things you’ll also want to consider when creating text designs.
First, make sure that your font is easily readable and stands out to potential buyers. A good rule of thumb is to use a bold sans serif or serif font.
You’ll also want to make sure that your text is big enough to be seen from a distance; after all, you only have a few seconds to grab buyers’ attention.
Another important thing to keep in mind when adding text to your POD designs is kerning. Kerning is the space between each letter, and it can have a big impact on the overall look of your design.
To adjust the kerning in Canva, simply click on the spacing icon with the up and down arrow and then adjust the ‘Letter spacing’ from the tab.
Adding Images to Your Designs
When it comes to your POD designs, adding graphic elements helps your design stand out from just a text design.
There are a few things to keep in mind when adding images to your POD designs:
– Use images that complement your design and make sense to use. For example, if you’re selling t-shirts with funny sayings, you’ll want to use images that match the tone of your design.
Use colors that complement each other in your design or use the same color in the design.
– Stick to one or two images per design
Canva has a wide variety of free and paid images you can use in your POD designs. Simply click on the ‘Uploads’ tab and upload your own images, or search for images within the ‘Elements’ tab in Canva.
Add Effects To Your Print on Demand Designs In Canva
Adding effects to your POD designs can help make your design pop and stand out.
There are a few things to keep in mind when adding effects:
– Use effects sparingly
– Stick to one or two effects per design
Canva has a wide variety of built-in effects you can use, such as shadows, glows, and image filters. To access these effects, simply click on the ‘Effects’ tab in Canva. Use effects sparingly in your POD designs, because some of these effects may not look good when printed.
Saving Your Designs in Canva
When you’re ready to save your design, simply click on the ‘Share’ button in the top right-hand corner and select ‘Download’. Make sure you are selecting ‘Transparent background’ when saving.
This will ensure that your design prints out with a transparent background on your product, which is what you want. Once you’ve completed that, just hit ‘Download’.
Keep in mind that this is only available on the pro plan, so this is another reason why the Canva pro plan is beneficial for print on demand.
Creating Mockups In Canva
Did you know Canva has a variety of mockups available for print on demand?
Canva is a great tool for creating mockups of your POD designs. A mockup is simply a ‘preview’ of what your design will look like without having the product on hand.
Canva has a variety of mockups you can use, such as t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. To access these mockups, search for images within the ‘Elements’ tab in Canva. I typed in ‘t-shirt woman’ and found this one to use.
Once you’ve found a mockup that you like, simply drag and drop it into your design. You can then adjust the opacity of your design so it’s not too unrealistic looking.
Smart Mockups In Canva
Did you about Canva smart mockups? It allows you to create mockups instantly for a realistic look. No tech skills are needed!
First, create a new document and drag your design into it. With your design selected, click on ‘Edit image’ in the toolbar.
Go to the ‘Smartmockups’ section and ‘See all’ to select the mockup you want to use.
Scroll down to see all of Canva’s mockup options. I’m using a mug for this design.
Once you’ve selected the mockup you’d like to use, click on the adjustment icon to change the position and size of your design on the mockup.
This is the end result! Super cool and easy, right?!
Creating winning POD designs on Canva is easier than you think. Just remember to keep things simple and create designs that customers want.
I hope this guide was helpful in teaching you how to create winning POD designs using Canva. You’ll be a pro at designing in Canva in no time after learning these methods and ideas.
Still feeling stuck in your print on demand business? Check out my other blog post on why you’re not getting sales on Etsy.
This post was all about using Canva for print on demand.
