Canva is your one-stop tool for designing, ideating, and printing content. If you’re a long-time user, you’re probably familiar with the company’s paid printing service, which prints designs and delivers them to your home. But what about free printing?
You’ll be relieved to know that you can also use Canva to print your designs on your personal printer for free. This article shares all the steps and tricks you need to know. We also looked at the benefits of using Canva’s premium printing service, just in case.
Print from Canva using a personal computer
The only way to print from Canva for free is to use your personal computer and printer. Of course, you also need a Canva account (free or premium). You can print any design from your Canva library for free. To get started, be sure to download that design as a PDF Print. Below is an overview of all the steps you need to follow.
Download the Design – Traditional Method
First, you need to download your Canva file to your local computer.
- Open the Canva design or create a new one.
- Add bleed, margins, and adjust any elements that need adjustment.
- Press the “Share” button in the editor menu.
- Press “Download”.
- Choose the “Print PDF” file format by choosing the file type from the drop-down menu.
- Optional steps include crop marks and flattening your PDF.
- Press “Download”. You will have to pay for the premium items (if any) you used before continuing with the download.
Advice: Use CMYK colors when designing for print. This color setting will make your design look better when printed.
The next step is to print the design.
Print canvas designs
- Open the PDF file you downloaded to your desktop.
- Press “Print” or click the printer button in the PDF viewer.
- Select your personal printer model from the drop-down menu. The model must support the size of the design.
- Set your printer to 100% so that the design print size is correct.
- Click “Print” when you are ready.
Print Canva designs directly from the program
Users can also print their Canva designs directly from the app without having to download designs to their personal devices. The program has a “Print” option in the “File” menu that you can use without purchasing additional software.
You can use the “Print” option in Canva regardless of your subscription plan. Simply follow the steps below:
- Open the design you want to print in Canva or create a new project and press “File.”
- Press “View Settings” and check “Show Margins” and “Show Print Bleed.”
- Select “Print your design.”
- Choose the design you want to print.
- Select the page to print and press continue.
- Follow the next step and press Print.
So why bother downloading a Canva file to your computer when you can print everything directly from the program? Well, printing from Canva can reduce the quality of your print. Additionally, printing the design professionally would ensure better color contrast and overall sharpness.
The disadvantages of printing with Canva for free
You can use the free printed version of your Canva designs for personal use. However, unless you have easy access to professional printers, you will be restricted to printing on paper only (assuming you have a printer at home).
Additionally, if you use third-party printing apps, you run the risk of having your data compromised on the web or your printing material ending up in a data leak.
If you’re looking for a more professional printing experience, we recommend trying Canva’s premium services. More about them below.
Alternative to free printing
Canva has a design and print program where you can create stunning visual products and pick them up in a store or have them delivered for free right to your door. Some examples of products you can print this way include:
- Business cards (50 cards for $20)
- A3 vertical posters
- Tshirts
- Invitations
- Water bottles
- Mouse Pad
- Sweatshirts
- Cups
- Cloth bags
- Infographics
- Letterheads
- Mouse Pad
- Notebooks
This list is just the beginning of all the products you can print with Canva.
Below are some benefits and features of printing your designs with Canva:
- Flexible delivery. Choose free standard shipping, express delivery or in-store pickup in the US or Canada for flexible delivery that doesn’t depend on opening hours or delivery times.
- Access the latest tools available in Canva, like Magic Resize, to resize products and convert them into printable documents like tote bags, brochures, cards, and more.
- Background remover to print products the way you imagined them.
- Automatic testing to prepare the product for printing in seconds. The system keeps track of image problems, margins, and bleeds so the print turns out right.
- More than 250,000 templates. There are thousands of templates available to turn any type of content into a printed product.
- Exceptional print quality. The company takes its printing to a professional printing shop located next to it. The order comes with a Happiness Guarantee, so you can get a refund or reprint if you are not satisfied with the result.
Order prints for Canva designs
If you would like to request a professional print for your design, follow the steps below:
- Open the Canva design you want to print.
- Tap “Print” in the menu bar or the “Share” icon if you’re on your mobile phone.
- Choose the print specifications and page numbers you want to print.
- Add another file to your print card by pressing “Add to order” or go to “Checkout”.
- Enter shipping details. You can add them manually or choose to have your order picked up. In the latter case, choose a preferred pickup store instead of your address.
- Choose your preferred payment method.
- Apply your Canva Print coupon if you have one.
- Review your order one more time to verify it and press “Place Order” when finished.
You will receive a pop-up notification on the screen, as well as an email to confirm your order. You will be able to make changes to your order for two hours after placing it.
You can also add more designs to your order. Follow the steps below:
- Go to the order panel or “cart icon”.
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- Customize the print options for the new print product. Maybe you need to change the quantity, different pages or the finish of the paper.
- Repeat the steps in the previous p until all item orders are complete and go to Checkout to finish.
Canva Printing Service Use Cases
Marketing professionals, small business owners, and creative people use Canva’s printing services for a variety of purposes.
Custom gifts
If you’re making a personalized gift, you naturally look for a cute, attractive, and interactive design. Canva’s advanced features allow you to make a completely personalized gift by designing sweatshirts, mugs, cushions or any other gift idea you have in mind. And if you’re short on gift ideas, you can even ask Canva’s Magic Writer, the AI writing assistant, for help.
Promotional materials
You can print all types of promotional materials for your business, such as brochures or business cards. Choose from available templates or create your own design from scratch. Companies need to increase their brand awareness and there is no better way to do this than to go out and offer small souvenirs such as pens, mugs, cards or brochures.
Commercial material
You can print letterheads, invoices, envelopes, infographics or bound documents for your business in as many examples as you want. Send material to the entire team or print everything for personal needs and ensure the highest product quality.
Personal use
Canva printing services are available to everyone. If you’re a hobbyist content creator or graphic designer, you can play with your creations and print them to put in your collection or share with friends and family. Do you want to surprise your better half by printing a personalized t-shirt? You can do all that and more with Canva printing services.
Frequent questions
How fast does Canva deliver printed products?
Shipping times vary by region, but expect up to 14 business days for economy, eight business days for standard delivery, and up to three business days for expedited delivery.
How sustainable is printing with Canva?
Very. Canva plants a tree for every print order you place with the company. It’s all done through their One Print, One Tree program.
The Many Ways to Print Canva Designs
Canva is among the most versatile design platforms and the variety of printing options proves it. Whether you’re printing for personal or professional use, you can choose the printing method that best suits your needs. Remember that the free printing option is fine for simple designs, while you may want to try Canva’s professional printing service for more serious projects.
What kind of designs do you make in Canva? Does the free printing option do the work for you? Share your experience in the comments p below.
