Canva File Preparation

Guidelines for creating great printing files.

DOCUMENT SETUP: (File Menu) 1. Show Rulers & Guides, 2. Show Margins, 3. Show Print Bleed

It is important to set up your document correctly when creating a file that will be printed. These specifications let us know exactly what you are looking for.

Page Size:

This is the final, unfolded size of your printed piece. (This is where we will be cutting.)

1. File Menu: Always Check “Show rulers and guides”

This will allow you to drag you own guides on to the Canva document for alignment or to create your own custom margin guides.

2. File Menu: Always Check “Show Margins”

The margins are guides that you can use to keep important images/text from being cut off. Canva will create an automatic margin based on your document size, or you can drag your own guides out of the rulers. We recommend minimum 0.25” – 0.5” margins.

3. File Menu: Always Check “Show Print Bleeds”

The bleed area is an area outside the trim line that WILL BE CUT OFF.
This is used when you intend for a background image to run (bleed) off the edge of the final printed paper.