How to export print-ready files with Canva

Setting up and exporting print-ready files with Canva is nice and easy these days. The popular graphic design platform is often where our leaflet distribution clients here in Nottingham and Mansfield have produced their artwork.

Follow these instructions if you need to ensure that your file includes the relevant bleed for your leaflet printing company.

Bleed is an area around the outside of your artwork that images must extend to. It’s the area that’s trimmed off after printing. To prevent any white lines, anything that goes right to the edge of your design must reach the bleed line.

The standard specs are 3mm but don’t worry too much about that. Canva doesn’t let you change these settings anyway—at least, not that I could see when researching this article.

Print-ready files with Canva in 3 steps

Three quick steps to prepare your file to send to a commercial printer. let’s get into it…

Using Affinity Designer or Publisher instead? How to export print-ready files with Affinity

1. Show print bleed

By default, the bleed line isn’t visible. You need to be able to see it so that you can make sure your design covers the right area.

Firstly, with your project open, head to settings, then select show print bleed. Job done. As you’ll see, this now shows you the edge of your flyer or leaflet, as well as a border around the outside.

Basically, any elements that touch the edge of your design must go right over to the new extended edge. For example, in the screenshot above, we can see the dotted line being the edge of the flyer, with the background extending out to cover the bleed area.

2. Export your print-ready file

Secondly, once your design is complete, let’s export it ready for printing. Head to share and then click on download.

From here we can select our file type. Go ahead and pick PDF Print. Tick both crop marks and bleed as well as Flatten PDF.

For the colour profile, most commercial printers will require CMYK. Always double check with your printing company first, however. It’s worth noting that exporting with a CMYK colour profile requires a premium account on Canva.

Click download and save the file to wherever you normally keep them. One final step and then we’ve created your print-ready files with Canva.

Thinking of upgrading from Canva to Affinity Publisher? Read our official Affinity Publisher 2 Review.

3. Check your file

Lastly, we’ll take a quick look at the file to make sure it’s looking as it should do. Once exported, open your PDF file. You should see your artwork, plus the extended bleed border. Additionally, you’ll notice the crop marks (small black lines) in each corner.

Make sure that your background and any other part of your artwork around the sides all reach the crop lines/marks. These are where the flyer or leaflet will get trimmed after printing. The screenshot below is roughly how it should look.

Print-ready files with Canva – Conclusion

Canva is a fantastic tool allowing anyone to design their flyers and leaflets easily. We can ensure the export is ready to send to your commercial printing company with three simple steps.

1. Show print bleed
2. Export your print-ready file
3. Check your file

If you need any further help exporting print-ready files with Canva, please don’t hesitate to send us a message. We’ll gladly assist you.