So you’ve purchased an editable template but you’re not quite sure how to actually edit it. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to edit a template using Canva. These instructions will work with Canva Templates or any other template that is in JPG or PNG format.
This post contains affiliate links. This just means if you purchase something by clicking one of my links I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
How to edit a template using Canva
Starting with a Template that was created in Canva and sent to you in a link as a “Canva Template”.
First, click the link you were sent to be taken to your editable design in Canva. You will need to login or create an account with Canva to edit your designs. Don’t worry, it’s totally free and safe to use.
Once you have logged in, click “Use Template”.
Your template will pull up and you are ready to start editing. You can skip the next section and jump on down to “Adding Text“.
Starting with a PNG or JPG template you downloaded and that was NOT sent to you as a Canva link
You’re going to need Canva for this tutorial. Canva is totally free to use and it’s an online feature so you don’t have to download anything to your computer. Just head over to canva.com and sign up for a free account.
Once you have your account set up you can upload your template. Just click “Create a Design” and scroll down to “Flyer”. Most templates will be sized to 8.5×11 which is the flyer size. If you need a different size you can just select “Custom dimensions” and type in the size you need. (Note that the size is in “px” so you’ll want to change that to “in” for inches.
Once your blank design is open and on the screen you can upload your template. Just click the “Upload” icon in the far left menu and find your template. Drag the template into your design and size it to fit the page. Now you’re ready to edit your template.
Adding Text:
- Click the “Text” icon in the left menu and then select “add a little bit of body text” (or for a quick command you can click on the document you want to edit and simply type “t”) and a text box will appear for you. This works the way all text boxes do.
- Type in your text and then choose your font from the font menu at the top. You will see there are literally hundreds of fonts to choose from. Some are free and some are not. If the font has a little gold crown symbol next to it that means it’s a paid font and you won’t be able to use it without paying for your edits.
Changing Text Color:
- Once you have your text entered and sized how you’d like you can change the color by clicking the “A” with the color box under it at the top of the screen. This will allow you to quickly choose a common color, choose a color I’ve already selected as part of the document (easy way to make everything match) or create custom colors by using the “new color” box at the top of the menu.
- If you want to step it up a notch you can even add text effects like shadow or neon. You can also add fun elements like clipart or photos. More detailed instructions on how to use those in the video tutorial.
Correcting Errors:
While you’re editing you may accidently delete something or add something you don’t want. If this happens don’t worry. You can click the “back arrow” icon at the top left of your screen and it will magically erase the last thing you did.
Saving Your Document:
The document will auto save every 5 seconds so all of your work is basically saved in real time. When you’re all done editing and you want to download your design simply click the “download arrow” at the top right of your screen. It will suggest you save as a PDF however you can click into that and save it as any format you’d like. Just select the format you want and click download. It will download your edited files directly to your computer and you’re all done.
Want to purchase the Santa Letters shown in my examples? Awesome, just click here!
