By Lexi Henry, Venango Chamber Intern
Graphics, posters, ads, logos, clothing designs, animations, and much more can be created using an online program called Canva. It is free and easily accessible and navigable for new users. The program provides templates, stickers, and fonts, as well as the option to upload and insert photos, and save creations in numerous formats.
It is relevant and useful in all aspects of online business activities. An account can be accessed by multiple users so a whole business has access to their online creations. Each project automatically saves in the program whether it is downloaded to the device or not.
I began using Canva my freshman year of college to make flyers, but now at the Chamber, I use it for most of the Facebook and blog posts that I create along with designing our Oil Heritage Festival t-shirts. It has been a convenient and efficient program since we are able to access previous year’s posts and information along with making the editing, updating, and uploading process much easier.
When creating a project, you can choose from numerous formats, or create your own piece from scratch with the exact measurements you need. People accessing the program for free can use a large variety of backgrounds and stickers, but you can purchase a membership which gives you full access to all of their supply.
Some things I do when using Canva include:
• Get inspiration from other graphics and if I’m not feeling inspired, use a template
• Keep it simple
• Incorporate our branding when possible (logo, colors, fonts, etc)
• Utilize layers – move different elements backwards or forwards to create visual effects
• Remember it’s okay to try different things (The undo button is your friend!)
The Chamber has been successfully using this program for three years now and it has become so useful to our online business success. We highly recommend Canva for any of your business, educational, or commercial needs.
This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s August 2021 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.