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Exporting Print-Ready Files in Canva: A Step-by-Step Guide
- February 20, 2025
- Printing Tips
Canva makes designing easy, but setting up a file for professional printing requires specific steps to ensure perfect results.
Whether you’re using Canva’s free or premium version, this guide will walk you through how to properly format, export, and prepare your artwork for print.
Exporting Your PDF
1. Set Document Size
- Ensure the Canva document matches the required size for the chosen product.
2. Enable Bleed View
- Go to File > Settings
- Enable Show Print Bleed to ensure your design/background extends fully to the bleed area.
3. Export File
- Click Share > Download > PDF Print
- Select CMYK colour mode
- Check Include crop and bleed
- Click Download
4. Upload the File
- Your file is now ready for upload.
CMYK, Where Art Thou?
If you’re using the free version of Canva, you may have noticed that CMYK export is locked behind the premium paywall (as if…). This means your files can only be exported in RGB, which isn’t ideal for print.
When you upload an RGB file to our system, you’ll receive a warning message letting you know that your file isn’t in CMYK. While your design will still print, the colours may appear slightly different due to how screens (RGB) and printers (CMYK) interpret colour. For most people, the difference is subtle—but for precise colour matching, converting your file is the best option.
If you have access to Adobe Acrobat, you can convert the colour settings by following the steps below:
- Open the downloaded PDF in Adobe Acrobat
- Go to Tools > Print Production > Convert Colours
- Select Conversion Profile: U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2
- Click OK
- Save to PDF
- Your file is now ready for upload
Alternatively, there are plenty of free online tools that allow you to convert RGB to CMYK – for example, PDF2CMYK.
Canva & Bleed: The 3mm Dilemma
Canva only allows you to export with 3mm bleed, which is the standard for most print products – like business cards, flyers or brochures.
However, some products, such as vinyl or pull-up banners, will require more than the standard 3mm bleed to ensure a clean, edge-to-edge print.
If you need extra bleed and have access to Adobe Acrobat, you can manually extend it by following this Adobe Community guide.
If you upload a file with insufficient bleed (e.g. your design requires 10mm bleed, but Canva only exports with 3mm), there’s a risk of unwanted white edges when trimmed.
For full control over bleed, page size, and colour mode, we recommend using Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, where you can also take advantage of our pre-made templates for an easier setup.
Exporting Like a Pro!
Setting up your Canva designs correctly ensures your prints turn out exactly as expected.
If you’re unsure about your setup, download the product-specific artwork template directly from each product page to see specific bleed requirements for each item.
Best Practice: For the most reliable results, we recommend designing in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, where you can fully control page sizes, bleed settings, colour modes, and print-specific elements.
Need more help?
- Read our Artwork Guidelines Blog Post for a full breakdown of print-ready file requirements.
- Visit Canva Help Centre for additional Canva-specific tips.
Check out or full product range now to get started!
