Creating Printables in Canva: Tips for High-Quality Results Every Time
- Rea Weeks
- Jul 30, 2025
- 4 min read
✨ Because blurry, pixelated designs just aren’t the vibe.
Let’s be real — there’s something so satisfying about designing your own printables. Whether it’s a journaling page, planner, wall art, or activity sheet, Canva makes it easy to bring your ideas to life.
But… there’s nothing more frustrating than downloading your design, hitting “print,” and ending up with something fuzzy, off-center, or just not as crisp as you imagined. 😩
The good news? High-quality printables are totally doable in Canva — and today I’m spilling all my favorite tips to help you create printables that look polished, professional, and ready for your Etsy shop, classroom, or personal binder.
Let’s get into it!
🛠 Why Canva Is Perfect for Printables
If you’re new to Canva (or just haven’t fully explored what it can do), here’s why it’s the tool for making printables:
Drag-and-drop simplicity (no design degree needed!)
Beautiful fonts, elements, and templates built right in
Custom dimensions for any project
Works in your browser or on mobile
You can duplicate, update, and remix your designs with ease
From printable planners to gratitude lists, habit trackers to scrapbooking kits — Canva is where creativity meets functionality. 🎨
📝 Step-by-Step Tips for High-Quality Printables in Canva
1. Start with the Right Dimensions
Always choose the size before you start designing. Popular printable sizes include:
US Letter: 8.5 x 11 inches (perfect for planners and worksheets)
A4: 8.27 x 11.69 inches (standard outside the U.S.)
5 x 7 or 8 x 10 inches: Great for art prints and journaling cards
👉 In Canva, click “Create a Design” → “Custom Size” to enter exact dimensions in inches (not pixels!) for print projects.
2. Use High-Resolution Images & Elements
When designing for print, image quality matters. Always:
Upload high-resolution photos (300 DPI recommended)
Avoid small, pixelated graphics or screenshots
Choose Canva Pro elements labeled as “Print-Ready” when possible
Scale down images if needed — never blow them up too big
💡 Pro tip: Stick to vector-based graphics and fonts when you can — they scale beautifully!
3. Mind Your Margins
Give your design a little breathing room by leaving at least a 0.25”–0.5” margin on all sides — especially if you plan to print at home.
Avoid putting important text or design elements too close to the edge. Printers can cut things off, and that’s no fun. 😬
🎯 Canva doesn’t show margins by default, but you can turn on Rulers and Guides under File > View Settings.
4. Use Color Wisely
Colors on screen = not always what prints out. A few tips:
Stick to lighter or muted tones for print-friendly designs
Avoid full-page dark backgrounds — they eat up ink fast
Test print your design if color accuracy is important
Save a separate “ink-friendly” version with a white or light background for customers
✨ Canva Pro even lets you apply filters or palettes to recolor elements quickly!
5. Use Clear, Legible Fonts
Printables are meant to be read (and often filled out!). Choose fonts that are:
Crisp and easy to read
Large enough (at least 10pt for body text)
Well-spaced and not overly decorative
Mix one decorative font with a clean serif or sans serif for balance — and make sure there’s enough contrast with your background!
6. Export in the Right Format
When your design is done, click Share > Download, and choose:
PDF Print – for best quality when printing
Check “Flatten PDF” if you're selling templates
Check “Crop marks and bleed” if your design goes to the edge
PNG – for high-resolution digital display or uploading to sites like Etsy
JPEG – fine for smaller files or art prints, but less ideal than PDF for text-heavy pages
🧁 Optional: Export two versions — one with form fields (for digital journaling!) and one print-only.
7. Test Print Before You List or Share
Always do a quick print test at home (or at a print shop) to:
Check layout + margins
Spot any blurry images or misaligned text
Make sure colors come through the way you expect
You don’t have to test every single page — just enough to feel confident!
💌 Join My Mailing List for Freebies + Creative Prompts
Want a free character profile template to get started?Join my email list and get:
A printable + digital character sheet
Monthly creative freebies and Canva tips
First access to new Etsy launches
Encouraging emails for your writing + storytelling journey
Let’s make writing feel like a cozy adventure again. ✍️✨
🛍 Looking for Ready-Made Canva Templates + Printables?
I’ve got a full collection of:
Printable planners
Journaling pages
Digital scrapbooking kits
Habit trackers + checklists
Canva templates designed just for print
🎨 All available in my Etsy shop:
Perfect for creators, teachers, busy parents, and fellow printable lovers.
💛 Final Thoughts
Creating beautiful printables in Canva doesn’t have to be overwhelming.With the right settings, a little prep, and a sprinkle of intention, you can design pages that are functional, high-quality, and genuinely helpful — for yourself, your audience, or your shop.
So open up Canva. Pick a template. Start small.And remember: every beautiful design starts with one blank page.
Happy creating,
💛 Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
Comments