At MET Fine Printers, we get it. Canva is an amazing tool. It’s easy, accessible, and lets anyone whip up a design in no time. For things like social media posts or quick digital flyers, it’s a game-changer. But when it comes to high-quality print production, Canva can fall a bit short—and that’s where we often see things go sideways.
I’ve had plenty of conversations with clients who are surprised (and sometimes frustrated) to learn that their Canva files aren’t quite ready for print. So, let’s unpack why Canva isn’t ideal for print and, more importantly, what you can do to ensure your designs look as stunning on paper as they do on your screen.
Canva for Print Projects
1. Resolution Matters
Print loves detail. It needs images and graphics in high resolution—300 dpi (dots per inch) is the gold standard. Canva, being a web-based tool, often compresses your designs and exports them at lower resolutions, which can leave your prints looking fuzzy or pixelated. Even if you start with a high-res image, Canva doesn’t always hold onto that quality in the final export.
2. Colours Can Be Tricky
What looks vibrant and beautiful on your screen might not print the same way. That’s because screens use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colours, while printers use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Canva is designed for screen use, and converting those RGB colours to CMYK can lead to some… interesting surprises. Think dull blues or washed-out reds. Not exactly what you want for a premium look. And please don’t go sending me HEX colours.
3. No Room for Bleeds (Literally)
In print, we use “bleeds” to make sure designs extend right to the edge of the paper without any unwanted white borders. Canva has very limited bleed settings, and for anything complex, it just doesn’t cut it. This can lead to printing errors or extra time spent fixing files on our end—which could’ve been avoided with proper design software.
4. File Limitations Can Hold You Back
When we prep a design for print, we need press-ready files with all the right details: embedded fonts, vectorized text, and correct colour profiles. Canva struggles to deliver on these fronts, which means we often have to rebuild designs from scratch. That’s extra time (and cost) you could avoid.
5. Typography Isn’t Canva’s Strong Suit
Fonts and typography are a huge deal in print design. The wrong font or bad spacing can completely throw off the look of your project. Canva’s font library is decent but limited, and it doesn’t let you fine-tune things like kerning (space between letters) or leading (space between lines). In print, these details matter. A lot.
6. Scalability Problems for Big Prints
Got a big project, like a poster or signage? Canva’s designs are mostly raster-based, meaning they’re made of pixels. When you scale them up, they lose quality and get blurry. Professional tools, on the other hand, let you work with scalable vector graphics (SVGs) that stay crisp no matter the size.
What’s the Solution?
If you’re using Canva and aiming for high-quality print, you’ve got a couple of options to make sure your project comes out beautifully:
1. Work with a Professional Graphic Designer
If you’ve got big dreams for your design, a professional graphic designer can bring them to life in ways Canva simply can’t. They know how to work with the right tools, manage colours, set up bleeds, and fine-tune every little detail. Plus, they’ll often take your concept and elevate it into something truly special. Yes, designers charge for their expertise, but trust me, they’re worth every penny when you see the final results.
2. Use Professional Design Software
If you like to DIY, consider investing time in learning industry-standard tools like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop. They give you full control over your designs and allow you to create print-ready files. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but if you’re serious about quality, it’s worth it.
3. Let Us Help
At MET Fine Printers, we’ve seen (and fixed) it all. If you’ve created something in Canva but aren’t sure it’s ready for print, send it our way. Our Prepress Team will review your file and help you figure out the best path forward—whether that’s a quick adjustment, a complete file rebuild, or connecting you with a designer who can take it to the next level.
Why It’s Worth Getting It Right
Print is an investment. Whether it’s a business card, a direct mail piece, or a luxury packaging design, it’s a reflection of your brand and vision. Cutting corners in the design stage can lead to disappointing results—and that’s the last thing we want for you.
At MET, we’re here to make sure your print projects shine. So, the next time you’re designing something, think about where it’s going to live. If it’s headed for the printer, consider working with the right tools (or people!) to make sure it’s perfect. Because when it comes to print, quality is everything.
Want to chat about your next project? We’d love to help! Reach out to us today.
Happy designing!
Apples Milkovich
Director of Product Marketing
