Images play an important role in storing memories and creating custom stationery for corporate branding. We use them to create posters, flyers, business cards, etc. But before that, we need to edit photos and artwork with specific tools.
For example, you often create profile pictures, cover photos, stories, and other uses with images. They all come in different sizes and need to catch the eye.
Fortunately, there exists a great tool that allows you to create such graphics easily. Available on desktop, Android, and iOS, Canva is your one-stop destination for beautiful graphics. You can call it digital Photoshop for creating breathtaking graphics. But how does one use it?
If you haven’t used Canva, consider this post as your Canva guide where we explain how to use it on Android. So download Canva on your Android phone first, then we’ll get started.
Canva basics
When you open the Canva app for the first time, you’ll see two tabs at the bottom — Templates and Design. The Templates tab contains pre-built Canva templates that you can use and modify to your liking.
You will find several predefined templates of different sizes, categories and types, such as WhatsApp stories, Instagram posts, Facebook cover photos, invitations, logos, resumes, etc.
The Design tab contains the graphics that you create. You can edit and modify those graphics to suit your requirements.
Now, there are two ways to create graphics with Canva — use an existing template or start from a blank template. In either case, a template will have elements on it, such as text, shapes, etc.
Modify an existing template
The beauty of the Canva app is that it offers many free templates. You need to select a template of your choice, then edit all its elements.
For this post, use the Instagram Story template. You can find templates in the Explore section or on the home screen itself. You can also take the help of the search bar at the top. That is, enter the Instagram story and select the result. Then tap the template you like.
You will be taken to the edit screen where you can change all the existing elements. Those elements include text, icons, backgrounds, colors, and others. To change any element, just tap on it.
Change the background
To replace the background (or any other image), tap it once. The app will greet you with four new options at the bottom — Gallery, Images, Colors, and Filters.
Gallery contains all the pictures on your phone. So yes, you can replace it with your photos and set them as background. You can even take a photo from the Canva app itself by tapping the camera icon. The Images section is a treasure trove of free images provided by Canva. Tap any image to replace it with your current image.
Tips
However, if you want a solid background instead of any image, tap the Colors tab and tap the color of your choice. Finally, you can enhance your image by applying a filter to it. Tap Advanced Filters to individually modify brightness, saturation, hue, etc.
Resize images
If you use your image, the app will add it to the original size. Sometimes, the actual background area and the image area are different, leaving a gap. To avoid that, you can resize the image. For that, tap the image once to select it. Then use pinch and zoom gestures to increase or decrease its size.
Tip: 
Change element properties
In the screenshots above, the white/black background behind the text is a rectangular box added through elements. You can change its properties by clicking on it.
For example, to change its color, tap it once. You will find an edit icon at the bottom with white color. Touch it to change its color. Similarly, if there are other elements, you will find their color at the bottom. You can also modify the transparency using the Transparency slider. Click the check icon to save the changes.
Play with text
Similarly, clicking on any existing text element allows you to modify it. Tap once to change the font, color, size, spacing, alignment, etc. Tap twice to change the text itself. Text will retain existing properties unless you change them.
Add new elements
Just because Canva designs the main template doesn’t mean you can’t add elements to it. You can add any type of element by clicking the floating add icon. You will be given options like Text, Image, Illustration, Shape, etc.
Tip:
Start afresh
If you’re confident with your design skills, you can also start with a blank template. To do that, go to the main screen of the app and tap on the more icon floating at the bottom.
Find the right sample size
You will then be provided with different image sizes depending on their type, such as Instagram posts, invitations, posters, backgrounds, etc. at the bottom. Scroll through them to find what you’re looking for. Alternatively, go to that template section on the home screen and the first section will be a blank template for the same template.
Custom Dimensions
In case none of the sizes fit your requirements, you can also create custom sized images. For that, tap the add icon first, then tap the size at the top. Enter your required size on the next screen.
More design elements
Once you’ve added a template, you’ll be taken to the edit screen. Here, you need to add elements (text, images, shapes, etc.) to it. For that, tap the more icon at the bottom and select the element of your choice. You have to repeat the steps to add other elements.
Once you add them, you can change their properties by clicking on them. In the case of text, you can add your text style or choose from a list of available styles.
Enhance images in Canva
Check out how to improve our graphics in Canva even further.
Add Hex color code
By default, Canva offers a limited collection of colors. It provides a color palette. However, sometimes we want the colors in our graphics to match our brand colors. For that you can add the hex code of the color.
To do so, tap the element whose color you want to change. In the Color section, tap the add icon. You will be taken to the color palette. Enter your hex code in the box.
Blur image
Any image you use in Canva, be it an existing Canva image or your own, you can blur it. To do that, tap the image once and then tap the Filter option. Tap Advanced Filter. Change the intensity of the Blur slider according to your needs.
Move element behind or in front
While Canva doesn’t offer matching layers, you can move elements forward or backward with a single tap. That’s useful in situations when you’re adding a text element for the first time followed by a shape. In this case, the text will be hidden under the shape. To keep it above the shape, you need to bring it to the front.
For that, first select the element, then tap the three dots icon in the top right corner. Then tap the forward and backward icons as required.
Adjust the transparency of elements
To adjust the transparency of an element like text, shape, etc., select the element and then tap the ellipsis icon. Click on the transparency icon and adjust it.
Duplicate elements
To make a copy of any element, you can clone it. For that, select the element and tap the duplicate icon.
Tip:
Resize element
To resize an element, touch and drag it using any of the four corners. Also, use pinch and zoom gestures. You can even rotate it with your finger. For that, touch and hold the element with two fingers, then rotate it.
Ungroup elements
If you use a template from Canva, moving or resizing an element will sometimes change the entire block. That happens because the items are grouped.
To modify individual elements, you need to separate them. To do so, select the element and tap the ungroup icon at the top. Grouping is currently limited to the Canva website but can be ungrouped on the mobile app.
Delete an element
To remove any element from your image, select the element and tap the delete icon. If the elements are grouped, they will all be deleted.
Undo changes
At any point, if you accidentally change something, you can undo your changes. For that, tap on the undo icon.
Save pictures on phone
Finally, once you’ve created your image, it’s time to save it. For that, tap the save as image icon. Also, if you want to save it in some other format like PDF, tap the share icon next to it to save. That way, the image will automatically be saved on your device first, then you’ll be able to choose another format.
Best app
So that’s how you can get the most out of the Canva app. Honestly, the app is not only a gift for social network users but also for bloggers. Although it is very easy to use, once you master it, you can create beautiful graphics without any other tools.
Next up: Do you want to write quotes on photos for Instagram or other social media platforms? Check out these awesome quote generator apps on Android and iOS.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
