Canva Setup Guide

Published May 6, 2026

While Canva is generally not recommended for high-quality offset printing, we recognize that it is a competitive alternative to the Adobe Creative Suite. It’s important to note that freeware—like Canva—can cause complications as it might lead to your designs shifting and/or not retaining the proper color control when exported. Below you will find guidelines for how to set up books and card games using the Canva application to get your files as print-ready as possible for printing with PrintNinja.

Book Setup Guides

Covers — Hardcover & Softcover

  1. Download the cover template here.
  2. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  3. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  4. Under units, select “in”.
  5. Enter the dimensions of the template. You can find the dimensions for the hardcover or perfect bound cover by opening the template in Acrobat and hovering your mouse near the bottom left corner of the window. The dimensions will appear.
  6. Click the “Uploads” button on the left-hand panel.
  7. Drag the template into the uploads panel.
  8. Once the template is uploaded, click and drag it onto the canvas.
  9. Click “Position” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  10. Make sure “Layers” is selected in the left-hand panel.
  11. Hold the shift button down and select ALL of the template components.
  12. Once you have done this, click “Group” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  13. Design your cover on the canvas over the template.
  14. Click the “Position” window again.
  15. Select the “Group” for the template components.
  16. Delete.
  17. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner of the “Background” layer. Select “Delete Background”.
  18. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.
  19. Optional: Undo (Command+Z) twice to bring back the template layer and background layer. Save the design for later if needed!

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Covers — Other Binding Types

  1. Calculate the overall dimensions including bleed using the applicable file setup guide.
  2. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  3. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  4. Under units, select “in”.
  5. Enter the dimensions you calculated.
  6. Design your cover.
  7. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Interior Pages

  1. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  2. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  3. Under units, select “in”.
  4. Enter the TRIM WIDTH + .25 and TRIM HEIGHT + .25 of the book.
  5. Reference this page for how to calculate your page count. Click “Add Page” at the bottom of the Canvas as many times as needed to get to your quoted page count.
  6. Design.
  7. Be SURE TO REFERENCE the binding-specific recommendations here.
  8. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Card Game Setup Guides

Cards

  1. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  2. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  3. Under units, select “in”.
  4. Enter the TRIM WIDTH + .25 and TRIM HEIGHT + .25 of the card.
  5. Reference this page for how to calculate your card count. Click “Add Page” at the bottom of the Canvas as many times as needed to get to your quoted card count.
  6. Design.
  7. Be SURE TO REFERENCE the recommendations here.
  8. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Instructions — Folded Sheets & Booklet

  1. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  2. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  3. Under units, select “in”.
  4. Enter the TRIM WIDTH + .25 and TRIM HEIGHT + .25 of the booklet/sheet.
  5. Booklet: Reference this page for how to calculate your page count. Click “Add Page” at the bottom of the Canvas as many times as needed to get to your quoted page count. Be sure to include the covers and inside covers toward the page count in the case of games.
  6. Design.
  7. Be SURE TO REFERENCE the recommendations here.
  8. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.

Please see the “Interior Pages” video above for reference if needed!

Instructions — Accordion

  1. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  2. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  3. Under units, select “in”.
  4. Enter the UNFOLDED TRIM WIDTH + .25 and TRIM HEIGHT + .25 of the booklet.
  5. The canvas will show the OUTSIDE of the accordion booklet.
  6. Click “Add Page” at the bottom of the Canvas once to get the INSIDE of the accordion booklet.
  7. Design.
  8. Be SURE TO REFERENCE the recommendations here. It’s HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to print a rough prototype at home to ensure your intended pagination is reflected in the artwork.
  9. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Boxes

  1. In Canva, click the “Create” button in the top left corner.
  2. Click “Custom Size” in the left-hand menu.
  3. Under units, select “in”.
  4. Enter the dimensions of the PrintNinja box template. You can find the dimensions by opening your template in Acrobat and hovering your mouse near the bottom left corner of the window.
  5. Click the “Uploads” button on the left-hand panel.
  6. Drag the template into the uploads panel.
  7. Once the template is uploaded, click and drag it onto the canvas.
  8. Click “Position” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  9. Make sure “Layers” is selected.
  10. Hold the shift button down and select ALL of the template component bars. Note: you will not be able to select the “Background” layer.
  11. Once you have done this, click “Group” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  12. Start by adding the background artwork to the canvas.
  13. Click “Position” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  14. Make sure “Layers” is selected.
  15. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner of the TEMPLATE group. Scroll to “Layers” and select “Bring to Front”.
  16. Design the rest of the box. Please note: you will need to drag each added layer BELOW the TEMPLATE layer.
  17. Once you are done with your design, hold the shift button down and select ALL of the ARTWORK component bars.
  18. Click “Group” in the top panel on the Canvas.
  19. Export. Scroll down on this page for the export instructions.
  20. Click the “Position” window again.
  21. Select the “Group” for the TEMPLATE components.
  22. Delete. This will leave only the artwork.
  23. Export again.
  24. Undo (Command+Z) the delete to bring back the template layer.
  25. Now you have two versions of the artwork: Guide and No Guide.

Note: There does not appear to be a way to “hide” layers, so the above process is the best we can do at this point.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Export Settings

Basic Subscription

  1. Click “Share” in the top right.
  2. Click “Download”.
  3. Under “File Type” select “PDF Print”.
  4. RGB color is your only option, so PrintNinja will need to convert the artwork to CMYK.
  5. Click “Download”.

See below for a visual walkthrough of the above steps for those more visual learners!

Premium Subscription

  1. Click “Share” in the top right.
  2. Click “Download”.
  3. Under “File Type” select “PDF Print”.
  4. Under “Color Profile” select “CMYK”.
  5. Click “Download”.

See the “Basic” video above for reference as needed. PrintNinja does not have a Premium Subscription.

Note: The color in Canva does NOT shift from RGB to CMYK when you select the color profile upon export, so the artwork you open in Adobe will look different than the artwork you see in Canva.

General Recommendations

See Canva’s help page on how to add, remove, and lock guides.

Utilize the “Auto Proofing” tool. This is only available if you use a “print product” and are working with one of the applicable standard sizes:

  • Wire Bound options here.
  • Perfect and Hardcover options here.
  • Saddle Stitch options here.
  1. Access the tool by clicking “Print with Canva” and working through the screens until you reach the “Let’s Get Ready to Print” page. Toggle through the issues and fixes — if you can fix safety or resolution issues, do so!
  2. Once you have fixed the safety and resolution issues, download the file to PDF.