How to Send a Canva Design to Print: Size, Bleed and PDF

1. Open the design at the right size

Canva’s preset template sizes are not always the same as the print size. When creating a design, choose “Custom size”, set the unit to centimetres or millimetres and enter the size you picked on the product page. If you started from a template, resize it and check that nothing has shifted.

Sizes are listed in the product options; for flyers, see our flyer sizes guide.

2. Show the print bleed

In Canva’s file settings, turn on “Show print bleed”. A dashed border appears around the page. Extend background colours and images that run to the edge beyond this line; keep text and logos inside, at least 3–5 mm from the trim. Why bleed matters and what the safe area is are explained in our print file guide.

3. Download as “PDF Print”

Open the Share menu and choose Download.
Choose PDF Print as the file type, not PNG or “PDF Standard”.
Tick the option that adds the bleed to the file. In Canva this may come together with crop marks; we do not need crop marks, but they cause no problem either.
If your account offers a colour profile option, choose CMYK. If not, you can still send the file; see our screen vs print colour guide.

Menu names may differ slightly depending on Canva’s version and language.

4. Watch image quality

Resolution: photos and images should be about 300 DPI at print size. Enlarging a small image in Canva does not add quality; it prints blurry or pixelated.
Phones and WhatsApp: WhatsApp and many messaging apps compress images. Upload the original logo or photo to Canva and send us the design as the original PDF.
Screenshots: a screenshot from a website or social media is not good enough for print.
Small logos: logos copied from an e-mail signature or website are usually tiny. Use a vector version (SVG, PDF, AI, EPS) if you can.

5. Fonts

When you download as PDF Print, Canva embeds the fonts, so there is nothing extra to do. Avoid very thin fonts at small sizes; on business cards and labels they can become unreadable. Open the downloaded PDF and check that Turkish characters (ğ, ş, ı, İ) display correctly.

6. Upload the file

Choose the options on the product page and add your PDF in the file upload area. PDF is recommended; AI, EPS, TIFF, PNG and JPG are also accepted (up to 200 MB). For double-sided jobs you can send front and back as two pages of one PDF.

Before printing we technically check size, bleed, resolution and fonts and tell you about any problem before printing. Checking the content — names, phone numbers, prices and spelling — is your responsibility; read the text one last time before approving.

Prefer not to do it yourself?

Choose the design service on the product page. Professional design starts from TRY 1,500 + VAT (logo excluded); the exact price is confirmed once the job is clear. To start with AI, use the ready prompts on our AI print design page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I download a PNG from Canva and send it?

If size and resolution are sufficient, yes, but PNGs usually lack bleed and text prints less sharply. We recommend downloading as “PDF Print” with bleed.

Do I need to add crop marks?

No, we do not need crop marks. If Canva adds them together with the bleed, it is fine to leave them.

Can I send my design via WhatsApp?

WhatsApp compresses images, which lowers print quality. Upload the file on the product page; if you must use WhatsApp, send it as a document, not as a photo.

What if my file has a problem?

We report size, bleed, resolution or font problems before printing. Spelling and content errors are yours to check.

Business Cards → Flyers & Brochures → Paper Labels →

How do I send my Canva design to print?