Canva Output Specs
Incorrect dimensions, format or safe areas can force a complete redesign. Set them before layout work.
#Choose by channel
1:1: social images, quotes and information cards.4:5: portrait feed campaigns.9:16: stories, Reels, TikTok covers and vertical content.16:9: presentation covers, video thumbnails and landscape graphics.
A team can standardize three or four sizes instead of inventing a canvas each time.
#Respect the visible safe area
Thumbnails, cropping and interface overlays change what is actually visible. Keep important content central, allow space for top/bottom interface elements and keep calls to action away from edges.
#Adapt deliberately
- Choose the primary destination.
- Complete its main layout.
- Duplicate into other ratios.
- Adjust headings, image crops and action placement for each.
Reusing most of a structure is useful; expecting an identical stretched layout is not. Magic Switch can speed conversion, but still needs editorial layout review.
#Suggested starting points
| Content | Ratio | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Course campaign | 4:5 or 1:1 | Clear headline and action |
| Speaker quote | 1:1 | Simple reusable structure |
| Short-video cover | 9:16 | Centered subject and title |
| Presentation cover | 16:9 | Clear hierarchy with more supporting detail |
#Format choices
Use PNG for sharp graphics, JPG where smaller ordinary images suffice, PDF for handouts/print/proposals, and MP4 or GIF for suitable motion content. Format affects clarity, size and collaboration.
#Before export
Check thumbnail readability, edge/overlay risks, subject cropping, destination format and descriptive size-based filenames such as campaign-4x5. If every resize requires a rebuild, create a template family rather than forcing one layout to fit everything.
