The vast majority of the templates we’ve created can be found in the shared Canva account, including templates for programs, Microsoft Form backgrounds, flyers, invitations, signs, and more.
All faculty and staff in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State University Park who are responsible for creating promotional materials for their unit may utilize the Liberal Arts Office of Strategic Communications’ paid Canva account.
Naming your designs
Use your unit’s acronym at the beginning of each design name. The rest of the design name should be descriptive. If your file name is “Copy of Instagram graphic” it’s going to make it really hard for you to find later when you go to search for it, but if you named it, for example, “LER Open House Instagram 04.04.24” you’ll be able to find it easier.
Using Templates
Click on the Brand button towards the top of the left toolbar, and then click the Brand Templates button. Click on the template design you want to use, and then click on Use this template. That will automatically make a copy of the design for you. Just remember to update the design’s file name at the top.
We have templates for commencement programs and invitations, social media graphics, Zoom slides and backgrounds, email graphics, event programs, banners, and more.
When customizing brand templates, be sure to follow the brand guidelines.
Using Canva Brand Templates
Customizing Brand Templates
Downloading and saving designs
Downloading your design
When you download your PDF, select PDF Print and then the CMYK color profile option if you plan to print physical copies. If you plan to distribute digitally, select PDF Print and then the RGB color profile option instead.
We have templates for commencement programs and invitations, social media graphics, Zoom slides and backgrounds, email graphics, event programs, banners, and more.
Downloading a Design
Saving your design to your unit's folder
You can find your unit’s folder by clicking Projects on the left side and then clicking on Folders along the top. Sort the folders alphabetically to make it easier to find your unit’s folder.
It’s a good idea to get in the habit of saving your designs to your folder as you’re creating them. When you’re editing a design, you can do that by clicking on File > Save to folder > Click on your folder > Click Save.
You can also create subfolders within your folder if you’d like to get even more organized. When you’re in your folder, you’ll see the Add New button. Click on Folder and then enter the new folder’s name. You can then drag your designs into your new subfolder.