Canva has revolutionized the way creators express their ideas by providing tools and platforms for graphic design. However, there have been frequent complaints from users about the low quality of Canva’s images. Today, we will explore this issue and try to comprehend the reasons behind it.
Exporting at Low Resolution
The most common reason behind poor image quality in Canva stems from exporting images at a low resolution. When you are designing on the platform, Canva operates at 96 dpi (Dots Per Inch), which is a screen resolution. This is perfectly fine for digital content, but can fall short when it comes to print designs. For print, the industry standard resolution is 300 dpi.
It’s important to understand that when you export an image at a low resolution and then try to enlarge it, it will cause pixelation, leading to a loss in image quality. This is because, unlike vector images, bitmap images are constructed from a fixed set of pixels and cannot be enlarged without losing quality.
Image Compression
Another contributing factor towards Canva’s perceived poor image quality is image compression. When you download your images, Canva compresses them to make the file size smaller. It’s a common practice designed to save bandwidth and speed up the load time of web pages. Unfortunately, this process can also degrade image quality.
Limited Fonts and Effects
On their free plan, Canva offers a limited number of fonts and effects. This limitation can sometimes make the designs appear less sharp or professional, contributing to an overall perception of poor quality.
How to Improve Canva’s Image Quality
Here are some tips to improve the quality of your Canva images:
- Upgrade to Canva Pro: Canva Pro users can download designs with a resolution of up to 300 dpi, which is perfect for print designs.
- Download images as PDF: PDFs use vector graphics, which are resolution-independent and do not lose quality when enlarged.
- Download images as PNG: If you need to use bitmap images, download them as PNG files. PNG is a lossless compression format, which means it doesn’t lose quality during compression.
In summary, the perceived poor quality of Canva’s images can often be attributed to factors such as low resolution, image compression, and limited design elements. By understanding these elements and making appropriate adjustments, it is possible to significantly improve the quality of your Canva designs.
