Opening your template
1. Open your PDF
The PDF you downloaded after purchase contains your template link.
2. Log in to Canva first
Clicking the link while logged out is the most common reason it does not work.
3. Click the link
Canva opens a page saying a template has been shared with you.
4. Use template
A personal copy lands in your account under Projects. The original stays untouched, so you can always start over.
Four things worth knowing
Text boxes are positioned deliberately. Canva shows pink alignment guides when an element lines up with another, which helps you put things back if you nudge one.
Click, then click again
First click selects the box, the second puts the cursor inside it.
Change every color at once
The Styles tab applies a palette to the whole design instead of element by element.
Drag a photo into a frame
It crops itself to fit. Double click to reposition or zoom inside the frame.
Ctrl+Z fixes almost everything
Gone too far? Open your original template link again for a clean copy.
Colors, photos and pages
Editing text
Click once to select the box, again to put the cursor inside, then type over it. If the text no longer fits, widen the box with its corner handles or drop the size a point or two.
Changing colors
Click any shape, background or piece of text, then the color square in the toolbar. Enter a hex code to match an exact color.
Adding your own photo
Uploads in the left sidebar, then drag the photo onto an image frame. It crops itself to fit. Double click to reposition or zoom.
Adding or removing pages
To print several invitations on one sheet, duplicate the page with the copy icon or Ctrl+D. To delete a page, click the bin icon.
Which file to download
PDF Print
Anything you are printing. Best quality, and the only sensible choice for signs and posters. Tick Crop marks and bleed if a print shop is doing the trimming.
PDF Standard
A lighter file. Fine for emailing a digital invitation.
JPG or PNG
Sending by text or WhatsApp, or posting on social media.
Editing questions
Do I need Canva Pro?
No. Every template works on a free account. You would only need Pro for elements or fonts you add yourself that carry a crown icon.
A font looks different from the preview. Why?
Occasionally a font does not load on a free account. Select the text and pick a similar font from the dropdown. Our listings note when a design uses a Pro font.
Can I edit on my phone?
Yes, through the Canva app. Text editing works fine. Fiddly alignment work is much easier on a computer.
Can I change the size of the template?
On a free account you cannot resize an existing design, but you can create a new design at your preferred size and copy the elements across. Canva Pro has a one click resize.
I accidentally deleted something. Can I get it back?
Press Ctrl+Z, or Cmd+Z on a Mac. If you have gone too far to undo, open your original template link again for a clean copy.
Can I share the template with a friend?
No. The license covers you and your own event. Sharing the link is the same as giving away the product.