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Combining text and image can make or break a design.

The wrong fonts or image can send confusing messages.

And if the text is too small, the background too busy,

or it's just hard to read, your design won't be effective or visually appealing.

Let's show you how to successfully combine your images and text in Canva.

Let's add an image to your design.

Go to the Uploads tab here and click Upload Media.

You can also drag and drop your files from your computer directly into the editor

or you can choose from over 1 million high quality

stock images in Canva's image library.

Find them by clicking the photos in the object panel,

type in keywords to narrow your search.

Remember, you can add images to a frame.

Find frames in the elements tab here.

To detach an image from a frame, right-click on it and select Detach image.

Go to the object panel and click text,

then choose heading, subheading, or a little bit of body text.

There are also pre-made font combinations to choose from here.

A text box will be added to the design.

Type in the text you want to add.

Use the toolbar above the editor to change font, size, color, and spacing.

These tools will help with text hierarchy

indicating what to read first and what next.

Typically, the largest or brightest text is the most attention grabbing.

In the text toolbar, you'll notice the effects option.

Text effects add more personality to designs

and help improve readability.

Adding the shadow or lift effect will make the text more noticeable

and easier to read if placed in front of an image.

Adjust the effect's parameters by dragging the intensity slider.

If you want to move a set of text blocks, group them

so they stay in the same order and shape.

Select multiple elements by clicking and dragging the cursor over them

or hold shift on your keyboard, and click each of them.

In the toolbar above, click Group.

You can also use shortcuts on your keyboard.

To ungroup, select the group and click Ungroup from the toolbar.

When you place a new element in your design, it will show up above the existing ones.

That's because elements are in layers.

Front layers appear on top of back layers.

To move an image behind text, select the image and click Position

in the toolbar here click forward to move it up or backward to move it down.

Layering works for elements text boxes images and videos.

Creating space for text to where it is easy to see and read is essential.

Move images up, down, or to the side so there is enough free space for the text.

Remember, the text size, font, and color play a crucial role in the message.

Or use an image as the background for text.

Make sure there is space in the image for the text to stand out.

What if the image is not suitable to place text on top,

it's too busy or it has too many competing colors?

Try decreasing the image opacity by clicking Transparency on the toolbar here.

Make it more interesting by changing the background color.

Click on the page, then click on the rainbow color tile here and select a color.

You can also add image, adjustments, filters, and effects.

Select the image and click Adjust from the toolbar.

Click and drag sliders left or right on each setting to adjust levels.

For example, you could blur the background image

or tone down the brightness to make the typography pop.

Alternatively, you could give the text its own background.

A single color element like a rectangle sitting behind the text

and in front of the image will create a visible distinction.

Colors play a vital role in design.

They grab attention create visual hierarchy, express emotions, and values,

and enhance the overall look of your design.

That is why choosing the correct color palette is essential

to achieve harmony between images and other elements.

Canva's Color Palette Predictor creates a color scheme

perfectly matched to an image helping achieve visual balance.

Click on an element or text, a colored tile will appear in the toolbar.

Find photo colors on the side panel and you'll see

a color palette is generated from the image.

If there are multiple pictures in the design, click See more

to load all the generated color palettes.

Click on the color you want to use, change the color of all elements

of the same color by clicking the Change all button here.

These simple steps mean your text and image work together

rather than fighting for the viewer's attention.

It's big. There's room for information and pictures.

And it can be used for a concert, a sale, or a protest.

Let's grab the viewer's attention with poster design.

Posters have a long history being one of the earliest forms of advertising.

Because they were meant to be read from a distance,

it forced designers to rethink the way text and image were combined.

The format swept the world and became a common sign in the streets

featuring work by the great artists of the time.

Even after the advent of the internet, posters remained

a popular choice for graphic communication.

A poster is large, often made to be seen in public places.

Its scale means it should be eye-catching from a distance

and taken in at a glance.

Even those who choose to stop and look at a poster

shouldn't need to spend too long deciphering it.

It should contain only essential information.

A striking image or graphic, an intriguing headline, a business name and logo,

brief details about the products or event, a call to action

encouraging the audience to find out more. And that's it.

Refining the poster down to only essential information is a powerful design challenge.

Here are some helpful tips.

Viewers won't always look at a poster from top to bottom.

Hierarchy determines what content is seen first, second, third, and last.

Here, the most important text is the "FLASH SALE" line followed by the "50% off" line.

Hierarchy is created using type, contrast, color, and scale.

Once drawn in, the viewer looks at the image, and if interested, will read the details.

Notice the call to action at the bottom.

This is what they will see last...

...and hopefully remember.

Here, various sizes of text create hierarchy and determine the viewer's experience.

Additional graphics help to decide what's the most important message and design accordingly.

Posters are used to promote and inform.

Here, the viewer is being informed that they can help stop global warming.

But what does the viewer do with this information?

Should they buy now? Visit online? Get in touch?

The call to action is the instruction in this design.

The viewer can learn more by visiting a website.

The call to action, sometimes referred to as a CTA,

might be more implicit or it can be really obvious.

Look at these examples. Can you find the CTA?

According to the Gutenberg Principle,

there is a general path the eye travels when looking at a design.

Following the path of the letter Z, a poster can be designed this way.

Here, the striking imagery and word "Italy" capture the attention

and the eyes are then drawn to the right down to the bottom left and across.

Here's another example.

The hierarchy of the poster follows the Z pattern

and explains why logos often appear in the lower right corner much like a full stop.

The F pattern follows a similar even more simple path.

The hierarchy in this layout is fairly classic.

From the most important to the least, top to bottom,

Z and F rules apply to Western languages

relating to the way a viewer reads information

are there patterns that apply to your language, they might be flipped.

Consider what is the best possible way to communicate the message.

Perhaps a beautiful, large image with the barest amount of text

or should the focus be on a bold statement in just text form.

Maybe the focus should be on a graphic or color.

Next, limit fonts. Rather than choosing a different font for every line,

work with versions of the same font.

Or limit the design to 2 contrasting fonts

like a Serif and Sans Serif or a bold and a light font.

Being selective will look more professional.

It can be tempting to squeeze everything into a poster design.

After all, it's a big empty space.

But stick to the essentials and use white space effectively.

Text, a striking visual element, and a clear call to action

will make your poster much more appealing and easy to understand.

Posters convey messages in a matter of seconds.

For over a century, posters have been promoting events and businesses around the world.

But in order for a poster to work, it must grab the audience's attention

and be informative at the same time.

Let's explore how to do both in Canva.

Look for inspiration by browsing hundreds of poster templates on almost any theme.

Search from the home page, filter templates by color, layout, or style.

Templates help you visualize design possibilities.

And with Canva, it's really easy to customize them.

Before starting the design, consider your brand and audience.

What would grab these audiences' attention?

Good posters grab attention and give just enough information

to know how to find out more.

With these things in mind, you can define your message

and get busy personalizing the template.

First, let's double-click to change the text.

Style text using the toolbar above, you want to give

lots of thought to the font you choose.

You can use Sans Serif fonts for a more youthful or modern look.

Serif fonts give a more serious, classic design.

And use a script font if you're going for a more elegant style.

Text layout is also important.

Make sure to create visual hierarchy to bring attention to your focal points.

In most cases, big headlines or bright colors will effectively grab the viewer's attention.

Determine where you want them to look next.

What's the last thing you want them to see?

Or in other words, remember, is it the logo or a call to action?

Images are used to enhance the poster's message and visually capture attention.

Let's add in an image to our design.

With Canva, you have access to over a million professional, quality stock photos and graphics.

Canva's library is carefully curated so they're sure to look good whether in print or on screen.

Click Elements and use the search to narrow your results.

Let's search for a photo. Once you've found the perfect image,

drag and drop to add to or replace in your design.

Want to use your own media? Upload your own images in the Uploads tab.

To move an element, click and drag to adjust its position.

Remember, you also can crop or flip images here.

Change the layer position by moving elements forward or backward

or edit the transparency like this.

Color can create energy, elicit a mood, attract the eye, and unifies elements.

Your color palette should match your brand personality and the poster idea.

To edit a color, select an element.

One or more color tiles will appear in the toolbar above.

Click the color tile to select one of your document colors.

To choose a different color, click the rainbow tile to use the color picker.

You can even add a specific hex number here.

Sometimes, you already have the vision and you need something completely custom-made.

It's a good practice to sketch a rough outline of your poster on paper

before you start creating the final design in Canva.

It doesn't need to be perfect or full size, but getting your thoughts down quickly

will mean you have a clear direction to follow.

We call these thumbnails and the idea is you can quickly draw and redraw

until you have something you are happy with.

Once you have a direction, create a new design here.

Search for a poster and choose your poster dimension

or click the + button to add custom dimensions.

A new blank design will open to size.

Now, it's time to start bringing your vision to life.

The background of your design could be a color or image.

To change a background color, click the page background.

A multi-colored tile will appear in the toolbar,

select a color tile or add a custom color.

Different colors tell different stories.

What colors best suit your design?

If you prefer a background image, select an image from the image library

or upload your own, right-click on the image and select replace background.

Click the background image to edit using the toolbar above.

Instead of using your image or graphic as a background,

make it the center of attention by placing it in a grid or frame.

Click Elements and find Frames. Click See all to display all the options available.

Add a frame to your design, then drag your image in it.

Adjust the frame size or use the crop tool to edit your image's size

and position inside the frame.

Grids allow different frame layouts handy if you have more than one image you want to show.

There are many, many layout options to choose from,

but remember most times, less is more.

If your poster is overloaded with too many pictures or elements,

it may be confusing to your audience.

Time to add text. Press the T on your keyboard and a text box will appear, ready to type into.

Your font choice will have a huge impact on your design.

A good font pairing will not only look good,

but also achieve balance helping with hierarchy.

Use one of Canva's preset font combinations here.

Click to add a set to your design.

Finally, change any of your elements or text colors by clicking

on the element you want to edit and using the toolbar above the editor.

Practice makes the master. So keep experimenting.

And you'll soon be producing punchy poster designs in no time.

A story doesn't have to end with a single poster.

Let's tell a deeper narrative by designing a campaign.

Text shares key messages and might include a headline, subhead or description, business name, slogan, call to action,

and details like dates, locations or website addresses.

Photography or illustration will showcase a specific product or event

or simply convey a mood or theme. There might be one large image or multiple.

Graphic elements like shapes and lines grab attention and guide the viewer's eye drawing attention to specific content on the poster.

These elements can be useful to make text more readable.

They might also include a business logo.

Colors help the poster stand out in a busy environment and might relate to the business or brand.

The right color combination will be appealing to look at and enhance the design's legibility.

There. That's looking pretty good.

Where a standalone poster delivers information in one hit,

a poster campaign is made up of individual pieces that combine to promote a message.

Each piece draws out different ideas about the promotion.

The campaign might be spread out across different locations

to be experienced over time and placed.

Or the campaign might be pasted together to make a big visual impact.

When done well, the audience will be interested in each poster while recognizing them as part of a series.

This way, they tap into emotions through repetition and recognition and ignite curiosity.

Here's a single poster. It's eye-catching and delivers key information about the event.

It is what it is. The viewer doesn't need to think too deeply about it.

In order for this poster to form a campaign, some detail might be removed and spread out across a number of posters.

Perhaps each individual poster looks simpler or even a bit abstract, but still communicating the intent.

The audience might stumble across this poster in one location.

Then at another time, they'll see a new poster that's part of the series,

the visuals and messaging are familiar and trigger recognition.

The new poster is different enough to communicate a larger story is at play.

When designing something to be part of a series, it's essential to work out

what can change and what needs to stay the same.

In a campaign, it's about brand building.

Each poster needs to look strong, but also work within the collection.

Let's revisit the basic elements of poster design, but through a new campaign lens.

The text changes, but the font choice, styling, and hierarchy remains consistent across multiple posters.

The images differ, but the filter used or the style of image crop is the same.

Different colors feature, but are tied together through a key secondary color.

Graphic devices move about on each poster design, but have familiar styling and proportion.

Negative space is treated in a similar way throughout the pieces.

In a nutshell, look for ways to create visual connections while keeping each individual poster interesting.

A call message or theme spans a poster campaign. Each poster in the series will reflect the core message.

Language is an important part of this.

Hear the words, "Keep it clean. Keep it green."

Follow a short, sharp, rhyming pattern.

Drawing on the language of color,

perhaps the next poster in this series is focused on blue.

This poster might be about our oceans. A simple, short statement would

make sense so that the textile is consistent and a similar zoomed out image

of the natural world would also create connection.

The detailed text can simply be duplicated. This strengthens the bond between the posters.

It's easy to see how this campaign might be rolled out on even more posters.

A poster campaign featuring thoughtful or powerful imagery and texts

presents a puzzle to the audience.

As they experience each poster in the series,

they begin to put that puzzle together inspiring curiosity and engagement.

Poster campaigns are powerful tools to share your message with the world.

Let's look at how to create them with Canva.

Use search to find a template.

Use theme, style, and color filters to narrow it.

Click to open the editor.

Double-click text boxes to add copy.

Change font, size, color spacing, and more here.

Tap on graphics to edit colors, size, and position.

You can upload photos using the Uploads tab or add a stock image from here.

Canva's image library offers over 1 million high quality photos.

This one looks good.

What makes this design unique?

Is it the color, type, or the way the objects are displayed?

Replicating elements from one poster to another can build familiarity and trigger recognition.

Add a new page tapping the + button.

Use Cmd+C or Crtl+C to copy and Cmd+V or Ctrl+V to paste elements from one page to the next.

Notice their adjustments and position are preserved.

Duplicate your original design with this button and edit as needed.

Each poster should be different while maintaining a consistent identity.

To achieve this, use the same typography, element distribution or colors throughout.

Change colors by clicking the title here.

Add new photos and use filters effects or adjustments using this toolbar.

Finally, click and drag objects to change position, change sizes by using the handles.

Keep adding pages to create more posters. Click the grid view icon here to see them all together.

Templates are a great way to start when you're seeking inspiration.

Now, let's see how to start a poster from scratch.

Click Create a design and search for "poster".

Brainstorm what information you need to include and get this on the page.

Don't worry about fonts or colors.

Now, think about what imagery would work. Use this page as an idea dumping ground.

It's a good way to see what you have to work with.

Add any logos you need as well. Now, we have all the objects we'll be using.

Let's make a new page and start planning out the first poster.

Start with text, copy it to the new page.

Change the font, size, color, alignment spacing, like this.

Use hierarchy, big, colorful text to grab attention.

Small and subdued for terms and conditions.

Use separate text boxes to make them easy to move independently.

Think about the background. Can you pick colors from the logo?

Or select a color from the document here. Move elements around.

So there is a logic way for the audience to read and understand the poster.

Beautiful. To create the series, duplicate this page.

Think about what information and elements are needed in all the posters.

What elements can you change to make them more interesting?

We have a series of posters. Now what?

To email them, click Share.

A great way to show your client what you've been up to without leaving Canva.

Enter email addresses separating them with commas.

Give them access to edit or view and hit Share.

To share via links, click here and select from the available options.

Click copy link and send it to whoever you need.

If you're printing, you might include bleed.

This means the imagery and color goes right to the edge

and you won't have any white showing after it's trimmed.

Click File, Show print bleed.

The border of broken lines will appear close to the edges of your design.

If you see white gaps around the design edges, resize or stretch your background to cover them.

Designs can be professionally printed and delivered straight to your doorstep with Canva Print.

First, click Print. This button is available for some document dimensions and may be locked depending on your location.

Customize print options making sure everything is correct.

Once ready, click Place order, and wait for the confirmation prompt.

You'll also receive an order confirmation to your registered email address.

Rather use an external printer? No problem.

The best way is to download a PDF. On the file type drop down select PDF, print if you need to tick the crop marks and bleed checkbox and hit download.

A poster campaign gives you the chance to reinforce the brand and tell a story.

It can be challenging, but also incredibly fun.

In this digital age, touch is an important sense and can make a lasting impact.

Let's explore how to design print collateral.

Great campaigns combine digital and print collateral to reach audiences in a variety of ways.

Where social media collateral could include an Instagram Story

and digital collateral could include a banner ad.

Print collateral is an item that can be held in our hands.

Postcards, flyers, and vouchers provide businesses a way to interact with their audience in a tangible way.

Once an event has been planned, it's time to generate interest amongst possible attendees.

Invitations contain necessary information about the event and encourages the recipient to reply with a "Yes, I'd love to come".

Coming in all shapes and sizes, they commonly fit inside a small or business-sized envelope.

Printed invitations can be used for almost any type of event from functions to concerts and special VIP sales.

Here's information we typically see on an invitation:

a name and description of the event, the business or sender's name,

a time and date, the location, any special requests or instructions,

and contact details for the invitee to respond.

In other words, a call to action.

It's a lot to fit.

Using hierarchy, design the invitation in an attractive and a logical way.

Start with a large line of text to grab the viewer's eyes before they read the finer details.

Illustrations or images should depict the nature of the event,

but not distract from the text information.

Keep the text easy to read through a combination of sizes and contrasting colors.

And don't forget to tell the audience what you want them to do.

Postcards can be beautiful, striking, and inspiring.

The very nature of something received in the hand or in the post, makes it stand out from other marketing material.

They are a mode of communication between audiences.

The combination of a strong message and eye-catching visuals will tempt someone to pass or post the card along.

This taps into the word of mouth phenomena

where the marketing comes from a trusted source. They are also mementos.

An inspiring example will be kept displayed and valued making it a powerful marketing tool.

Typically double-sided, one side is perfect for an engaging graphic, while the back is made for detail.

Like other collateral, make sure the call to action is prominent and to leave space for the sender to write something and put the receiver's address.

These normally promote a special offer tempting the audience to visit or engage with a business, claim a discount or free item by their nature.

They might have a short life span. The more visually appealing it is, the more likely it will be kept, remembered, and used.

Here's an elegant example. The design type and image convey a sense of luxury.

Printed on thick card, it will entice the audience to take up the offer.

Print vouchers are usually double-sided.

One side is eye-catching, communicating the theme and encouraging the viewer to turn it over.

The other side contains more detailed information.

If the voucher has some monetary value, you'll need to include terms and conditions about how to claim the prize.

As with all collateral, keep in mind the visual balance. What will appeal to the intended audience without them feeling bombarded.

Negative or white space, a balanced layout, an appealing text, and imagery

is more likely to attract potential customers to this wellness business.

In this flyer, lots of white space conveys a sterile and medicinal environment.

The design feels clean and calm with touches of blue and a Sans Serif font.

The front contains the logo and key details while the back includes a photo of the clinic and further information.

Different pieces of print collateral might form a single campaign

using design elements, colors, fonts, and imagery in a consistent way

will unify the collateral within the same campaign or brand.

A single campaign might be created from a voucher, flyer, postcard, and invitation.

Using the Pro resize feature in Canva makes this process very easy.

On all pieces, be sure to keep body copy at a readable size. No smaller than 8pt.

Use high resolution images and export colors as CMYK.

When next considering how to promote a brand or business, consider print collateral.

This will literally bring the business brand or promotion into the hands of the consumer.

Print collateral has been around for a long time, but it's far from being outdated.

In fact, people are 70% more likely to remember businesses seen in print compared to online.

Let's learn how to make it.

Take a look at this poster. Now, the full campaign.

See how they complement each other?

Campaigns have simple concepts easily remembered and distributed across a set.

Let's apply this thinking to another piece of collateral.

Search for postcard templates. Use filters to narrow search.

Postcards are typically double-sided.

The front features something striking to grab attention.

Upload a photo or choose from Canva's image library.

Apply filters, adjustments, and effects.

Add graphics and shapes. Add some text. Change the font, size, color, alignment, and much more.

Use position to edit the layers.

On the back, add a headline, logo, and business details.

Include a call to action and don't forget to leave space for the sender to write something.

And put the receiver's address.

Make copies of the file to add more postcards.

Go to File, Make a copy.

Or from the home page, hover over the file and click here and select make a copy.

Once you've created a copy of your first postcard,

edit it to add more designs in your campaign.

Leave some common elements on all postcards to trigger recognition.

Automatically resize designs for multiple formats

with Canva's Pro feature Magic Resize.

With a Canva Pro account, click Resize and type in or select new dimensions.

It's done with one click.

Let's choose another print collateral piece.

When planning an event, invitations are the #1 resource for sharing information with potential attendees.

First, search for an invite template, upload photos, and elements, or select them from Canva's library here.

Add text. Remember to include name and description of the event, business or sender's name, time and date, location, any special requests or instructions, and contact details for the invitee to respond.

That's a lot, isn't it?

Use hierarchy to fit everything while capturing and guiding the viewers eyes across the design.

Who doesn't love vouchers? Voucher marketing is a simple but effective means to get new customers and consolidate existing business-client relationships.

Start by searching for voucher templates. Use filters to narrow search.

Most vouchers are double-sided. Use the front to grab people's attention and encourage them to turn over.

Add promotion and brand information.

Include an eye-catching image. Use hierarchy to make a bigger impact on your audience.

The promotion should be the first thing they notice. Edit the colors to match brand.

Finally, add the details of the promotion such as terms and conditions on the back of the voucher.

And voila!

Saving designs into folders is perfect to keep everything well-organized.

First, create a folder. Head to the All your folders menu from the home page

and click on Create a new folder.

Name your new folder and click Create folder to finish.

Now, go to all your designs, hover over a file and click the three dot icon.

Select Move to folder then select where to move the file and click here.

Or move multiple designs to a folder simultaneously. Click the square selection button in the left corner to select.

Now tap on the Move to folder icon, and select the destination folder.

Postcards, invitations, and vouchers make great printed collaterals, but they're not the only ones.

Browse through the thousands of templates Canva has to offer.

On the home page, go to features and click print products.

Business cards, photo albums, stickers, and labels are just a few of the categories available to get creative and take your business to the next level.

Canva print can professionally print collateral and deliver it to your doorstep.

Check your file is print ready. Go to File and click Show print bleed.

Stretch the background and elements you don't mind being cut off to cover the white spaces around the edges.

Click Print.

This is available for some document dimensions and may also be locked depending on your location.

Customize print options.

Once everything's set, click Place order. A pop-up will confirm once the order is placed.

And you'll receive an order confirmation to your email address.

Send designs to an external printer in PDF print format, hit Download, and select PDF print.

Tick the crop marks and bleed checkbox if needed.

And that's it. You've now got the skills to get information about your business or your client's business into the hands of the audience.

Print collateral is tactile, but most of all, it's memorable.

What's stopping you?