How to use text effects and animation in Canva

Capturing and holding attention

Our brains are wired to pick up on even the slightest movement – a product of our survival instincts helping us recognise the subtle movement of things stalking us from the shadows. Text effects and animation make use of this unconscious skill to pique interest and hold your audience’s focus. Let’s take a look at how Canva can help you level up your designs wth text effects and animations.

Choosing the right font

Before you apply an effect, browse the fonts to find something that best reflects the vibe you’re chasing. If you’re not sure what the difference between a serif and sans serif font is and what that means for how your choice of font may be perceived, check out this guide to typography, and this article on how to pair your fonts for greater impact.

How to choose the best text effects to capture attention

Once you have the perfect font (here’s a guide to help you choose the right font for your brand) let’s check out the different animations and text effects you can use to capture people’s attention. Click on your text and then in the top menu, click on ‘effects’. Effects are a great way to make a headline really stand out or to highlight a particular piece of text.

Next, let’s take a look at animations. To preview, click on the different photo animations in the Canva editor. Animated movement is an excellent way to catch people’s eye. And animations like ‘Wipe’ and ‘typewriter’ can help hold people’s focus as each word and letter appears.

How to build animated graphics into your design

Now you know how to apply text effects and animations, just imagine what’s possible when you combine animated graphics as well.

In Canva you can combine elements, and layer your graphics to create truly cinematic experiences for your audience. Check out this full video to learn how.

How to bring animation into your videos using Canva’s video editor

Body One last thing you should know. Everything you’ve just learnt, you can use to make animated videos. All the principles are the same, you just need to use the Canva video editor to pull it all together. That way you can add your own footage and transitions. Check out our video guide on text effects and animation for more information.