- 10 things you didn’t know you could do in Canva Docs
10 things you didn’t know you could do in Canva Docs
From playbooks and ebooks to newsletters and reports, documents don't have to be boring. We’ve got hundreds of Canva Docs templates ready to be transformed into engaging, visual documents – and so many incredible features to take your documents to the next level.
It’s been a little over a year since we launched Canva Docs – our visual-first, AI-powered document tool – and now, one million Docs are created each day. We understand and believe in the important role that written documents play in communicating information – but that doesn’t mean documents need to be boring. In fact, Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window) allows you to bring the same colors, movement, and eye-catching visuals you use in presentations(opens in a new tab or window) or video(opens in a new tab or window) directly to your documents, supercharging your content’s engagement.
With hundreds of document templates(opens in a new tab or window) ready to use to make beautiful, visual documents, get ready to weave in some of our most incredible features we've either recently launched or you might not have known about, and take your documents to the next level.
1. Collaborate in real time
Working collaboratively has always been a key element in a team’s success, but as remote work continues to rise, having access to shared documents to edit anywhere in real time is key. Whether you’re looking to leave comments, emojis, or stickers, add dates, or assign tasks to teammates, Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window) makes collaboration seamless. We've also recently added anonymous collaboration for everyone – so whether your collaborators have a Canva account or not, you can now invite them to collaborate within your Doc.
2. Let visuals tell the story
Get ready to say farewell to static charts and add some interactivity to your documents! Just like you would in a presentation(opens in a new tab or window), you can easily embed Flourish(opens in a new tab or window) charts and graphs into your documents to visually communicate your findings and results in engaging ways. Data storytelling(opens in a new tab or window) is a critical way to build engagement and achieve better understanding – and you’ll have no shortage of options, now with an even richer variety of different interactive charts and infographics.
3. Add your favorite videos (yes - videos in a Doc! 🤯)
Forget linking out to external files and say hello to seamlessly adding your videos directly into your document. From short snippets and long-form video, simply drag and drop your video file straight into your doc (or even embed a YouTube link!) – perfect for anything from social media strategies to exercise programs, company onboarding videos, or classroom lesson plans.
4. Visual formatting made easy
When it comes to large documents, there’s nothing worse than spending hours reformatting content or endless copy and pasting, only to lose track of a specific section along the way. Our drag-and-drop editor makes adding and editing visual content easy. Need to rearrange some sections? No problem: simply drag and drop to move elements around. Looking to add some visuals or charts? We’ve got you covered – drag them in and our intuitive formatting will do the rest. Customizable dividers and full-width items now let you make your document more visually engaging, customizable, and easy to follow.
5. Editable content at your fingertips
The Canva(opens in a new tab or window) library is full of different tables, videos, images, and graphics, but with editable design blocks, you can easily add and edit any Canva design within your Doc. Whether you’re using design blocks to make banners and section dividers pop, or add custom visuals like timelines or roadmaps, transforming your document to take it to the next level is easy with the click of a button.
6. Make the most of in-built AI
AI is a hot topic – and we’ve got some incredible AI-powered tools to take your docs(opens in a new tab or window) from good to great. Looking for some words of inspiration to get you started? Our AI-powered copywriting assistant Magic Write(opens in a new tab or window) has you covered, easily producing copy, content ideas, and outlines within seconds – and with our new built-in brand voice feature, you’ll hit the right tone every time. Want to add some eye-catching graphics? Turn imagination into reality with Magic Media(opens in a new tab or window), quickly adding unique images and artistic videos straight to your Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window). Or, our AI-powered Translate(opens in a new tab or window) tool can translate your document into 100+ languages in just a few clicks.
7. Access your favorite apps within a Canva Doc
We know our community loves using apps – so much so that we have hundreds of Apps(opens in a new tab or window) integrated into the Canva(opens in a new tab or window) library – and they’re readily available to use in Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window). From adding your favorite Emojis(opens in a new tab or window) (or Bitmojis(opens in a new tab or window)!) to Characters(opens in a new tab or window) and GIFs(opens in a new tab or window), we’ve got plenty of engaging assets to get your designs moving and capture your reader's attention.
8. Easily transform your Canva Doc into a presentation or website
We’re all about making things smarter, not harder – and one way to do this is by saving hours of time spent doubling up on content across various documents (to then have to spend even more time formatting). Our Docs to Decks(opens in a new tab or window) feature magically transforms your documents into beautifully designed Canva Presentations(opens in a new tab or window) with a press of a button. Or, publish Docs to a Canva Website(opens in a new tab or window) – instantly turn any document such as a blog post into a domain, for free, and share it with the world.
9. Add or edit any Canva design – within your Doc
We’re all about interconnectability – and Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window) is no different! Compatible with all Canva designs, you can easily add and edit any Canva design within your Canva Doc. Use design blocks to make banners and section dividers pop, or even add custom visuals like timelines or roadmaps. From playbooks and e-books, to newsletters or reports, easily house your latest designs together in one document
10. Gain better understanding with built-in Insights
With so many documents often flying around the workplace, it’s easy to wonder if your content got lost in the mix, or whether people are actually reading your monthly reports. Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window) offers built-in analytics to show you how your audience interacts with your Doc, tracking engagement, views, and collaborators. See who's viewed your Docs(opens in a new tab or window) and when, and other beneficial insights to gain a better understanding of what’s working, and what’s not.
Ready to take your documents to new heights and add some creative flair? Get started with Canva Docs(opens in a new tab or window) today.
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