Using Canva

Our Canva implementation uses an SSO system. Please follow the instructions below to accept your invitation to our enterprise-level Canva workspace.

Please note: If you already have a registered Canva account with your ithaca.edu email address, these steps may look a little different. Log in however you can, but if you see the option to "Log in with SSO," please use it. 

1. From the invitation email, click 'accept invitation'.
2. When Canva opens in your browser, select 'sign up with your work email' at the bottom of the box on the screen.
3. Type in your ithaca.edu email address.
4. On the 'Finish logging in' screen, click 'Log in with SSO'.
5. You may have to do an SSO login with your password and Duo authentication.
6. Welcome to Canva! 

We have also created a video walkthrough of this process, available here: Training Video - Account Creation

You can switch back and forth between accounts by clicking on your user icon in the bottom left corner of the Canva interface. 

If you are logged in to Canva with a different email, you can click the arrow next your name under 'accounts' and choose the alternate login. 

If you have an existing account with your ithaca.edu email address, you can switch back and forth between the "Ithaca College Team" and your "Personal" account under the 'teams' section. 

For support with sharing files, please reference Canva's help center at https://www.canva.com/help/transfer-designs-to-personal-account/

If you are interested in fully transfering the contents of another account to your new enterprise account, please contact us and we will connect you with our Customer Support Manager at Canva, who can help facilitate that process.

For most materials, we suggest starting with an Ithaca College template. To find templates, navigate to the IC Templates folder or use the search bar. For more information about finding and using templates, visit our template page at https://www.ithaca.edu/marketing-communications/canva/canva-templates. 

To distinguish your school, division, or department in unique ways, we've built in easy access to a wide range of images and assets.

• Photographs: You can access images of your unit and its activities from the brand images in our brand kit, via Widen direct connection (see 'connecting Widen') below, or by uploading your own.
• Icons: We've uploaded our icon sets for each of the five schools in the brand kit. You can find these under 'icons', organized by folder. Some tips and tricks:
  • Use icons to help make content easy to scan visually and to reinforce content. (For example, a science icon near a science-related stat or piece of content might catch the eye of a student interested in a science major.)
  • Don’t overwhelm with too many icons. They should be visual guideposts, not visual noise.
  • Icons can be used to add visual interest when photo assets are lacking.
  • Icons can help deliver information and also add a touch of personality for fun or lighthearted pieces.
• Lockups: See 'How to use lockups in Canva', above

Templates have been created with the official Ithaca College logo, without any division or school name. Several templates give you the opportunity to type out your division, school, or department name in other ways. Otherwise, you can simply replace the original logo with your school, division, or department’s official lockup, available in the brand kit under 'graphics'.

While we don't have a specific file naming structure to suggest, please name your files simply and clearly. If you're starting from a template, remove the auto-generated text 'Copy of'. Keep the rest of the original file name and add the details of your purpose to the end. Canva has robust search functionality, and proper naming will help you find your files.

We have added a simple integration to help you generate QR codes. When working on a design, navigate to the bottom of the left-hand column and click 'QR code'. Simply insert your URL and it will generate a code for you. You can customize the graphic based on your design.

Note: QR codes generated in Canva do not include tracking or analytics features.

Users can export designs in various formats, including:

• PNG & JPG – Ideal for web and social media use
• PDF – Best for print and document sharing
• MP4 & GIF – For animations and motion graphics
• Print-ready files – See below for guidance on how to export for the Ithaca College print shop.

Follow the instructions below when exporting a print document for the Ithaca College print shop. 

1. When your design is complete and proofread, click 'share'.
2. Click 'see all' to see all the export options
3. Under the 'save' menu, click 'download'.
4. Under 'file type' choose 'PDF Print'
5. Check 'crop marks and bleed', but leave 'flatten PDF' and 'Include notes' unchecked.
6. Select the pages you wish to export
7. Leave the color profile as 'RGB'.
8. Click download, and wait for the pop-up to choose your download location and file name.

Canva Enterprise allows for seamless collaboration. You can share designs directly within Canva, assign permissions, and work together in real time. Find more information about collaboration at https://www.canva.com/help/collaborate-with-anyone/. 

Some materials, especially those intended for external audiences like prospective students or alumni, may require review by MarCom to ensure brand alignment. If approval is needed for a specific template, you will be notified during the design process.

Even if your template does not require review, you’re welcome to share it for feedback or support. Share your design with the MarCom Design user group in Canva (start typing the name in the share window to find it), and leave a comment describing the type of feedback you’d like. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

You are also welcome to come to Brand Office Hours for in-person support. We can work together to design a new file, edit your content, or get something over the finish line. Brand office hours are scheduled as follows:

• First Monday of the month from 2:30–4:00 PM
• Third Thursday of the month from 10:00–11:30 AM
   

During these sessions, staff can drop in to ask questions, get feedback on designs, and receive guidance on using Canva Enterprise effectively. Office hours take place in the collaborative space in the MarCom suite outside office 232.

Canva offers a variety of in-app tutorials, guides, and help articles to assist users in navigating the platform and utilizing its features effectively. We encourage users to explore Canva’s Help Center for step-by-step guidance on design tools, template customization, and collaboration features.

MarCom will also be offering training sessions to help users get comfortable with Canva Enterprise and make the most of its features. These sessions will cover template usage, brand resources, collaboration tools, and best practices for on-brand design. Training sessions will be announced to our user base directly.

Canva offers in-app support as well as a ticketing system and asyncronous learning resources via their design school. Explore the resources at canva.com/help.