Gustavus Canva for Campus

Tips for Designing and Printing

Designing for Print

When designing for print it is important to understand what you are designing for to ensure you start with the exact size for your document. Below are the standard items and sizes typically printed at Gustavus.
Note: Sizes are always listed as width by height and measured in inches (in).

Standard Sizes for Print

  • Posters: XLarge: 24" x 36" Large: 20" x 30" Standard: 11" x 17" Small: 8.5" x 11"
  • Flyers: Large: 8.5" x 11" Medium: 5.5" x 8.5" Small: 4.25" x 5.5"
  • Booklets: Large: 8.5" x 11" (tabloid) Medium: 7" x 8.5" (legal) Small: 5.5" x 8.5" (letter)
  • Postcards: Large: 8.5" x 5.5" Medium: 7" x 5" Small: 6" x 4"
  • Invitations: Large: 7" x 5" (A7 envelope) Medium: 6.25" x 4.625" (A6 envelope) Small: 5.5" x 4.25" (A2 envelope) 

Document Set-up

  1. Go to Create Design
  2. Select Custom Size instead of an already suggested size > go to units and select ‘in’ (inches) > input one of the standard sizes.
  3. Select create new design and a new document will pop up to start designing. Now you can select a Gustavus-Branded Template or select one of Canva’s templates.
  4. Once you have your template selected, go to file > settings and select “show print bleed”. This will add a dotted line around the edge of your document where the sheet will be cut. You will want any background colors or images to extend to that dotted edge if you plan on having a full color/graphic background (no white border). Any text will need to stay WELL WITHIN the margins, preferably .5" (1/2 inch) inside the solid line.

Proofing & Approval

As part of your Gustavus Canva for Campus license agreement, designs will be proofed and approved by the Marketing Design Team using Canva’s approval system, which keeps the process organized and quick. Depending on the extent of your project, approval may take longer but we will strive to have approval within 24-hours of the request.

  1. Click Request Approval in the upper right-hand corner and from the Select Approver dropdown select Neely Prenzlow
  2. Awaiting Approval will appear. You will be notified when your design has been approved.
  3. Once your design is approved, you can prepare for downloading for print.

Download for Print

When preparing your document for print, it’s important to ensure that your settings are configured correctly, as print and digital settings differ significantly. Follow these steps to set your document for optimal print results.

  1. Click Share in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Select Download
  3. Under the File Type drop down select PDF Print. Make sure you select the Crop marks and bleed box if your document is set up for “no white border”.
  4. Go to Color profile dropdown and select CMYK.
  5. Your file is now ready for Download and can be sent to Print Services via Web2Print.