Canva Presentation Basics for Beginners

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter you will:

1. Navigate Canva's presentation interface with confidence
2. Choose and customise templates for your presentation needs
3. Add and edit visual elements including photos and graphics
4. Create your first complete presentation using Canva's tools

Introduction

Canva transforms presentation design from a complex task into something anyone can master. Whether you're preparing slides for work, school, or personal projects, this chapter shows you exactly how to use Canva's presentation tools. You'll learn the essential skills needed to create professional-looking slides without any design experience.

Lessons

Getting Started with Canva's Presentation Interface

First, you need to understand how Canva works and where everything is located.

Step 1: Sign up for a free account at canva.com and log in to your dashboard.

Step 2: Click "Create a design" and select "Presentation" from the list of options.

Step 3: Take a moment to explore the main areas:

• Left sidebar: Contains templates, elements, uploads, and text options
• Centre canvas: Where you'll design your slides
• Top toolbar: Includes sharing, download, and presentation settings

Step 4: Click through the different sidebar tabs to see what's available in each section.

The interface stays consistent across all your projects, so time spent learning it now pays off later.

Choosing the Right Template

Templates give you a professional starting point and save hours of design work.

Step 1: Browse the template gallery by scrolling through the options or using the search bar.

Step 2: Filter templates by colour, theme, or style using the filter options at the top.

Step 3: Click on any template to see a larger preview with multiple slide layouts.

Step 4: When you find one that fits your topic and style, click "Use template" to start editing.

Each template includes multiple slide designs for different content types like title slides, bullet points, and image layouts.

Customising Your Template

This is where you make the template your own.

Step 1: Click on any text element to replace placeholder text with your own content.

Step 2: Change colours by selecting an element and clicking the colour picker in the top toolbar.

Step 3: Swap fonts by selecting text and choosing from the font dropdown menu.

Step 4: Add new elements by clicking "Elements" in the sidebar and dragging items onto your slide.

Step 5: Resize elements by clicking and dragging the corner handles.

Don't feel restricted by the original template layout. Move elements around until the design works for your content.

Adding and Managing Images

Good images make your presentations more engaging and easier to understand.

Step 1: Click "Photos" in the left sidebar to browse Canva's stock images, or click "Uploads" to add your own.

Step 2: Search for relevant images using keywords related to your topic.

Step 3: Click on an image to add it to your slide.

Step 4: Drag the corners to resize the image and click and drag to reposition it.

Step 5: Use the crop tool (appears when you double-click an image) to focus on the most important part.

Step 6: Apply filters or adjust brightness using the filter options that appear when you select an image.

High-quality images look more professional, but make sure they're relevant to your content rather than just decorative.

Practice

Create a 5-slide presentation about your favourite hobby or a topic you know well. Include:

• A title slide
• Three content slides with different layouts
• A conclusion slide

Focus on practising the customisation techniques rather than perfecting the content.

FAQs

Can I upload my own images to use in presentations?
Yes, click "Uploads" in the sidebar and drag your image files into Canva. You can use JPG, PNG, and other common image formats.

How do I add more slides to my presentation?
Click the "+" button at the bottom of the slide panel on the left, or duplicate existing slides by right-clicking and selecting "Duplicate."

Can I present directly from Canva?
Yes, click the "Present" button in the top right corner to start a full-screen slideshow. You can also download your presentation as a PDF or PowerPoint file.

Are there size limits for free Canva accounts?
Free accounts have some limitations on storage and premium elements, but you can create unlimited presentations using free templates and elements.

Jargon Buster

Template: A pre-designed presentation layout with placeholder text and images that you can customise with your own content.

Elements: Design components like shapes, icons, lines, and graphics that you can add to your slides.

Canvas: The main design area where you create and edit your slides.

Filter: A visual effect applied to images to change their appearance, such as making them warmer, cooler, or more vibrant.

Wrap-up

You now have the core skills needed to create presentations in Canva. The key is practice – the more you use these tools, the faster and more confident you'll become. Start with simple designs and gradually experiment with more advanced features as you get comfortable with the basics.

Ready to take your presentation skills further?

https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership