Working with Text in Canva Presentations

Learning Objectives

• Add and format text in Canva presentation slides
• Choose appropriate fonts for different presentation contexts
• Apply text effects that enhance rather than distract from your message
• Adjust line spacing and alignment to improve readability

Introduction

The way your text appears can make or break your presentation. Poor typography choices leave audiences struggling to read your slides, while well-formatted text keeps them engaged with your message. This chapter covers everything you need to know about working with text in Canva presentations, from adding your first text box to applying professional formatting that makes your slides easy to read and visually appealing.

Lessons

Adding Text to Your Slides

Getting text onto your slides is straightforward, but doing it right from the start saves time later.

Step 1: Select the slide you want to edit in your Canva presentation.

Step 2: Click "Text" in the left sidebar, then choose from:

• "Add a heading" for main titles
• "Add a subheading" for section headers
• "Add a little bit of body text" for paragraphs

Step 3: Click the text box that appears and start typing your content.

Once you've added text, you can format it immediately. Click the text box to access formatting options in the top toolbar. Here you'll find font selection, size controls, and basic formatting like bold and italics.

The font dropdown shows you how each typeface looks with your actual text, making it easier to choose. The size dropdown gives you precise control, or you can drag the corner handles of the text box to resize text visually.

Choosing the Right Fonts

Your font choice affects both readability and the impression your presentation makes. Here's how to pick well.

Step 1: Select your text box and click the font dropdown in the top toolbar.

Step 2: Browse through Canva's font library or use the search bar to find specific styles.

Step 3: Consider your context:

• Sans-serif fonts (like Arial or Helvetica) work well for modern, clean presentations
• Serif fonts (like Times New Roman) suit formal or academic content
• Display fonts can work for headings but avoid them for body text

Stick to 2-3 fonts maximum across your entire presentation. Use one for headings, another for body text, and perhaps a third for emphasis or special elements.

For brand consistency, Canva Pro users can upload custom fonts. This is particularly useful if you're creating presentations for work or need to match specific brand guidelines.

Applying Text Effects

Text effects can highlight important information, but they're easy to overuse. Here's how to apply them effectively.

Step 1: Select the text you want to enhance.

Step 2: Click "Effects" in the top toolbar to see options like shadow, lift, splice, and outline.

Step 3: Preview each effect by hovering over it, then click to apply.

Step 4: Adjust the effect intensity using the slider that appears.

Subtle effects work better than dramatic ones. A light drop shadow can make text stand out against busy backgrounds without looking unprofessional. Bold effects like neon or heavy outlines rarely work in business or educational presentations.

Use effects consistently throughout your presentation. If you apply a shadow to one heading, apply the same shadow to all headings at that level.

Adjusting Spacing and Alignment

Proper spacing makes text easier to read and gives your slides a polished look.

Line spacing: Select your text, then click the spacing icon in the toolbar. Increase line spacing for better readability, especially with longer paragraphs. Generally, 1.2 to 1.5 times the font size works well.

Letter spacing: Use this sparingly. Slight increases can improve readability for headings, but too much makes text hard to read.

Alignment: Use the alignment buttons in the toolbar. Left-align body text for easy reading. Centre-align headings and short phrases. Right-align sparingly, usually only for design balance.

Margins: Leave enough space around text blocks. Cramped text looks unprofessional and becomes harder to read.

Practice

Open a blank Canva presentation and create three slides:

1. Slide 1: Add a main heading and subheading. Try three different font combinations and pick the one that works best together.

2. Slide 2: Create a text-heavy slide with bullet points. Adjust the line spacing until it feels comfortable to read.

3. Slide 3: Add a heading and apply a subtle text effect. Then try an over-the-top effect and compare how they look.

Save your practice presentation for reference. Note which combinations work well and which don't.

FAQs

Can I upload my own fonts to Canva?
Yes, but you'll need Canva Pro. Go to your brand kit and upload font files. This helps maintain brand consistency across all your designs.

How do I make text fit better on my slide?
Try reducing font size first, then adjust line spacing. You can also break long sentences into shorter ones or split content across multiple slides.

Why does my text look blurry?
This usually happens when you resize text boxes rather than changing font size. Always use the font size dropdown for crisp text.

Can I copy text formatting between slides?
Select formatted text, copy it, then paste it onto another slide. The formatting comes with it. You can then replace the actual words while keeping the styling.

Jargon Buster

Typography: The arrangement and appearance of text, including font choice, size, spacing, and layout.

Sans-serif: Fonts without decorative strokes (serifs) at the end of letters. Examples include Arial and Helvetica.

Serif: Fonts with small decorative strokes at the end of letters. Examples include Times New Roman and Georgia.

Line spacing: The vertical distance between lines of text. Also called leading in professional typography.

Kerning: The spacing between individual letters. Canva calls this "letter spacing."

Wrap-up

Good typography transforms ordinary slides into professional presentations. Start with readable fonts, keep effects subtle, and pay attention to spacing. Your audience will thank you for making your content easy to read and visually appealing.

Next, you'll learn about working with images and graphics to complement your text. The combination of well-formatted text and appropriate visuals creates presentations that both inform and engage.

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