As professional graphic designers and printers, we are highly susceptible to rapid changes in technology and software advances.
With Adobe Postscript being introduced in 1986, then in 1990, we were off to the races with Photoshop.
And now CANVA. Don’t get me wrong, everything has its place. When first introduced, it was a fun and easy tool for people to create fast, colorful social media posts and images for websites and other electronic outlets.
What started as a fun easy tool, has evolved into a nightmare for printers, and will soon become the same for the end user.
For you, the end user, Canva creates a false sense of accomplishment. People begin to believe they are designing and illustrating when in fact they are only using AI-generated images to put something together. Nothing is original and anyone can use the same elements time and time again.
In other words, nothing unique comes out of Canva, and often “designs” created in Canva look alike. Another problem: the images can be taken down and or replaced at any time. So, if you find something you love, it may not be there the next time you want to use it.
The legalities are another issue.
In the event you upload your original art, logo or illustration, Canva retains the rights to your files. You own the files, but Canva retains usage rights.
Essentially, you have just given away your original art and have no control over what happens to it. Should you create a logo in Canva you do not own your logo or have the rights to the logo. Canva does.
This is true for anything you create on their platform. Someone else can use your logo and put their name on it. No one has recourse.
For printers, there are several reasons Canva is a problem. Often files are not printable. This means the prepress operator or graphic designer must stop what they are doing, go over the files, and walk someone through the steps to get the file to print.
Or the professional must make the adjustments themselves (or worse yet,) redo the files as well as they can. Remember most of what is on Canva is AI-generated and these files are not created to be easily edited. This interrupts workflow and takes time away from an already busy schedule.
As professionals, we understand organizations and solopreneurs use Canva for a couple of reasons: to save money, or time and keep control of the project. But is designing the best use of your time? Or is your time better spent working in your area of expertise? And are you really saving money? Maybe, for now.
But the time is coming when graphic designers and printers will have to start charging for the time it takes to review files, go over necessary changes, and walk you through Canva’s hidden steps to get a file to print. And don’t be naïve, Canva will increase subscription prices.
As for control, given nothing is original and you don’t own the files, control is more of an illusion than anything.
So, I ask, by the time you pay the subscription, spend your time “creating” something, that doesn’t belong to you, or your client, then go through the process with a professional to get it to print, who wins?
DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney, and this is not legal advice. I am a business owner who has learned the hard way to read and understand the fine print.
We have an infographic to show you the difference between professional design and Canva.
