## Instructions - Build the Brand Kit first: upload primary + secondary logos (SVG/PNG transparent), lock 2-3 fonts (heading/body/accent), save palette hex codes (primary/secondary/neutral 60-30-10 rule), add brand voice notes + photo style. - Lock templates for non-designers: set brand fonts/colors as defaults, lock logo + legal footer positions, leave only headline/photo/text unlocked, star the 5 canon templates (thumbnail, post, story, deck, flyer). - Design thumbnails and socials to spec: high-contrast 3-element max, 120px+ headline type legible at phone size, face or object left / text right rule, safe margins 5% for platform UI cropping. - Use Resize / Magic Switch properly: design master 1920x1080 first, Magic Switch to story/post/flyer sizes, manually fix text wrapping + focal-point crop after every resize — never ship auto-resize unchecked. - Run Magic Write/Edit with guardrails: generate 3 headline variants then human-pick, Magic Edit/Eraser for object cleanup at 100% zoom check, never AI-generate logos or small body text (artifacts). - Collaborate with Teams + Approvals: share with Can/Comment/Edit tiers, assign approver per folder, comment pins on exact elements, version history restore point before big stakeholder reviews. - Manage assets with folders and tags: `00_Brand / 01_Social / 02_Decks / 03_Print`, tag by campaign + size, trash-archive monthly, upload naming `YYYY-MM-DD_campaign_size_v02`. - Prep print correctly: set bleed 3mm (0.125in) + crop marks on, CMYK-friendly palette check (neons will shift), minimum 300 DPI placed images, keep text 5mm inside trim, outline critical logo text. - Export the right file every time: PDF Print/X-1a for pro printers, PDF Standard for office, PNG for social/thumbnails, JPG q90 for photo-heavy posts, MP4 1080p for animated socials. - Proof before send: 100% zoom text check, phone-preview for socials, printed soft-proof on office printer for color surprises, second-person spellcheck + link check on every PDF. - Control access and licensing: Pro elements licensed per design — replace trial watermarks, stock usage logged per client, fonts confirmed for commercial use, client-handoff copies moved to their team. - Track performance: duplicate top posts as versioned templates, log CTR/engagement per thumbnail variant in a sheet, retire bottom 20% monthly. ## Examples - Good: brand kit locked, master thumb Magic Switched to story with manual reflow, PDF/X-1a with bleed for printer. Bad: off-brand fonts, auto-resize text clipped, no-bleed PDF rejected by printer. - Good approval: designer edits, manager comments pinned to logo, version history checkpoint, approved stamp. Bad: screenshot feedback in chat, wrong version printed. - Good export: PNG 1920x1080 thumb + MP4 story + PDF print flyer from one master. Bad: single JPG stretched across all sizes. ## Workflows 1. Setup: brand kit (logos/fonts/colors), folder tree, 5 canon templates locked. 2. Design: master size first, Magic Switch variants, manual reflow + proof. 3. Approve: share comment-link, pin feedback, version checkpoint, approver sign-off. 4. Ship: size-correct exports, naming convention, performance log + template update. ## Templates - Canva size table: - | Asset | Size px | Format | Notes | - |---|---|---|---| - | YouTube thumb | 1280x720 | PNG | <2MB, 3 elements max | - | IG post 4:5 | 1080x1350 | PNG/JPG | Safe margins 5% | - | Story/Reel 9:16 | 1080x1920 | PNG/MP4 | Text clear of UI zones | - | X/FB landscape | 1200x675 | JPG q90 | Photo-heavy ok | - | A4 flyer print | 2480x3508 | PDF/X-1a | 3mm bleed + marks | - | Deck 16:9 | 1920x1080 | PDF Std | Embedded fonts | - Brand kit block: `Fonts: [Heading]/[Body] | Colors: #PRIMARY #SECOND #NEUTRAL | Logos: SVG primary + mono` - Print checklist: `3mm bleed ON | Crop marks ON | 300 DPI images | Text 5mm inside trim | PDF/X-1a` ## Tools - Canva Brand Kit + Magic Switch/Resize + Approvals + Background Remover. - SARAH file tools for asset naming logs and thumbnail performance trackers. ## Advanced - Build bulk-create CSV flows: one spreadsheet drives 50 localized flyers/posts with auto-mapped name/date/QR fields. - Connect Canva to scheduler (Buffer/Meta) with UTM-tagged links so design variants tie to click data. - Run quarterly brand audits: font/color drift check across 20 recent designs, re-lock templates, purge off-brand uploads. - Thumbnail split-test loop: 2 variants per video (face vs object), swap after 48h based on CTR, log winner formula in tracker. - Magic Switch QA checklist: reflow headlines, re-pin logo clearspace, re-check safe margins, re-proof phone preview — every size, every time. - Deck master system: cover + section + quote + stats + CTA slides locked, body-copy styles mapped to brand fonts, page numbers auto. - Print vendor kit: PDF/X-1a + outlined-logo SVG + font licenses + hex/CMYK sheet in one Drive folder per job. - Social safe-zone overlays: keep headlines out of top 15% (IG UI) and bottom 20% (captions/buttons), test with platform preview. - Stock discipline: star 30 on-brand photos/vectors, ban the rest from team search to stop off-brand picks. - Client handoff: transfer copy (not original) to client team, revoke editor access after sign-off, keep read-only archive. - Accessibility pass: 4.5:1 text contrast minimum, alt-text on key posts, no red/green-only meaning. ## Quick Reference - Brand Kit: SVG/PNG logos, 2-3 locked fonts, hex palette 60-30-10, photo style notes. - Templates: lock logo + footer, leave headline/photo unlocked; star 5 canon templates. - Master 1920x1080 first, Magic Switch after, manual reflow every size — never ship auto-resize. - Teams: Comment/Edit tiers, pinned comments, version checkpoint before stakeholder review. - Print: 3mm bleed + crop marks, 300 DPI, text 5mm inside trim, PDF/X-1a export. - Export map: PNG social/thumb, JPG q90 photo posts, MP4 animated, PDF Standard office docs. - Naming YYYY-MM-DD_campaign_size_v02; retire bottom 20% templates monthly. ## Documentation - Canva Help Center: Brand Kit, Magic Switch, Teams approvals, print bleed + PDF export (canva.com/help). - Canva Design School typography + print-prep courses (designschool.canva.com). - Printer specs: PDF/X-1a + 3mm bleed requirements (ask your print shop sheet). - WCAG contrast guidance for accessible social graphics.