PPB September 2021

compiled by Danielle Renda monticello / Shutterstock.com Considering Canva —Is It A Good Tool For My Clients? Is Canva a suitable choice for my clients, or are they better off using a different program to prepare their logos and social media files? Based on Canva’s Help Center, the supported download file types are JPG, PNG, PDF and SVG. Therefore, it sounds like your clients may have downloaded the design as one of the above file types and then converted it into an EPS file. In this instance, the file may have some rasterized elements that could be causing the supplier to reject the file. While Canva is great for designing social media posts and email graphics, I’d recommend a vector program for designing logos. MADISON WALLACE Director of Marketing Promo Assets Lexington, Kentucky PPAI 567862, D1 Canva is no place to be building critical elements of a brand for many reasons. It’s Q A Distributor Asks: Is there anyone who can help provide more information about Canva? I know it’s a program that’s easy to use for “design,” however, three different clients have sent in an EPS file for production using Canva, and all were rejected by the supplier for not being vector art. Is there something the client is missing? Is Canva suitable for designing logos and such? How do I better help my clients to correct and prepare their art? best to hire a professional designer/ freelancer as their experience and unique skillset will often save you a ton of time and money. Here’s a quick breakdown on why Canva shouldn’t be used to design critical elements, like logos, that need to live outside of the digital realm as well: • Canva is an app that usually saves low-resolution files that cannot be scaled without pixilation issues. Items that are printed from these files have a tendency to look fuzzy and unprofessional. To convert the Canva file to a true vector, you have to go through multiple steps in programs such as Adobe Illustrator (paid subscription professional program) and it can be quite complicated. • There’s also some major potential legal issues, so you’ll want to cover your bases. You may not own the rights to anything you provide via the app, and you are 100-percent responsible for ensuring you haven’t unwittingly committed copyright or trademark infringement, according to Canva’s Media License Agreement (www.canva.com/policies/free- media). This aspect alone should tip the scales in favor of hiring a professional to create a logo. Here’s another helpful link to help explain the ever-present vector vs. pixel topic: www.ionos.com/digitalguide/ websites/web-design/pixel-graphics- vs-vector-graphics-a-comparison. There are always freelance designers available and looking to pick up some extra projects. Your local AIGA 12 | SEPTEMBER 2021 | INNOVATE