How to use SVG files in Canva

Did you know that you can use SVG files in Canva? The best part of this feature is having the ability to re-color and customize them. That’s awesome right? In this tutorial, we will show you in a few easy steps exactly how to do that.

Before you get started, make sure you have downloaded and extracted the SVG files if they are in a .zip file.

We are going to use one of these SVG tote bag quotes and a letter from this cute dinosaur SVG alphabet.

Step 1 - Open a Canva Template

To use SVG files in Canva and re-color them, you need to have a template open. You can select a standard template provided by Canva. Alternatively you can purchase one of the many Canva templates that we have available.



Step 2 - Upload the SVG File

With your Canva template open, click on the Uploads tab on the left sidebar. Then click the Upload media button, locate and select the SVG file you want to upload. We have an in-depth tutorial on how to upload in Canva with different upload options to choose from.

Keep uploading all the SVG files you want to use.

Note: Most, if not all SVG files are made from compound paths. This is what Canva needs in order to read the file and allow you to change the color. But, in rare cases where the SVG file isn’t a compound path, you will get an error message like below.

To fix the error in Canva, you will have to convert the elements into a compound path using a third party program. Two examples of programs would be making a compound path in Illustrator, or using Silhouette Studio business edition v4.1 and up.

Once converted into compound paths using a third party program, go back to Canva and upload them again.

Step 3 - Using the SVG File

There are a few things to keep in mind when using SVG files in Canva. Not only are compound paths important, but so are colors.

In the first example, we used a quote. Because the SVG quote is created using one color, Canva only sees one changeable color element. To change the color click on the color square shown in the image below and select the color you want to use.

In our second example, we used a letter from the dinosaur alphabet. Canva will display the colors that can be changed in the top color squares. The SVG file has many elements but only 3 colors are used.

Canva can “see” or make use of up to five colors in an SVG file. This is regardless of how many parts there are in the SVG file. If there are more than five colors, Canva will make available the five most used colors.

There you go, now you know how to use SVG files in Canva. The SVG format is so versatile you can use it across many of your projects. Once you are done with your edits, you can download your Canva files to your desktop or device as an SVG, JPG, or other formats.