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Exporting Files from Canva
All Levels, Foundational
Keep yourself sane! Use naming conventions and export Canva files in the same way every time to keep them organized. Name your pages, customize your file exports, and use a straightforward directory structure to keep track of your files, by year, campaign, marketing channel or other.
For documents with multiple pages, your export is usually going to be a PNG, PDF or maybe an SVG. With MP4, you have the option of downloading the project as a single video or separating it into single files. If you use Canva for social media, you could end up with static and video posts for the same campaign in different sizes. It can be a nightmare to find the “Finalfinal.LastOneIPromise.PNG” to post or send to the client. Here are some tips for a solid naming convention and saving files.
- Name Your Pages Consistently. The page name becomes the filename. I use the client initials, a campaign name (shortened), and some element as a reminder of what the file is – especially helpful if you aren’t looking at a thumbnail. E.g., EKHolEmail25_Gifting_1 If you’re doing a series, number them.
- Customize the Exported File Name. When you export and select your format, change the file name to reflect the file type and dimensions. If I create 16:9 and 4:5 versions of a file, I put them in separate projects and create a file name for the zip like EKHolEmail25_Gifting_16-9PNG.zip and EKHolEmail25_Gifting_4-5PNG.zip.
- Extract to New Folders. I use Bandzip for extraction, and I have it set to create a new folder named after the zip.
- Name the Campaign your images go with. I would put these zips in a folder called 2025_HolidayGifting. My overall file structure helps me keep things organized. It’s usually something like this: Campaigns › 2025 › Holiday Gifting › Social Media
Come up with a system that works for you, but if you handle multiple projects, including your own, you can quickly lose track of your files.
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