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Canva.com is a online graphic design tool that can be used to make presentations, posters, charts, QR codes and more.

Plans and Pricing

  • Free subscription - templates, photos, graphics - good option when getting started.
  • Pro subscription account - same interface as the free account but more templates, photos, graphics and added background remover etc. 
  • Not for Profit account  - Canva offers free Pro subscriptions to Public Health services - Submit a request via this form.

Getting started:

Canva User Guide   

Attend webinar: Visual Design for Beginner's using Canva - Browse upcoming events

Watch a recording: the Library Latte page has a 25 min recording of how to make visual abstracts in Canva 

 

Canva functions:

 Templates: Look for templates for inspiration before starting a new design.

 Elements: Add graphics, pictures, videos or audio.

 Uploads: Upload your own images into your Canva gallery.

 Text: Add a heading, subheading or body text.

 QR code: Quickly generate a QR code for your document.

 Charts: Add a graph or chart.

Canva keyboard shortcuts:

Function Keyboard Shortcut
Duplicate Ctrl + D
Copy Ctrl + C
Paste Ctrl + V

Note: When you copy and paste an image to your Canva document, Canva automatically saves it in your gallery.

Additional information and training outside of the library

Visual Design Tools

  • Other online tools for creating posters and infographics:
    • Visme: Online visual design tool with free and paid access.
    • Piktochart: Tools for creating infographics easily.
    • BioRender: Large number of icons and graphics relating to health and life sciences available.
    • Mind the Graph: templates for graphical abstracts and infographics. minimal free access...paid subscription more useful. 
    • Adobe Express: Online visual design tool with free and paid access.
    • Vistacreate: Online visual design tool with free and paid access.

Colour Accessibility Tools

Monash Health Identity Hub

  • Monash Health logos, templates, brand kit and guidelines on how to use them are available to download.

   Purple #25215d                     Blue #005ca9                      Green #00a39a                   Grey #efeeed

 

Monash Health Image Library

  • Monash Health images are available to download.

Images

! Beware of copyright and attribution requirements when using online images.

Medical images

  • Openi - Open Access Biomedical Image Search Engine
  • BioRender: Browse thousands of life sciences icons and templates
  • Mind the Graph - Visually appealing figures for your research - scientifically accurate illustrations in popular fields.
  • ClinicalkKey - Use MH login to access images and multimedia 

General:

  • Unsplash: Online source of freely usable images
  • Pixabay - Online source of freely usable images 
  • Openverse - Extensive library of free stock photos, images, and audio
  • The Noun Project: Huge range of icons and photos   

Colour Accessibility Tools

Check for appropriate colour contrast:

Check for colour blind accessibility

  • Color-blindness simulator
    • You have to first convert your visual into an image then upload to this simulator to check against types of color-blindness 

Monash Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples, and we pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future.

We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment that embraces all backgrounds, cultures, sexualities, genders and abilities.