Too Long; Dive Right In (TL;DR)?
Yes, TL;DR is a pun. In this blog, You will learn exactly what Canva is, how to create a free account, and how beginners can start designing eye-catching graphics – even with zero experience. From choosing templates to using a blank canvas, you will discover how to make YouTube thumbnails, end screens, channel banners, and more. We will also break down what is free vs. paid and show you how features like background removal actually work.
By the end, you will be ready to start creating professional-looking visuals that elevate your content – especially when paired with the posing and expressions tips from our last blog.
Welcome Back, FrameBursters! 
In our previous blog on Posing and Expressions, we talked about how powerful visuals can instantly attract viewers and communicate your message without a word. But great visuals do not stop ate the photos you take – they continue into the graphics you design to support your content.
This is where Canva becomes your best friend.
Whether you’re a creator, YouTuber, small business owner, or a student, Canva gives you the ability to transform simple ideas into standout design – even if you’ve never designed anything before.
Let’s walk through what Canva is, how to get started, and how you can use it to level up your creative workflow – completely free.
What Is Canva?
CANVA is a free online graphic design tool that lets you create anything from YouTube thumbnails to presentations, posters, banners, Instagram posts, resumes, and more.
It’s built for non–designers, so everything is drag-and-drop, clean, and easy to learn – meaning you do not have to know Photoshop or Illustrator to make professional-looking designs
How to Crete a Canva Account for Free?
Getting started takes less than a minute:
- Go to canva.com
- Click Sign up
- Choose to sign up with Email, Google or Facebook.
- That’s it – your free Canva account is ready.
The free account gives you:
- Thousands of templates
- Free elements, shapes, and icons
- A library of fonts
- The ability to upload your own images
- Cloud storage for your projects
- Ability to export designs in JPEG, PNG, MP4 and PDF formats
- Background Remover trial (Pro version required after trial)
For beginners, this free account is more than enough to start designing like a pro.
Using Templates vs. Starting with a Blank Canvas
Canva gives you two main ways to design:
A) Utilise a Template (Beginner–Friendly)
Templates are pre-made designs created by professionals.
You can search for:
- YouTube thumbnails
- End screen templates
- Channel banners
- Instagram posts
- Posters
- Logos
- Presentations
- Videos
- Emails
- And so much more
Once you pick a template:
- Replace the text
- Replace the photos
- Adjust colours
- Move elements around
And you’re done. It is the quickest way to create clean, high-quality designs.
B) Use a Blank Canvas (For Custom Designs)
If you want total creative freedom:
- Click Create a design
- Choose your size (like 1280 x 720p for thumbnails)
- Start with an empty workspace
You can add:
- Text
- Shapes
- Photos
- Icons
- Stickers
- Gradients
- Your own picture
This option is great when you want a unique style or when templates don’t match your brand.
Designs You can Create for Free
Here’s where Canva really shines – even with the free version, you can create:
i. YouTube Thumbnails:
Perfect for applying your learnings from posing and expressions blog.
Upload your image -> add a background -> add bold text -> you’re done.
ii. YouTube End Cards:
Search ‘YouTube end screen‘ in templates.
Add your channel logo and social handles.
iii. Instagram Content:
Reels covers, quotes, carousels, etc.
iv. Posters, Flyers, Presentations:
For school, events, or your personal brand (i.e. Your channel).
v. Logos (Basic):
Free elements allow simple logo design.
vi. Social Media Ads:
Facebook and Twitter post formats included.\
All of this can be done using 100% free features – just keep an eye out for the stars or crown, which mark paid items.
How to Remove Backgrounds in Canva:
Background removal is one of the most powerful AI {Artificial Intelligence} tools for creators – especially for thumbnails.
Free vs. Paid:
- Canva gives you a free trial to test the Background Remover
- But after the free trial, Background Remover is a Canva Pro feature.
How to Use It:
- Upload a photo
- Click Edit photo
- Select Background Remover
- Canva’s AI automatically cuts it out
- You can refine edges if needed
Once removed, you can:
- Place yourself on a bright thumbnail background
- Create clean product photos
- Make professional portraits
What is Free vs. Paid in Canva?
I. Paid Tools (Canva Pro):
- Background Remover
- Magic Resize (adapt designs to different sizes in 1 click)
- Other AI tools: like Magic Write and Magic Design
- More storage
- Advanced animations
- Transparent backgrounds on export
- Brand Kit for storing colours/logos/fonts
- Premium (starred) templates
- Premium (starred) stock images
II. Free Tools:
- Thousands of templates
- Free stock photos
- Free fonts
- Colour palettes
- Layers and grouping
- PNG/JPG/MP4/PDF exports
- Basic editing tools
- Basic animations
- Limited cloud storage
- Canva mobile application
The free version is perfect for beginners. Pro is ideal once you are creating content regularly.
What’s Coming Next?
Canva is the easiest design tool to commence your creative journey – whether you are building thumbnails, learning visual design, or growing your YouTube channel. It complements everything we discussed in the Posing and Expressions blog by helping you turn your photos into stunning visual content.
Our next blog will walk you through step-by-step designing a YouTube Channel Banner using this program – even if you are a total starter.
stay tuned for: ‘How to Design a YouTube Channel Art in Canva (Beginner Guide)’