Let’s be real, everyone uses templates. But what separates a beginner Canva user from someone who knows what they’re doing is what happens next.
This post is all about taking a generic template and transforming it into something that actually looks professional, branded, and made-for-you. Step by step, you’ll see how simple changes can turn a cookie-cutter design into something scroll-stopping.
Templates are meant to be a starting point, not the final product. When your design still looks like the original, it blends in with everything else on the feed.
The goal is to make it your own by adjusting:
Color
Fonts
Layout
Overlays and textures
Visual hierarchy
Across three different Canva templates, here’s what I changed to take each one from generic to pro:
Example 1
Changed the background and font colors
Added a grainy texture
Swapped the image and added a shadow
Faded edges with a black gradient
Example 2
Swapped the background and added texture
Applied a white gradient
Added shadow lines and a white highlight bar
Customized arrow button color
Example 3
Replaced the image and removed the background
Added a plastic texture overlay
Layered in a black gradient on the edges
Customized line colors and layout spacing
How to adjust layout to better fit your message
How to incorporate branding through color, font, and texture
How to use gradients and shadows for more depth
Why details like overlays and spacing make all the difference
Templates are tools → not shortcuts. This guide shows you how to build confidence in your design decisions and create graphics that reflect your brand.
The Canva Position tool and Layers view can instantly improve your design workflow. This tutorial shows you how to arrange elements, control visibility, and create professional layouts in minutes.
Canva just launched a built-in Texture App, and it changes everything. This guide shows you how to use it, where to find it, and which textures to try first to add depth and visual richness to your designs.
