You start editing in Canva by initiating a new design or opening an existing one from the homepage.
Canva offers a straightforward process to begin your design or editing work. The specific steps you take depend on whether you are on a desktop computer or a mobile device, and what type of editing you want to do, such as editing a photo.
Here's a breakdown of how to get to the editing space:
Getting Started with Editing in Canva
Whether you're creating a new design from scratch, using a template, or editing an existing file, the journey begins from your Canva homepage.
Step 1: Access the Starting Point
- On desktop: From your Canva homepage, click the Create a design button. This button is typically located in the top-right corner or center of the page.
- On mobile: Tap the large + button. This is usually found at the bottom-right of your screen.
Clicking Create a design or tapping the + button opens up options for the type of design you want to create or work on (e.g., social media post, presentation, document, or even starting from scratch).
Specifically Editing a Photo
If your goal is to edit an image you already have, Canva provides a dedicated path as described in the references:
- After clicking Create a design (desktop) or tapping the + button (mobile), look for the option to Edit photo. Select this.
- You will then be prompted to upload an image directly from your device's storage.
- Once the image is uploaded, select your image within the Canva interface.
- With the image selected, hit the Edit image button. This action will reveal Canva's variety of editing options, including tools for adjusting brightness, contrast, filters, effects, and more.
| Action | Desktop Steps | Mobile Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Start Anything | Click Create a design | Tap the + button |
| Start Photo Edit | Select Edit photo, Upload, Edit image | Select Edit photo, Upload, Edit image |
Once you've selected a design type or opened your file (like a photo for editing), you will be taken to the main Canva editor workspace. This is the area where you see your design canvas, toolbars on the side and top, and various panels for adding elements, text, photos, etc. This workspace is where the actual editing and designing takes place.
So, to answer directly: you edit within the design workspace that opens after you initiate or open a design from the homepage using the steps described.
