Canva is an excellent design tool for creating stunning graphics, whether you’re designing social media posts, flyers, or even a website.
One of the essential functions of Canva is the ability to copy and paste elements, photos, or icons, saving you time and effort when working on your design.
In this article, we’ll cover multiple methods to copy and paste in Canva, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
Copy & Paste in Canva using Keyboard Shortcuts
One of the easiest ways to copy and paste elements in Canva is by using keyboard shortcuts. To copy an element, select it with your mouse or keyboard and then use the copy command. On Windows, you can use the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut, while on Mac, you can use Cmd + C.
To paste the copied element, place your cursor where you want to paste the element and use the paste command. On Windows, you can use the Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut, while on Mac, you can use Cmd + V.
Using keyboard shortcuts can be a fast and efficient way to copy and paste elements in Canva, especially if you’re working on a large project with many elements to copy and paste.
Just remember to ensure that the element you want to copy is selected before using the copy command.
Copy & Paste in Canva using Context Menu
Another way to copy and paste elements/photos/icons in Canva is by using the right-click menu. To do this, right-click on the element you want to copy and select “Copy” from the context menu.
Once you’ve copied the element, right-click on the canvas and select “Paste” from the context menu. This will place a copy of the element near the original element if pasted on the same design page & precisely at the same position if pasted on a different design page.
Using the right-click menu (context menu) to copy and paste elements can be helpful if you prefer to use your mouse more than your keyboard.
It can also be useful if you’re working with a touchscreen device that doesn’t have a keyboard or if you’re having trouble remembering keyboard shortcuts.
Remember that this method requires a bit more clicking and movement compared to using keyboard shortcuts.
Additionally, ensure you have the element selected before using the copy or duplicate command to avoid copying the wrong element.
Copy & Paste in Canva using the Duplicate feature
Another way to copy and paste elements in Canva is by using the “Duplicate” button available in the right-click menu or using the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + D from the keyboard.
To duplicate an element, select it on the Canva design page, then click “Duplicate” via right-click menu or shortcut. This will create a copy of the element and place it near the original element or image.
Using the “Duplicate” feature is a super quick & straightforward method when you want to copy & paste elements or photos within the same Canva design page.
To move the duplicate element to a different location on Canva, click and drag it with your mouse or keyboard. You can also resize or modify the duplicate element as needed, just like you would with any other element in Canva.
Copy & Paste in Canva using Alt/Option Key
Another way to copy and paste elements in Canva is by holding down the Alt/Option key while dragging an element.
To do this, select the element you want to copy and then hold down the Alt/Option key on your keyboard.
While holding down the key, click and drag the element to the desired location on the canvas. This will create a copy of the element and place it at the new location.
You can then modify the copy as needed, just like any other element in Canva. You can resize it, change its color, or adjust any other properties as required.
Using this method can be helpful if you want to quickly copy an element to a new location on the canvas. It’s also useful if you’re working on a project where you need to copy and paste elements frequently.
This method may be tricky to use at first, especially if you’re not used to holding down keys while clicking and dragging.
Copy & Paste in Canva using Copy Style Feature
Another way to copy and paste in Canva is by using the “Copy Style” and “Paste Style” commands. To do this, first, select the element whose style you want to copy. Then, click on the “Copy Style” button in the toolbar.
Next, click on the element to which you want to apply the copied style. This will apply the copied style to the selected element, including any changes you’ve made to the color, font, size, and other properties.
Using the “Copy Style” and “Paste Style” commands can be helpful if you want to quickly apply the same style to multiple elements in your design.
It’s especially useful if you’re working on a project with a consistent design language, as you can easily apply the same styles across different elements.
Please note that when you paste a style onto an element, it will overwrite any existing styles that were applied to that element.
Bonus Method to Copy & Paste in Canva
Do you want to copy & paste the entire Canva design page from one design to another?
Open a design from which you want to copy a design page. Click on the “Grid view” option from the bottom right of the screen.
Now select the design page you wish to copy. You must use the shortcut for this (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C) method.
Once you copy the design page, open the new design in whcih you want the copied design to be pasted. Select the “Grid view” from the bottom right of the screen.
Click on any of the existing design pages after which you want the copied design to paste, and use the paste shortcut (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V) to paste the copied Canva design.
This process will copy the entire design page from one design to another in Canva. Ensure that both the design page dimensions are the same for copy-pasting the design accurately.
If the dimensions of the original design page & new design page where you want to paste the design are different, then you may have to resize the pasted design page to match the dimensions of the new design page.
FAQs related to Copy & Paste feature in Canva
Below we have tried answering some of the frequently asked questions related to the copy & paste feature in Canva design tool.
Can I copy and paste multiple elements at once in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste multiple elements at once in Canva. To do this, select all the elements you want to copy, then use one of the copy and paste methods we covered in this blog post.
Is there a limit to how many times I can copy and paste an element in Canva?
There is no limit to how many times you can copy and paste an element in Canva. You can duplicate an element as many times as needed without any issues.
Can I copy and paste elements between Canva designs?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements between different Canva designs. To do this, copy the element you need from one design, open the second design, and then paste the element onto the canvas.
Can I undo a copy and paste action in Canva?
Yes, you can undo a copy and paste action in Canva using the “Undo” command or by pressing Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac. This will undo the last action you took, even if it is a copy and paste action.
Can I copy and paste text and images separately in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste text and images separately in Canva. Simply select the element you want to copy, and then use one of the copy and paste methods we covered in this article. Canva will automatically recognize if you’re copying text or an image and paste it accordingly.
Can I copy and paste elements across different pages in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements across different pages in Canva. Select the element you want to copy, navigate to the page where you want to paste it and use the paste command multiple times to add it to different Canva design pages.
Can I copy and paste elements with their layer order intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements with their layer order intact in Canva. When you paste an element, it will be placed on top of any other elements on the canvas. However, you can use the “Send Backward” or “Bring Forward” options to adjust the layer order of the pasted element as needed.
Can I copy and paste elements with their effects intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements with their effects intact in Canva. When you paste an element, it will retain any effects that were applied to the original element, such as drop shadows, glows, or blurs.
Can I copy and paste elements with their transformations intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements with their transformations intact in Canva. When you paste an element, it will retain any transformations that were applied to the original element, such as scaling, rotating, or flipping.
Can I copy and paste elements with their text formatting intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste text elements with their formatting intact in Canva. When you paste a text element, it will retain the font, size, color, and other formatting properties that were applied to the original text element.
Can I copy and paste elements between different Canva accounts?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements between different Canva accounts. Copy the element you want to duplicate from one account, log in to the second account, and then paste the element onto the canvas.
Can I copy and paste elements between different Canva projects?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements between different Canva projects. Copy the element you want to transfer from one project, open the second project, and then paste the element onto the canvas.
Can I copy and paste elements with their animation intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements with their animation intact in Canva. When you paste an element with an animation, it will retain the animation that was applied to the original element.
Can I copy and paste elements with their hyperlink intact in Canva?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements or photos with their hyperlink intact in Canva. Pasting an element or photo with a hyperlink will retain the hyperlink that was applied to the original element.
Can I copy and paste elements between different Canva file types?
Yes, you can copy and paste elements between different Canva file types, such as from a social media post to a presentation or vice versa. Copy the element you want to transfer from one file type, open the second file type, and then paste the element onto the canvas. When the Canva design page sizes differ, you may have to resize the duplicated element/photo to adjust it to the destination design page size.
Conclusion
Copying and pasting elements/photos/icons in Canva is a simple but essential skill for any designer. Using the methods we’ve covered in this article, you can easily duplicate and modify elements to create your perfect design.
Whether you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, the right-click menu, or the toolbar, there’s a copy and paste method that’s right for you. So next time you’re working on a design project in Canva, remember these tips and save yourself some time and effort.