How to Create AI Images in Canva

Canva is one of my favorite graphic design programs. It’s incredibly user-friendly—even for those of us who are less artistic—and offers a solid free plan that’s perfect for most budgets.

Like many digital creative services, Canva has undergone an AI makeover over the past year. It has a full suite of AI features that allow it to easily generate text, photos, and videos. These improvements include Magic Media, the company’s AI image generator. You can try Canva’s AI image generator for free, but you’ll have to pay to access all the AI ​​tools, which will cost you $120 per year on the Pro plan.

I’ve spent a lot of time with Magic Media, and it’s certainly a good option for beginners. But if you’re looking to use a different program, you can try OpenAI’s Dall-E and Google’s Imagen image generators for your Canva designs. Whichever app you choose, make sure you read the app’s privacy policy. Canva automatically disables the ability for its AI to train on your content, but OpenAI and Google have separate policies that may allow it to train on your work.

Canva’s Magic Media gives you 50 image credits and five lifetime credits with the free plan, but you have to be careful how you spend them. Each time you generate a batch of images, a credit is deducted. And Canva isn’t the most punctual generator I’ve tested — simpler is better with Canva — so you’ll have to generate a lot to get the image you want.

Here’s what you need to know about generating AI images in Canva.

How to Create AI Images in Canva

To start generating images, you need to launch the Magic Media app. Here’s how.

1. Open a Canva design.
2. Go to the menu on the left.
3. Click on Applications.
4. Search for Magic Media.
5. Click the sparkle picture icon to open it.

You can also follow these steps to search for and open apps for Dall-E and Imagen. Clicking the icon will automatically open the edit window for Magic Media. It will be easier for you in the future because the app will be moved to the bottom of the left menu.

Magic Media is pretty self-explanatory and easy to use. Enter a prompt in the query box and Canva automatically tracks your credits below the box. Once you insert an AI image into your design, it will be added to your library and uploads tab, so you can easily access it across different design files. Once an image is in your library, you can use it as many times as you want without taking away any additional credits.

Canva images are not watermarked, so you need to be extra careful to disclose that your designs have AI-generated content. If you’re having trouble bringing your artistic vision to life, check out my tips for writing the best AI image prompts . You can read my full Canva Magic Media review for more tips and tricks.