If you're prepping for a trade show and thinking about using Canva to design your boot, you’re not alone. Canva is a go-to tool for quick visuals, mood boards, and early-stage mockups. But when it comes to finalizing your trade show booth graphics, there are some key things to consider before relying on it as your main design tool.

Canva Is Great for Mockups—But Not Final Graphics

Canva is a fantastic platform for sketching ideas or visually communicating your concept. It’s user-friendly, collaborative, and perfect for sharing a rough draft with our team.

But here’s the catch: Canva isn't built for professional, large-format printing. Trade show graphics require precise dimensions, high-resolution images, and file formats that meet print industry standards—and Canva doesn’t support most of those.

Why Canva Falls Short for Large-Format Printing

Designs that look crisp on your screen can fall apart when stretched across a 10- or 20-foot booth. Here’s why Canva isn’t the best option for final booth graphics:

  • Inaccurate dimensions: Canva doesn't allow for precise sizing required for trade show displays.

  • Scaling issues: Artwork is often not to scale, which causes layout problems.

  • Low-res images: Graphics may become pixelated or blurry when enlarged.

  • Placement errors: Important design elements can get cut off or misaligned.

In short, what looks great online may not translate well in person

What Happens If You Submit a Canva File?

If you send us a Canva file for print, don’t worry—we’ve got your back. But it does require extra steps.

Our design team will:

  • Rebuild your design using our exact booth templates

  • Fix scale and alignment issues

  • Replace low-resolution elements with print-quality graphics

  • Prepare a print-ready file that meets our production standards

That said, this rework takes time and may add extra design fees to your order.

Best Tools for Trade Show Design 

If you're creating your own booth graphics, we recommend using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. These professional tools allow you to:

  • Design to exact dimensions

  • Work with high-resolution files

  • Set bleeds, margins, and safe zones accurately

  • Export print-ready PDFs that are compatible with our specs


These platforms are the gold standard in print design—for good reason.

Want a Hassle-Free Option? Let Us Handle It.

The easiest way to get stunning, print-ready booth graphics? Let our design team take care of it. We work with our display templates every day and know exactly how to make your booth look its best—from setup to show floor.

Canva is a great place to start, but not the best tool to finish. Use it for planning and sharing ideas—but when it's time to go to print, trust professional tools or professional designers. Your trade show booth deserves nothing less.



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