How to Create a Pinterest Cover Photo on Canva: The Easy Way

First, log into Canva and click Create a Design, followed by Custom Size.

Pinterest’s official cover photo guidelines require that you use an image with a 16:9 ratio. The minimum dimensions are 800 x 450 pixels (px), but today, you’re going to create a much larger one at 1600 x 900 pixels.

This keeps your image in the 16:9 ratio but allows you to create a much higher-quality image.

One of the many things I love about Canva is that no matter what dimensions you use for your custom image, it will always provide you with template options that best fit its shape.

OK, so the templates it does provide aren’t always 100% fit for purpose.
For example, when you and I create our 800 x 450 px image, the graphic design tool gives us presentation templates.

It’s not perfect, but don’t worry; that’s what the search bar is for.
Just type in a word related to your business, and you’ll get a selection of template options that should be much better suited to your needs.

You can narrow down your choices by tapping the slider icon at the right of the search bar and selecting the colors that match your business’ branding.

Doing so means you’ll only see templates in those colors, making it easier to find one that works for you.

When you’ve found your favorite template, tap it to add it to your design

If you read my guide to making a logo on Canva or you’ve been using my Canva Instagram post tutorial, you should be more than familiar with the software’s range of beginner-friendly graphic design tools and how to use them.

If this is you’re not that familiar with it, let me show you a few things in the next couple of steps:

If you didn’t already find a template in the same colors as your branding, you could always change them.

First, tap the element you want to edit.

A small square will appear on the left of the editing menu, which matches the colors of your selected element.

Click that box, and a color options menu will pop up that you can use to get the colors just right.

Clicking on any text area will allow you to replace the template copy with your own words.

Meanwhile, the editing menu gives you everything you need to change all of the following:

– Font
– Text size
– Color
– Styling (bold, italic, underline)
– Position and alignment
– Spacing.

You can move any element on your screen to a different position by clicking on it, dragging it to where you want it, and dropping it into place, hence why tools like Canva are frequently referred to as “drag-and-drop.“

The one thing I really like here is that when you rearrange your elements, you get handy guidelines to help you maintain their alignment and place it into a new spot with pinpoint precision.

To replace the template images with ones that better reflect your business, tap on the image and then go to Elements – Photos to use the stock images.

As an alternative to stock images, you can also navigate to Uploads and add your own content.
Alternatively, you can go to Uploads and upload your images.

Whichever option you choose, just click it and drag it into the element you highlighted.

Having reached this stage, you’ve essentially finished making your Pinterest cover photo.

Now, I’m not saying that this is the most outstanding design in the world, but for someone like me who has zero graphic design training or talent, I’d say it’s a pretty good effort.

I may make a few minor tweaks here and there, and you may want to do the same just to be sure this new design of yours is exactly how you want it.

Once you’re as happy with your image as I am with mine, let’s move on and get it on Pinterest.

To download your design, navigate to Share – Download.

Keep the file format as PNG, as this is the best format for showcasing your image on the web, and then tap Download to save the image to your device.

Finally, log into Pinterest and head to your profile.

If you already have a cover photo, click the pencil icon in the bottom right and select Change Cover.

If this is your first cover photo, you’ll see a big, grey box above your profile photo with a + symbol in the bottom corner.

Tap that, upload your newly-designed image, and that’s it; you’re done!