6 new AI features for Canva creators

While I'm Photoshop-savvy, lately I've found myself jumping on Canva instead of clicking on that little Ps icon on my MacBook. The web-based graphics generator's slew of templates and tools often means that it's the faster option when it comes to designing a social media graphic, an invitation to a birthday party, or a slideshow, just to name a few. But following the company's Canva Create 2024 event, the platform has an even longer list of tools. So what's new in Canva and what's worth trying? I hopped into the browser-based graphic design tool to see how its latest additions handle.

Many of the latest introductions are designed for companies, like the ability to create courses or automatic data filling. But many of the updates extend Canva's Magic suite of tools. These AI-based tools allow you to generate text and graphics, yes, but the upgrades also allow you to take one project and transform it into an entirely new type of document. For example, you can create a social media graphic, then transform it into a blog post.

I tried out six of Canva's newest "Magic" features to see how the software is using AI to level up.

Canva can now generate graphics as well as photos and videos

While you could already create photos and videos in Canva, the latest update brings AI-generated graphics. This allows you to generate things like arrows, lines, and clip-art-like graphics. I found Canva graphics generator to be significantly more useful than generating photos and videos. Why? Because graphics aren't meant to be realistic. The realistic image I asked it to generate of a vintage camera, for example, had a mishmash of lettering rather than actual words on the camera. With the graphics tool, I could create a clip-art of a watercolor camera graphic that is actually usable.

2 Magic Grab

Separate part of an image from the rest in fewer clicks

Once I created the graphic, an enhanced tool called Magic Grab let me separate the different elements within the graphic for further editing. Magic Grab selects part of the image and allows you to move it around. For example, you can grab the subject in the photo and move it onto a new background. I used this tool to rearrange the camera and floral graphic that Magic Media created for me.

3 Magic Write

Upload a sample and AI will try to match the writing to your own voice

While Magic Write has been helping Canva creators refine their words for a while now, the updated tool can now customize the results to sound more like you. What this does is it uses AI to analyze your writing, and then the AI generates a description of your writing style. That description can then be used to make new text match your style.

The tool even allows you to save multiple voices, so you can have a professional voice for your work slideshows but be your usual fun self when generating the text for your kids' birthday party invitations.

4 Resize and Magic Switch

Use an existing Canva project to jump-start an entirely new type of document

Canva's Resize and Magic Switch makes it easy to turn a square Instagram graphic into the appropriate aspect ratio for an Instagram Story. But the updated tool can now take what you have and turn it into an entirely new type of document, like a blog post, video script, or a presentation. This tool works best with designs that already have a lot of data and text in them. If you only have a sentence or two, the tool won't work.

5 Highlights

Let Canva automatically organize the best parts of your video project

Picking and choosing which clips to add to a shorter-form video is a daunting task. Thankfully, this is another to-do list item that Canva is helping to simplify. The new highlight tool will organize and describe different parts of your video. Then, you can easily drag and drop the best parts into the edited video. This tool works best with projects that have multiple, longer videos.

6 Recordings

You can now also record yourself -- and edit out the background noise

Canva will now allow you to use your device's front-facing camera to record yourself. You can then drag a video of yourself talking and add it anywhere to your design. The tool is designed for projects like videos, presentations, and courses.

You can also use this tool in conjunction with another new AI-based option: Enhance Voice. This new tool helps remove background noise. After recording yourself, or uploading a video with audio, click on the volume icon, then toggle on Enhance voice.