Canva for content creation (export)

Introduction

Canva is the most common content-creation tool used with InfoBox. Designers and non-designers alike use Canva to build images, videos, and animated visuals, then bring them into InfoBox. The simplest way is the connected Canva integration, which imports designs straight from your account and keeps them in sync: see Canva designs (connected). This article covers the two manual paths: exporting the design as a file, or publishing it as a public URL and embedding it as a Website slide. Use them for animated MP4 exports, or when the design lives in a Canva account you can't connect.

Path 1: Export and upload (recommended)

The simplest, most reliable approach:

• In Canva, design at 1920×1080 px (landscape) or 1080×1920 px (portrait).
• Click Share → Download.
• For static designs: pick PNG or JPG.
• For animated designs: pick MP4 Video.
• Save the file locally.
• In InfoBox, upload the file to your Media Library and add it as a slide.

Path 2: Publish as URL (iframe)

If you want Canva to remain the source of truth and edits to flow through automatically:

• In Canva, click Share → Publish as website (or similar option).
• Copy the public URL.
• In InfoBox, add a Website slide (Add new slide → Web → Website) and paste the URL.
• Caveats: Canva's published-website feature has its own quirks. Embedding may not work for all design types, animations may stutter, and Canva may rate-limit unauthenticated views.

Design tips for InfoBox screens

Canva designs that work on screens:

• Always design at the screen's actual resolution: 1920×1080 (landscape) or 1080×1920 (portrait).
• Use large, readable fonts. Canva's default sizes are usually too small for viewing from across a room.
• High contrast: dark text on light background or vice versa.
• Avoid thin lines and small details. They disappear at viewing distance.
• Keep text minimal: maximum 10 words per slide.
• Brand colours but never at the cost of readability.

Canva animations

If using Canva's animation features:

• Always export as MP4 Video. PNG and JPG are static and lose the animation.
• Keep video length short: 5–15 seconds usually feels right for signage.
• Test the file size: long animations can produce large MP4s. Aim for under 200 MB.
• Audio is muted on InfoBox screens. Don't rely on sound.

Reuse via templates

For consistency across screens:

• Save your designs as Canva templates. Edit the template once, the changes propagate to every design that uses it.
• Combine with InfoBox playlists: build a campaign playlist that uses Canva-exported MP4s, then assign the playlist to every location's screen.

Summary

Connect Canva when you can and let the sync do the work. Export to PNG/MP4 and upload to the Media Library when you need an animated file or can't connect the account. The iframe path is possible but less reliable. Always design at native screen resolution and use large fonts.