You can easily change the color of graphic elements in Canva using color swatches. And the fact that some elements are non-editable doesnt mean you cant edit their colors.
You can easily change the color of graphic elements in Canva using color swatches. And using non-editable elements doesn't mean you can't edit their colors. You can use Canva's Duotone application to change the color of elements when a palette isn't available.
How to change the color of an editable Canva element.
Changing the color of an editable Canva SVG element is very simple. You can even create these elements in external software and upload them to Canva to make color adjustments later. If you don't create the SVG in Illustrator to edit in Canva, you can use the many options available in the Canva Elements tab.
If the graphic you've chosen is editable, follow the steps below to change its color.
Step 1: Select an element from the Elements tab.
Once you've selected an element, it will appear on your drawing. You can resize it, move it around the drawing, or change layers in your Canva design to add some dimension to your artwork.
With the element placed where you want it, you can change its color to better match the design's color scheme.
Step 2: Select your element to display the Color Palette.
Select the graphic element on the drawing. If a color palette appears above the toolbar, it means the element is an SVG and can be edited with new colors.
The element's original color will appear as a color palette with square color swatch options above the drawing—one color per square. Several squares may have the same color, meaning two or more areas of the image can be edited even if the creator wants them to have the same color.
Step 3: Change the Color Swatch
To change any color of an element, select the square pattern with the color you want to change. Once selected, a color tab will appear on the left side of the drawing, giving you several options to change the color.
You can use the color picker, enter or paste HEX codes, or use a predefined color palette. Change the colors to any color swatch you want, and as many times as you like. The original color palette will remain on the color tab under Document Colors if you want to revert to it.
Unfortunately, you cannot save your newly colored graphic element. The color will revert to its original color the next time you use it.
How to change the color of a non-editable Canva element.
Most of Canva's graphic elements are SVG, but if you choose an element where the color swatches don't appear, you'll encounter additional obstacles when it comes to color correction because the file type isn't supported for direct editing.
Step 1: Select the element from the Elements tab.
Since you can't tell what an element's format is from the Elements tab, you'll have to select an element and open it on your drawing. If the color swatches don't appear, then it's a non-SVG element.
However, you can still adjust the color of the elements using the following steps - this technique applies to graphic elements and images that cannot be edited, and can also be applied to elements that can be edited.
Step 2: Find and select the Duotone effect
Select the element on your drawing, then choose Edit Photo or Edit Image; this will replace the color swatch for editable elements.
If you've selected Edit Photo , choose Effects in the left-hand panel. Then scroll down to fx Effects and select Duotone .
If you select Edit Image , the menu will be different. Scroll down to the You may also like section , where you'll find Duotone along with many other Canva applications. Alternatively, you can type "Duotone" into the search bar.
Duotone is an image editing technique that uses two colors to color an image. Traditionally, this has been used in lighting or retouching for traditional photography. You can create a similar two-tone effect in Adobe Photoshop.
Step 3: Adjust colors using Duotone
In most cases, using Duotone won't change colors as precisely as a palette option for editable elements; its success depends on the original element or the image's color. But when you're working with non-editable elements, Duotone can be a lifesaver for color correction.
You can choose from over 20 duotone color options. Selecting a preset value will apply it to your element as a tone. When selected, it will color your image using the two selected colors blended together.
Step 4: Use Duotone control functions for color accuracy.
After selecting any Duotone preset setting, you can change the control functions for greater precision. While these controls may not allow you to precisely change the color of your element, they can give you a more accurate and desired result.
Duotone controls include Highlights and Shadows color swatches as well as an Intensity slider . The Intensity slider allows you to show more or less the element's original color and color swatches that determine the color your element changes to.
While this may not be the perfect way to change the color of a Canva component, it can be very helpful when a color palette isn't a usable option.