D – Design your images. #AtoZ

Posted on by writershilpa

D for designs.

A blog post is never complete without an image. An image that assists in conveying your emotions, or adding to the information about a product you may be writing about, or simply increasing the creative quotient of your post. It’s necessary that we create an image that not only grabs attention but also helps retain information we give to our readers.

Earlier, I would happily use images from Google for my posts, until I learned that Google could sue me for doing so!  It’s sometime last year that I discovered Pixabay, thanks to my friend, Shailaja. It’s one place where you could go crazy looking at the million images at your disposal.

All you need to do is create an account, and all those exquisite images are yours…for free! You could also upload your personal images there to be used as and when you deem fit.  Do leave behind a  “Thank you”   for the artist who prepared the image for you. That’s good manners, isn’t it?

Do keep surfing for the right images, as well as those which aren’t very commonly used.

There’s also a place that helps you design the perfect image for your blog post –  Canva.  This place, too, I discovered last year, thanks again to Shailaja!

Canva contains tools that help you structure the image as per your needs,  add/change colours and fonts, and add text that gives your post a very professional look. Again, it helps if you create a Canva account. That makes it easy for you to create your images as well as upload your own pictures onto it and use those in your images to make them more personalised.

There’s also this  Canva app for the ‘Free photo Editor and Graphic Design Tool’  to help you create the designs of your dreams.

 

Sharing with you some tips on using Canva.

 

How to use Canva to create the perfect image:

Create an account on Canva.

Log in to Canva.

Click on the ‘Create a design’ button and you will find options to choose from for which you need to prepare an image. Click on the one that you wish to design for.

You will now have Canva Layouts to use to design your image. Remember to choose the free ones! 

Once you’ve chosen a layout, click on the part you wish to edit. The text, for example. Click to delete the words, and add your own text. 

You will find the options – Layouts, elements, text, background and uploads – on the left,  for your use. 

You could also delete the image on the layout, add one of your own from the uploaded ones to use for your image. 

Add the text, change the fonts, add background in a colour you find right, and voila! you have your image ready!

Download it and use it for your post.

It will take time to get used to Canva if you are technologically challenged, like yours truly. But, once you get the hang of it, there’s no stopping you! Do install the Canva app on your android phone. Makes it easy to create  and share images on Instagram and Facebook.

Do try it out and let me know your experience with Canva.

Wish you the very best!

 

Love,

SHILPA…

 

Like it, Pin it!

The best app to create the perfect images

 

April 2018 A to Z blogging Challenge

My theme for the A to Z Blogging Challenge is all about my blog, Metanoia, and my blogging journey from the time  I started, 5 years ago. The lessons I learnt, the tips and tricks I picked up from fellow bloggers and the guidelines I could have used back when I began. 

You will find all of my A to Z posts here.

 

Published by writershilpa

Writing and art are, for me, a panacea for my restless Geminian nerves. Blogging gives me peace in the chaos called Life, and art helps me distract my wandering mind. An obsession with healthy eating and fitness led me to create this health and wellness blog. Apart from health posts you will also find book reviews, my art work and experiments with words here, at Metanoia. My writing companions--my pets--offer me precious insights into Life and are a constant source of inspiration to me! So, do get comfy, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy your visit. Your presence here means a lot to me, you know?

46 thoughts on “D – Design your images. #AtoZ”

  2. I too used to use images off Google, when I read one day about the repercussions. Hence, I switched to Pixabay and Pexels. Canva I hadn’t heard until today, but yours is the second post I am reading on it today morning. So definitely, going to try it out. Thanks for the information!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Shailaja is such a blessing..I am learning so much from her. I love how each day you refer to a fellow blogger, that is how a community is built. I am also trying to learn Canva. Earlier I also used to use Google images, however now I have shifted to pixabay after a guidance from Shyvish. Btw I am copying your zentangle..when my son goes for his swimming I usually sit near his pool and try to copy your art..the artist in me is getting some practice this way..hugs

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You know, B, ever since I began blogging, I have met some really wonderful people online. I used to hear so much about the kind of things that happen in the cyber world, but meeting some really beautiful souls out here has taught me so much! True, Shailaja is a blessing, indeed!

      I am honoured to hear you copying my art, B. Humbled, actually. I too have practised this way, copying artwork from the Net when I started. Now too, I try and find inspiration from other’s works. it helps bringing to life the artist within us and gives our brain a good workout when we begin creating new designs!

      We really ought to meet some day, girl!
      Hugs!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Shilpa I love Canva, Pixabay and Unsplash. Have learnt to design my promotional posts, logos etc there and it’s such an uplifting experience.
    Yes a post is incomplete minus a good visual and I completely believe in that.
    That’s a good coaching guideline for newbies to Canva,

    Cheers 🙂

    Natasha
    natashamusing

    April Anecdotes
    Destinys Child

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I love Canva. I use it for images in blogposts, pinterest images, twitter headers, email headers, ebook covers and even to make customised bookmarks. I love it…

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I’ve been having a hard time looking for relevant images for my posts. Since my theme entails sourcing images from Instagrammers, I think I’ll start using Canva and Pixabay after this Challenge ends.

    Thanks a ton for your tips. This is really useful stuff!

    Do drop by mine.

    Cheers,
    CRD

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am glad you found this post useful. You get a wide range of images at these two places which you can use for almost any topic under the sun!
      Wish you the very best! 👍

      Like

  15. Thanks Shilpa for this post. I’ve been trying to get Canva but it doesn’t seem to work on my Mac Air. Some issue there. I think I need to check it on a regular laptop.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I used a Pixabay to get a image to combine with a drawing of my little Bookwyrm dragon to make a coloring page for today’s H post! Canva overwhelms me…but I will check out the tutorial someone else linked! As Vidya would say: Happy A to Zing!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Thank you so much .. I didn’t know about these apps.. I will use it for my blog posts too.. I was in a blogging break for over a month.. now I will make a fresh come back with these useful tips 😊🙏 ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am glad you found these apps useful, Maya. I learnt about these quite recently, and as they are so helpful, I felt we all could avail of these to create the kind of images we all want to for our posts.

      Like

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