New: Brandkit and Canva Integration

(Fig 1: Example Instagram Square image created in Canva and the Brandkit Add-on for Canva)

Brandkit now integrates with Canva.

With our BrandkitApp add-on for Canva. You can create awesome marketing and social media assets in Canva — using Assets (images, video, audio and pdf documents) found via the BrandkitApp add-on in Canva.

Example

(Fig 1: Example of an Instagram post made in Canva with a photo from Brandkit )

What can you do in Canva when integrated with Brandkit ?

Canva is already a great service for content creation, especially for social media. It supports Brand elements, Templates, Resizing for the latest social media formats, posting, scheduled posts, and more. In Canva you can upload images or use free and stock photos from Adobe.

However as I’m sure you know - it is always better to use your own authentic imagery, and hopefully you have all those safely tucked away in your Brandkit. Now with the Brandkit Add-on for Canva, you can search your Brandkit library directly inside Canva, and drag and drop images directly onto the design canvas you are working on in Canva.

Benefits include:

• Template driven content creation in Canva
• In-app searching of your Brandkit Asset library (inside Canva).
• Drag and Drop images from the Brandkit add-on, directly to your design canvas in Canva.
• Post (or schedule) directly to social media.
• Export new content to Brandkit directly in Canva.
• Save your new content as a Template.

How do I get the Brandkit Add-on for Canva?

The Brandkit add-on is now (called BrandkitApp in Canva) officially approved by Canva.

(Fig 2: Canva account showing the process for adding the BrandkitApp app add-on)

In Canva:

1. Clicks Apps
2. Click Marketing
3. Select BrandkitApp
4. Or Search “Brandkit” and select “BrandkitApp”

(Fig 3: Canva interface with BrandkitApp selected)

Next - Add your Brandkit API Key to authenticate

You’ll find you API key in your Brandkit, from the Integrate menu in the Admin area. Note: that API keys can only be created by users with Admin access.

(Fig 4: API Keys page in Brandkit)

1. Open Brandkit in a separate browser Tab.
2. Login and navigate to Admin > Integrate > API Keys.
3. If a valid API exists, click View and copy the API key.
4. If no valid API key exists, create one by clicking the green “+ New API Key” button.
5. Copy the API key, switch to your browser Tab with Camva open, and paste into the API input back in Canva.

Next - Back in Canva

(Fig 5: Add your Brandkit API key in Canva)

Now that you have added the API key in Canva and authenticated, you’ll see a Search box and the latest Assets from your Brandkit account.

(Fig 6: BrandkitApp Add-on now authenticated and connected)

• You can Search using the search box
• You can browse though all your Assets using the pagination links at the top of the Grid
• Once the desired Asset is displayed, you can Drag it to your design Canvas

Lets make something

So now you have Canva open, and the Brandkit Add-on activated and open, we can create some new content in Canva.

This is not a guide to using Canva, we assume that you are familiar with the Canva interface and have used it before.

You of course can create content assets in Canva:

• From scratch
• Using a Template (either your own previously saved templates or a public template)
• Duplicate a previously created file

In each case we can find and <b>drag and drop</b> an Asset from the Brandkit Add-on.

You can find and use Assets of type:

• Images
• Video
• PDFs
• Audio

Note that when you drag or use an Asset you will get the current original file (not a thumbnail or conversion).

Create a new file in Canva

You can choose to duplicate a previous file, or create a new one from scratch. You can use Canva’s prebuilt templates /sizes for social media for example. Then Search for images and other assets in the BrandkitApp add-on.

Once found you can just drag and drop the Photo onto your design canvas.

(Fig 7: Found a Cat image and dragged onto design canvas in Canva)

Now Add your copy, logos and other elements.

The file is automatically saved, you can rename it, Download it or Share to Social Media, Save as a Template and more.

… And here is the result in this example (in this case an Instagram image post at 1080 by 1350px).

(Fig 8: Finished design ready to go)

To post to Social Media:

1. Click the Share button
2. Select the channel
3. Follow the Canva prompts

To save back to your Brandkit account as a new Asset:

1. Click the Export design button
2. Select your options (e.g. file format, size, quality, etc)
3. Then click Export

FAQs

Q: Where do I find my API key?

A: You will find your personal API key in your My Profile page, accessed from the Me menu in the top right nav menu (/me/profile).

Note that your API key must first be created for you by an Admin. API keys can be created by Admins or Owners for you in the Brandkit Admin area on the Integration page (Admin > Integrate > API Keys), of their account. API keys are attached to a particular user, so that API activity can be tracked and audited. This means that the permissions that each User has apply to the API key.

Before Admins and Owners can create API keys, your Brandkit account must have the Public API feature enabled. Please contact Brandkit Support to have this enabled.

Q: What Asset types can I drag and drop from the Brandkit Add-on in Canva?

A: You can find, access and use Assets of Type: Image(jpg,png,webp), Video(mp4), and PDF only.

Q: What happens when I export a new file from Canva back to my Brandkit Account via the Add-on?

A: A new draft Asset is created with the Asset name you specify, and with the image type you select (png,jpg or pdf).

Q: Why am I not seeing the ‘Export design’ button in the Add-on in Canva?

A: The Export file button is only shown if your Brandkit User Role has Upload rights. If you are an Admin or an Owner role, or a custom role with Upload rights enabled in Brandkit, then you will be able to upload to Brandkit and the Export design button will be shown.

Q: My User Role in Brandkit has been updated to allow me to Upload to Brandkit but the ‘Export design’ button is still not shown. Why?

A: If your user role has changed you will need to Disconnect (by clicking the Disconnect button in the Add-on in Canva) and then Reconnect with your API key again.

Q: I started a new file in Canva but the Add-on is no longer shown. What happened?

A: Unfortunately Canva does not remember that you had the Add-on open, and so each time you start a new files, or duplicate a file, you will have to reopen the App from the left menu again. It’s a bit of a pain - but hopefully Canva will fix that situation in future.

Enjoy :)