We’ve been seeing this more and more, so we tried to simplify what happens with artwork that isn’t high enough resolution. While apps like Canva is great for quick and simple projects, investing time or resources into professional tools or services is usually a better choice for creating a lasting and unique logo. This is why professional software paired with a graphic designer is necessary.

As you see in the clip above, the image we are tracing is very pixelated. There is no way to increase the resolution of a file without having to redraw it manually. You can see a bit of that process as we trace the blurry artwork in green.

Canva is a popular tool for designing a variety of graphics, but it has some limitations when it comes to creating professional logos. Here are a few reasons why Canva may not be ideal for logo design:

1. Copyright and Licensing Issues

  • Template Limitations: Many Canva templates and design elements are not exclusive, meaning others could create logos very similar to yours.

  • Non-Exclusive Elements: If you use stock graphics or icons provided by Canva, you might face restrictions on how they can be used, especially in commercial branding.

2. Limited Customization

  • Canva is a template-based tool, and while it offers flexibility, it lacks the advanced design capabilities of professional vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator.

  • Fonts used in the Canva app are more often than not “real fonts” that can be used with professional design software.

3. Scalability Issues

  • Logos HAVE to be vector-based for scalability without loss of quality (e.g., for printing on large banners). Canva's designs are exported as raster formats (e.g., PNG, JPEG), though it does allow some vector exports (e.g., SVG) in paid plans, are still limited in their true usability. Effects (gradients and transparencies) that you can easily add in canva are often not scalable or reproducible beyond uses on the screen.

4. Lack of Originality

  • Since many Canva users rely on the same templates and design elements, the resulting logos may lack originality, making it harder for your brand to stand out.

5. Not a Professional Tool

  • Canva is designed for ease of use rather than professional design. For a logo—a critical branding element—working with a graphic designer or using professional design software ensures better quality and uniqueness.