Canva and Leonardo
This post contains Affiliate links. Hey, creative souls let’s talk Canva and Leonardo and some of my top App tips too!
A few months ago you may recall hearing the news that Canva acquired Affinity. Well, this week there’s some exciting news in the design world that’s sure to strike a chord with all you innovators and visual communicators.
Canva, the platform we all know and love for its user-friendly design tools, has just welcomed fellow Aussies, Leonardo AI into its family. This merger is set to change the tempo in the realm of visual AI, bringing a new wave of possibilities for everyone, from hobbyists to professionals.
Expanding the Creative Toolkit
Leonardo AI, launched just 18 months ago, has been making waves with its cutting-edge generative AI platform. Known for its control, speed, and quality, Leonardo AI has become a favourite among creatives. With features like customisable settings and advanced model fine-tuning, it’s no wonder they’ve attracted a broad user base, from hobbyists to creative professionals. Now, with Canva’s backing, Leonardo AI is poised to scale new heights, accelerating innovation and expanding its global research team.
A Perfect Match
Both Canva and Leonardo AI share a passion for democratising creativity. Canva has been empowering millions since 2013, and this acquisition marks another milestone in its mission to provide the best visual AI technology. With Leonardo AI’s Phoenix model setting new standards in AI image generation, and Canva’s extensive suite of design tools, this partnership is a match made in creative heaven. Imagine the magic of Canva’s design platform combined with Leonardo’s AI prowess – the possibilities are endless!
What This Means for Creators
For those already using Leonardo AI, you’ll continue to enjoy the platform just as before, with no changes to plans or pricing. The exciting part is that you’ll also see Leonardo’s features popping up in Canva, providing a seamless way to enhance your workflow. Whether you’re crafting vector designs for your online shop or coming up with your next big idea, the integration of Leonardo’s tools will bring more power and precision to your projects.
Looking Ahead
This collaboration is not just about merging two platforms; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of visual communication. Canva’s acquisition of Leonardo AI is set to bring faster, more innovative solutions to the table, helping everyone from marketers to educators create more compelling visual content. With continued investment in AI research and development, the future looks incredibly bright for the Canva-Leonardo duo.
Stay tuned for more updates as these two powerhouses of creativity work together to bring you the best in design and AI technology. And don’t worry, I’ll be here to share my experiences and any new tools that come our way. Let’s keep those creative juices flowing!
Canva Apps Update: Thea’s Top Apps
Ok, let’s turn our attention to some new Canva Apps that I’ve been having a play with over the last few days or weeks. I’ve not spoken about some of the latest faves in some time so let’s remedy that. (The last time was here)
App 1 – CaricatureMaker
Stumbled across CaricatureMaker this week and it is what it says: an app that makes caricatures of your prompts.
- A Curly Haired woman wearing headphones on her ears leans over two turntables mixing music.
- An old man marathon runner passes the finish line with glee
- 70s style man and woman disco ball above them while roller skating inside a roller rink
- a shark follows a blonde surfer babe on a wave and she’s unaware
As you can see it missed the mark just a bit on these but still pretty fun. It’s not really any better or worse than any other AI image generator tool I’d use. I did think the results were fun nonetheless. Reminded me of the 80s when I’d go to an amusement park and someone would draw me by hand.
App 2 – Text Maker
This is another fun Text Maker app. We already have quite a few of these already but this one did have a few more features which I rather liked.
It took a little bit of getting used to how to change some of the colours under the ‘Color’ tab but I got there in the end…eventually. Have a play with TextMaker
App 3 – Tracer App
Easily one of the most exciting Canva apps in a while, for me anyway, is the Tracer app. What does it do? It allows you to create SVGs from your photos. You can upload your own photo or choose one in your design, then convert them to be “sharp editable vectors”. While I haven’t played with it exhaustively, it’s pretty decent so far. I think I still prefer Kittl’s Image Vectorizer tool (which allows you to choose how many colours you want) but this is very handy to have inside Canva.
App 4 – Choppy Crop
This one is part cool and part silly to be honest. But I like it especially if you are going to maybe create funky cut-out collages, or like vision boards. I think it could be fun. Use Choppy Crop to shape your images with the lasso tool. Easily snip out unwanted parts or create funky shapes with Choppy Crop.
Final Thoughts & Resources
As Canva continues to innovate with the acquisition of Leonardo AI, the opportunities for creativity are boundless. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, these new tools can elevate your projects to the next level.
Don’t forget to explore my Links Resource Page for even more invaluable tools and tips.
Plus, if you haven’t already, grab a FREE trial of Canva Pro to unlock a world of design possibilities. Stay creative and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!
And if you need Canva training for yourself, or your team/group, please get in touch. You might want to visit my Canva Training first to see some options.
