MLA Format Canva (2025 Guide) – How to Cite Sources in Canva Properly
Introduction: The Citation Problem in Creative Work
More students, educators, and professionals are using Canva to create visually engaging materials—infographics, academic posters, presentation decks, and digital documents. However, one area where most people struggle is proper citation formatting.
Let’s say you’re designing a research-based visual in Canva for a school or university project. You use an insightful quote, include a sourced image, or reference a dataset—but forget to include MLA-style citations. This oversight can lead to lower grades, content rejection, or accusations of plagiarism.
The Modern Language Association (MLA) format has long been the standard in academic writing across humanities, literature, and language fields. Now, it’s making its way into visual design platforms like Canva, as education embraces digital-first formats.
This guide will show you exactly how to apply MLA formatting in Canva—from fonts and in-text citations to referencing Canva templates and creating full Works Cited pages. You’ll learn to align your designs with academic expectations while preserving creativity.
What Is MLA Format and Why Does It Matter in Canva?
MLA format is a standardized method for formatting written and visual work to ensure consistency, academic integrity, and proper source attribution. It is particularly common in English, literature, philosophy, and humanities fields.
Why MLA Format in Canva Is Important in 2025:
- Visual Assignments Are Now the Norm: Teachers increasingly assign presentations and infographics in lieu of written papers. MLA rules apply equally to these mediums.
- Educators Demand Academic Integrity: Citations in Canva visuals demonstrate you’ve done your research and respected intellectual property.
- Visual Projects Are Being Evaluated Like Papers: Whether submitted through platforms like Canvas LMS, Google Classroom, or in printed format, visuals must meet citation standards.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up MLA Formatting in Canva
To comply with MLA formatting in Canva, you need to manually adjust several aspects of your layout, font, and citation placement. Let’s break it down.
1. Choose MLA-Approved Fonts
While MLA recommends Times New Roman, Canva’s free version does not offer it. Use these alternatives:
- Georgia
- Libre Baskerville
- Lora
- EB Garamond
All are serif fonts with similar readability. Set your font size to 12 pt for essay-style designs or reference lists.
2. Set Line and Letter Spacing
MLA requires double spacing for all text, including citations. Canva doesn’t have a “double space” button, but you can manually achieve this by adjusting:
- Line height to 2.0
- Letter spacing to 0 or default
3. Align Text with MLA Layouts
For essays or full document-style projects in Canva, follow traditional MLA formatting:
- 1-inch margins on all sides (mimic this with padding inside your Canva document)
- Left alignment for all body text
- Header with name/page info (if submitting as a document)
How to Cite Sources in Canva Using MLA Format
Let’s say your Canva design includes a quote from a book or a statistic from a research journal. You must include:
- In-text citation immediately following the content
- A corresponding Works Cited section
Example In-Text MLA Citation:
“All design is political” (Kumar 102).
You can place the in-text citation:
- Below the text block
- In a footnote-style small text box
- As a superscript marker with citation at the bottom
Avoid embedding citations within image layers. Instead, use text boxes so they remain searchable, editable, and legible across devices and print formats.
How to Cite Canva Templates, Graphics, and Media in MLA
Canva itself does not provide citations for templates, so you’ll need to construct them manually.
MLA Citation for a Canva Template:
“Minimal Blue Poster Template.” Canva, Uploaded by Canva, www.canva.com, Accessed 21 June 2025.
MLA Citation for Stock Images or Graphics:
“Nature Background Image.” Canva, Uploaded by Pexels, www.canva.com, Accessed 21 June 2025.
Citation for Charts or Infographics Based on Data:
“Global Population Growth.” World Bank, www.worldbank.org, Accessed 21 June 2025.
Creating a Works Cited Section in Canva
A Works Cited list is mandatory if you’ve used multiple sources. Here’s how to include one:
Option 1: Add a Final Slide or Page
- Title the last slide Works Cited
- Use bullet points or text boxes
- List sources alphabetically by the author’s last name
Option 2: Footer References for Infographics
- Add a text box at the bottom
- Use a small font size (10–11 pt) and high-contrast color
- Include shortened or full MLA-style entries
Using Canva Copy Style to Maintain MLA Consistency
Use Copy Style (Ctrl + Alt + C, then Ctrl + Alt + V) to:
- Uniform font size
- Consistent line spacing
- Matched layout alignment for all citations
Can You Use APA Format in Canva Instead of MLA?
Yes, Canva supports any citation style—but be consistent. APA is more common in psychology, science, and social studies. MLA is standard in literature, humanities, and art.
Use citation tools like Zotero (https://www.zotero.org/), EasyBib (https://www.easybib.com/mla/source), or Scribbr (https://www.scribbr.com/mla-citation-generator/) to generate correct entries.
Practical Canva MLA Citation Use Cases
- Student research posters
- College application portfolios
- Classroom handouts and worksheets
- Thesis or dissertation visuals
- Academic social media graphics
New Features in Canva (2025) That Support MLA Formatting
- Text Style Libraries: Pre-set MLA/APA citation blocks
- Improved PDF Export: Font spacing and text scaling preserved accurately
- Alt Text and Accessibility: Supports cited visuals
- Categorized Academic Templates: Filter by “educational” or “MLA-style”
FAQ Section
How do I cite my own Canva design in MLA?
Your Name. “Title of Design.” Canva, www.canva.com/design/xyz, Accessed 21 June 2025.
Can I use Canva to create an MLA-formatted essay?
Yes. Canva’s document feature allows essay-style layouts with text blocks, headers, and citations. However, it lacks dynamic formatting tools like automatic page numbering or footnotes.
How do I add citations for icons or charts in Canva?
Use small text beneath the icon or in a bottom bar.
“Health Icon.” Canva, Uploaded by Noun Project, www.canva.com.
Does Canva have a citation generator for MLA or APA?
No. Use tools like Citation Machine (https://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website), Scribbr, or EasyBib.
How do I cite a video or multimedia file used in Canva?
“Climate Change Awareness Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Climate Watch, 5 May 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz.
What fonts on Canva best resemble MLA requirements?
Canva does not include Times New Roman (the traditional MLA-recommended font), but several fonts closely resemble it and meet academic standards. The best MLA-compliant serif fonts in Canva include EB Garamond, Libre Baskerville, Georgia, and Lora. These fonts maintain legibility and uphold the formal tone expected in MLA-style documents or presentations. Always use 12-point size for body text when preparing MLA-formatted essays or Works Cited sections in Canva.
How do I add in-text citations in a Canva poster or infographic?
To add MLA-style in-text citations, insert a small text box near the quoted or paraphrased content. The format should follow MLA standards, such as (Author Last Name Page Number). If placing the citation directly next to the text would clutter your design, consider adding a footnote or placing it subtly at the bottom of the section with a smaller font size (e.g., 10 pt). The key is to ensure the citation is visible and matches your full entry on the Works Cited page or slide.
Do I need to cite Canva templates or elements I didn’t create?
Yes, if you use pre-made templates, illustrations, or icons provided by Canva or its contributors, you should provide attribution—especially in academic settings. MLA format requires crediting the source of visuals, even if they come from a tool like Canva. The citation should include the title or description of the element, “Canva” as the container, the contributor name (if available), and the access date. For example: “Blue Gradient Research Poster.” Canva, Uploaded by Canva, www.canva.com, Accessed 21 June 2025.
How do I format a Works Cited slide in Canva correctly?
A Works Cited slide should appear at the end of your Canva presentation or academic visual project. Begin with a heading titled “Works Cited,” centered or aligned left depending on your design style. Each citation should be listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. Use a readable serif font (like Georgia or Libre Baskerville) at 12 pt size. While Canva does not support hanging indents natively, you can simulate it by manually adjusting line breaks and spacing.
Can I download my Canva project as a PDF and still keep MLA formatting intact?
Yes, you can download your Canva project as a PDF while preserving MLA formatting, but you must first ensure your fonts, spacing, and layout are correctly applied in the design. Use double spacing in text boxes, appropriate serif fonts, and ensure margins are visually aligned. When downloading, choose “PDF Standard” or “PDF Print” (for higher quality). It’s also advisable to open the downloaded file in a PDF reader to verify that spacing and alignment were preserved correctly.
What if I use external data in my Canva infographic—how do I cite it?
If you’re pulling statistics or data from a report, journal, or government source and displaying it in a Canva infographic, MLA requires that you cite the original source—not just Canva. You can do this by placing a small footnote or data source line underneath the chart or graph. Example: “Source: United Nations Climate Report 2024.” Then, include the full MLA citation in your Works Cited section. Citing the origin of the data ensures transparency and academic credibility.
Is it acceptable to hyperlink citations in a Canva project instead of writing them out?
While hyperlinking is useful for digital content, MLA style emphasizes full written citations. Hyperlinks should only supplement, not replace, MLA-formatted citations. For online presentations or interactive PDFs, you may include hyperlinks to sources, but you must also write out complete MLA citations. For example, list: “Smith, John. Design and Society. Harvard Press, 2023,” and embed the hyperlink into the title or author name discreetly if needed.
Can I cite Canva itself as the author if no contributor is listed?
If a template, image, or design asset on Canva does not list a specific author or uploader, you can cite Canva as the corporate author. Use Canva in place of the author’s name in both the in-text citation and Works Cited entry. For example: “Minimal Resume Template.” Canva, www.canva.com, Accessed 21 June 2025. Always provide as much information as possible, including the access date and link.
What is the best way to apply MLA format in Canva designs?
To use MLA format in Canva, start by selecting an academic-appropriate serif font like Georgia or Libre Baskerville, set font size to 12 pt, and adjust line spacing to mimic double spacing (2.0 line height). For proper MLA format essay Canva projects, align all text to the left and include in-text citations with author and page number. Use separate text boxes for each citation to maintain clarity and adjust spacing manually to resemble a traditional MLA paper.
How do I cite in Canva using MLA citation format?
To follow MLA citation Canva standards, you’ll need to add in-text citations wherever you reference external content, then create a Works Cited section using a clean and legible text block. The Canva citation format doesn’t auto-generate references, so tools like Citation Machine or Zotero can help you build your citations. Insert them manually into Canva, and ensure they’re readable and properly spaced.
Does Canva have MLA templates or MLA-style formatting guides?
Yes, while Canva doesn’t offer dedicated Canva MLA templates labeled as such, you can search for academic or research poster templates and modify them to fit MLA formatting. The Canva MLA guide would be to manually adjust fonts, margins, and citation placements. You can create reusable designs with MLA styling for consistent academic formatting.
How can I reference Canva templates or visuals in MLA format?
To cite Canva templates in MLA style, structure your entry like this:
“Title of Template.” Canva, Uploaded by [Author/Contributor], www.canva.com, Accessed [Date].
For example: “Academic Poster Template.” Canva, Uploaded by Canva, www.canva.com, Accessed 21 June 2025.
Always include the source URL and access date. If you’re using illustrations or stock photos, apply similar citation rules with the original media’s title and source.
Is it possible to cite graphics or visuals created in Canva using MLA format?
Yes, citing visuals in MLA—whether from Canva or external sources—is essential. When citing a visual or custom infographic, list yourself as the author if you created it:
Your Name. “Title of Infographic.” Canva, www.canva.com/design/xyz, Accessed [Date].
This method ensures academic integrity and aligns with proper Canva academic formatting rules.
Can I add a MLA Works Cited page to a Canva infographic or PDF?
Absolutely. For a MLA Canva infographic, add a final section labeled “Works Cited” at the bottom or on a separate slide/page. Use consistent font formatting and alphabetize your entries. When exporting to MLA in Canva PDF, ensure spacing and layout are retained by previewing before downloading. Canva now preserves text spacing better in PDFs, which is critical for academic submissions.
How do I make a MLA style presentation in Canva?
To create a MLA format presentation Canva design, begin with an academic template or blank slide deck. Apply MLA style in Canva by formatting each slide with proper font, spacing, and consistent headings. Include in-text citations at the bottom of content slides and a full Works Cited slide at the end. You may also want to bold your titles and use subtle contrast colors to enhance legibility while keeping it professional.
Is there a way to preview MLA formatting examples inside Canva?
While there isn’t a built-in preview labeled MLA format example in Canva, you can manually create a sample by following MLA layout rules. Create a template with all elements—header, title, citations, and double-spaced text—and reuse it across your projects. You can also explore academic Canva templates and customize them for MLA formatting.
What fonts should I use in Canva that follow MLA guidelines?
Choose Canva fonts for MLA format that resemble Times New Roman, such as EB Garamond, Georgia, Libre Baskerville, or Lora. Avoid sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica when preparing academic projects. These serif fonts are formal, easy to read, and acceptable in MLA-style assignments and presentations.
Can I use Canva for MLA-style essays or assignments for school?
Yes. Many students now use Canva to produce MLA format essay Canva designs that look professional and modern. Canva’s document mode allows structured layout with citations, references, and formal text styling. While you need to format it manually, the visual appeal combined with MLA academic formatting makes Canva a powerful tool for school projects, research papers, and digital portfolios.
How do I cite an MLA reference image in Canva?
To include a MLA reference image in Canva, caption the image with a small text box, then include the full MLA citation in your Works Cited list. Example for an image from Pexels via Canva:
“Sunset Over Mountains.” Pexels, Uploaded by Jane Smith, www.pexels.com, Accessed 21 June 2025.
Keep the font size small (10–11 pt) and legible, and place the citation either below the image or in a footer section.
Conclusion: Citing in Canva Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Designers, students, and educators must treat visual projects with the same academic seriousness as text-based papers. MLA format in Canva ensures you maintain integrity, avoid plagiarism, and meet modern academic standards.
Use this guide as your reference whenever you’re working on academic visuals. With consistent practice, citing in Canva will become second nature.