Canva Tools You Aren’t Using But Need To

It’s time to talk about one of the most powerful design tools in modern marketing: Canva.

Whether you’re designing social media graphics, email headers, blog visuals, or client presentations, Canva is a total game-changer. And if you're already using it, you know how incredible the tool is for marketers everywhere. But, are you using Canva to its full potential?

Canva has added some seriously cool tools recently, and most marketers, content creators, and business owners aren’t even scratching the surface.

Read through this guide for six hidden gems in Canva that I guarantee will take your designs (and your efficiency) to the next level. Let’s dive in! 

1. Duotone

If you’ve ever scrolled past a graphic and thought, “Wow, that just feels so aesthetic,” there’s a good chance duotone effects were involved.

Canva’s Duotone tool allows you to give any image a sleek, stylized color overlay using just two colors. It’s the ultimate way to instantly elevate a photo or make it match your brand palette.

It’s a Must-Use to:

• Makes your brand colors pop consistently

• Adds cohesion to your feed or presentation

• Takes a “meh” photo to wow in seconds

2. Magic Expand

Have you ever uploaded a photo just to realize it’s a little too small for your design dimensions? Instead of resizing or finding a new image, use Magic Expand. This AI tool automatically extends the background of your photo, while keeping it totally natural-looking.

It’s literal magic. And it saves so much time.

It’s Great For:

• Creating YouTube thumbnails, social ads, or web banners from a smaller image

• Avoiding those pesky blank edges when resizing

• Enhancing layouts without compromising image quality

3. Brand Kits

If you’re managing multiple brands or just want to keep your own brand consistent, Canva’s Brand Kit will be your new favorite feature.

You can upload your:

• Brand colors

• Logos

• Fonts

• Images

• Templates

Once it’s set up, you can apply your brand’s style to any design with one click. That means no more guessing hex codes or switching fonts manually. Just click and go. 

4. Image Upscaler

Have you ever fallen in love with an image, only to realize it’s way too small or pixelated to use? Now, Canva’s Image Upscaler is the rescue tool you didn’t know you needed.

It uses AI to enhance the resolution of your images without making them blurry or distorted. This is especially helpful for client-provided logos, old branding images, or social media screenshots you want to re-share in high quality.

Perfect For:

• Turning low-res images into print-ready graphics

• Improving clarity in brand assets and headshots

• Giving your visuals a professional polish

5. Carousel Studio

If you’re posting on Instagram, you know carousels are prime real estate for engagement. And Canva’s Carousel Studio makes it so easy to design swipe-friendly content that flows seamlessly.

It allows you to design a multi-slide post that connects visually across each panel, with no awkward cropping or layout guesswork required.

You’ll Love It to:

• Ensure visual flow across slides

• Keeps messaging organized and scrollable

• Make educational or storytelling posts more digestible

6. DALL·E Image Generator

Canva now integrates with DALL·E, the AI image generator by OpenAI. That means you can type in a visual prompt and it will generate an image just for you.

Use It When:

• Stock photos aren’t cutting it

• You want something totally unique

• You need illustrations or backgrounds that match a concept

These Tools Matter

These Canva tools allow you to elevate your entire marketing strategy. By streamlining your workflow, they save valuable time, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture. They also help maintain visual consistency across all touchpoints, ensuring your brand feels cohesive and professional. With higher-quality visuals, your content instantly stands out, and most importantly, these tools help you create designs that truly resonate with your audience, allowing you to drive stronger connections and better results.

Your Canva Glow-Up Starts Now 

If you’ve been using Canva only for basic templates and static posts, this is your sign to explore deeper. These six tools are powerful features that can totally transform your content creation process.

The best part is that you don’t need to be a designer to use them. With just a little curiosity and creativity, you can start building visuals that look stunning, stay on-brand, and actually convert.