Understanding Canva and Creative Fabrica Licensing

What Creators Should Know Before Selling Physical or Digital Products

This guide is not legal advice. It summarizes publicly available information about how Canva and Creative Fabrica licenses appear to work for commercial use as of August 2025^[1].

🎨 Creative Fabrica – What You Can (and Can't) Do

🛍️ Selling Physical Products

Examples: t-shirts, mugs, planners, stickers

• ✅ Full POD License: Lets you use assets as-is.
• ✅ Basic POD License: Requires significant modification before selling.
• ❗ If you cancel your subscription, Full POD rights are downgraded to Basic POD.
• 🛑 You must remove any unmodified designs from stores if Full POD is revoked.

💻 Selling Digital Products

Examples: printables, KDP interiors, embedded PDFs

• ✅ You can create flattened designs (can’t extract parts).

• ❌ You cannot sell:

  • Fonts, SVGs, or graphics as-is
  • Editable or extractable files
  • Products that directly compete with the original

• 🧷 Craft files keep commercial use rights after canceling your subscription.

• ❗ Other assets (fonts, graphics) lose those rights unless used while subscribed.

🧩 Canva – What You Can (and Can't) Do

🛍️ Selling Physical Products

Examples: printed posters, boxes, packages, shirts

• ✅ You may sell original compositions using Canva elements.
• ❌ You may not sell standalone Pro graphics or unmodified assets.
• ❗ Platforms may request license proof, but Canva doesn't offer downloadable certificates.

💻 Selling Digital Products

Examples: templates, workbooks, downloads

• ❌ You cannot:

  • Sell templates outside Canva
  • Include Pro elements in PDFs or SVGs

• ✅ You can:

  • Sell Canva Share Links (templates hosted on Canva)
  • Use in eBooks or digital files if Pro content is:
    • Modified or
    • Unedited but under 480,000 pixels

• 🧠 480,000-pixel limit applies only to unedited Pro content

🔁 Do You Need a New License Every Time?

Creative Fabrica

• ✅ Licenses are permanent for downloaded files.
• 📎 License keys are viewable anytime in your account dashboard.

Canva

• ✅ For Pro users:

  • Exporting a design = license granted.
  • Reusing that same design = no new license needed.
  • Resizing or using Pro content in a new design = new license auto-applies.

• ❗ For Free users:

  • Each use of Pro content = must pay again.

📂 How to Prove You Have a License (If Asked)

Platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, or Amazon KDP typically don't ask for proof upfront. But if you're challenged, here's how to prepare:

1. Screenshot your downloads and exports

   • Show the date, asset name, and platform.

2. Use Creative Fabrica’s License Key system

   • Go to Downloads → License Keys.
   • Copy and save your keys for each file.

3. Maintain a spreadsheet

   • Track:
     • Asset name
     • Source (CF or Canva)
     • License type
     • Export or download date
     • Intended use

❗ Canva does not offer license certificates. You must rely on timestamps and design IDs stored in your account.

📌 Summary for Creators

• 🎯 Always modify what you download or use — safest path for both platforms.
• ⏳ Subscription status matters, especially for Creative Fabrica.
• 🧾 Documentation protects you, even if it’s not required up front.
• 🔐 License = permission, not ownership — you’re borrowing rights, not buying them.