Text Appeal: Canva Font Guide to Create Viral Pins

One of the most important decisions you will face when designing anything is choosing a font.

Fonts, like people, have personalities. You can’t just pick any font and expect the design to look fantastic.

There are also so MANY fonts to choose from that it can seem overwhelming to pick what would work best for your design. Let alone, a Pinterest pin.

When it comes to Pinterest, a good font is clear, easy to read, and grabs your audience’s attention. A person will decide in less than a few seconds if they will click or scroll right past. That’s why you need to make your pin text stand out.

In this article, I am going to share the top typography tips & tricks I have learned to help make your pins go viral, and also, my favorite Canva fonts combos to try.

Pair Contrasting Typefaces

When designing graphics, choosing the right font can make all the difference. Two popular font styles are serif and sans-serif, and they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. A serif font has small lines or “feet” attached to the ends of the letters’ strokes, which gives them a more classic and traditional look. A sans-serif font, on the other hand, doesn’t have these embellishments, which makes them look cleaner and more modern.

Admittedly, when it comes to pairing fonts, it’s a good idea to combine a serif font with a sans-serif font. This pairing creates a balance between classic and modern styles that can be visually appealing. For example, you could pair a serif font like Georgia with a sans-serif font like Arial.

In addition to the type of font, the contrast between the fonts is also important. In fact, the greater the contrast between your fonts, the better. So, you want to choose fonts that have different weights, sizes, and styles to make them stand out and complement each other. For example, you could pair a bold and thick serif font with a thin and light sans-serif font to create a visually appealing contrast.

By understanding the difference between serif and sans-serif fonts and how to pair them, you can elevate your graphic design skills and create visually stunning designs.

Contrast Font Sizes

Achieving contrast in your design is crucial to create an appealing and readable piece of work. Using different point sizes between Canva fonts is one way to achieve this contrast and create a visual hierarchy.

Visual hierarchy is the arrangement of different elements in a design to create a sense of importance and guide the reader’s eye through the content. Using different point sizes between fonts can create contrast and emphasize certain elements, making them stand out from the rest. For example, you can use a larger font size for the title or header and a smaller font size for the body text. This way, the reader can easily distinguish what’s most important and follow the hierarchy of the content.

When there is too little contrast in size between the various fonts, it becomes harder for the reader to distinguish what’s most important. A lack of contrast can make your design look bland and uninteresting, and it can also lead to confusion for the reader. It’s essential to make sure that the point sizes you choose for each font are different enough to create a clear visual hierarchy and guide the reader’s eye through the content.

In a nutshell, using different point sizes between Canva fonts is a simple but effective way to achieve contrast and create visual hierarchy in your designs. By doing so, you can emphasize important elements and guide the reader through the content in a clear and concise way. Remember to choose point sizes that have enough contrast to make your design interesting and easy to read.

Contrast Font Weights

Another way to create a visual hierarchy in your designs is to use varying font weights. You can achieve this by choosing fonts with visible differences in boldness.

Establishing a clear hierarchy in your design is important because it can make it easier for the reader to understand the content and decide whether or not to engage with it further. By using varying font weights, you can create a sense of importance and emphasize certain elements of the design. For example, you can use a bolder font for the headline and a lighter font for the body text. This way, the reader can easily understand what your pin is about and decide if they want to read more.

I know it might seem counterintuitive, but making it easy for the reader to understand your content quickly can actually increase engagement. If the reader can quickly understand what your pin is about, they are more likely to click on it, save it, or share it. So, creating a visual hierarchy in your design is crucial for capturing the reader’s attention and keeping them engaged.

In summary, using varying font weights can help create a clear visual hierarchy in your designs. This hierarchy can make it easier for the reader to understand the content and decide whether or not to engage with it further. So, be sure to choose fonts with visible differences in boldness to create a sense of importance and emphasize certain elements of your design.

Stay Within a Font’s Personality

Now, when it comes to designing pins, it’s also important to keep in mind that consistency is key to creating a great-looking design. One way to achieve this is to stick to an overall personality in your font choices.

Fonts can convey a certain mood or feeling to the reader, so it’s important to choose fonts that complement each other and match the overall vibe of your design. For example, if you’re going for a playful and whimsical look, you might choose a fun and lighthearted font. On the other hand, if you’re aiming for a more serious and professional design, you might opt for a bold and structured font.

Rule of Thumb – Don’t Clash!

It’s also important to avoid pairing fonts that clash with each other. For example, pairing a playful or handwritten font with a more serious slab serif font might create a jarring effect that detracts from the overall design. A good way to test whether fonts work well together is to combine them in a design and see how they look. For example, you could try combining Pacifico and Alfa Slab to see if they complement each other or clash.

In other words, consistency is key to creating a great-looking design, and one way to achieve this is to stick to an overall personality in your font choices. Remember to choose fonts that convey the right mood and avoid pairing fonts that clash with each other. By doing so, you can create a design that is both visually appealing and effective in communicating your message to the reader.

If Using a Display or Decorative Font, Make the Pairing Font Neutral

Similar to the last tip, when using a Canva font that is decorative or very stylized, you should match it with something more neutral. Here are some neutral fonts that I prefer to use while designing:

• Montserrat
• Open Sans
• IBM Plex Sans
• Roboto
• PT Sans
• Source Sans Pro

PRO TIP: Have Canva do the work for you! Select the Design tab, then “Font Sets” to see a pre-curated list of font combos that look great together.

Use 2 to 3 Fonts – MAX

When designing pins, it’s important to keep things simple. There isn’t a lot of room for text in a pin, so it’s important to choose your fonts carefully and avoid using too many of them. Using more than 2-3 fonts can cause visual clutter and make your design look unprofessional.

One way to keep your design clean and professional-looking is to stick to a minimal number of fonts. This approach not only helps to keep your design clutter-free, but also helps to create a sense of consistency and cohesiveness. By using a minimal number of fonts, you can create a design that is both visually appealing and easy to read.

It’s also important not to overthink your font choices. Choosing fonts can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep in mind the overall mood and style of your design, and choose fonts that complement that mood and style. If you’re unsure about which fonts to choose, try experimenting with different font pairings to see which ones work best.

To sum it up, while designing pins, it’s crucial to maintain simplicity and avoid using excessive fonts. Limiting the number of fonts creates a polished and uncluttered design, which is visually attractive and effortless to comprehend. Always keep in mind the mood and style of your design while selecting fonts and don’t overcomplicate things. With a little trial and error, you can create a pin that is both impactful and visually appealing.

Canva Font Pairings

So, now that you’re aware of all my tips to master font combinations, let me make things even easier for you. To save you time, I’ve curated a list of fantastic font pairings that you can use for your upcoming design projects. These font combinations are versatile and can be used for a variety of social media platforms, including Instagram, Pinterest, and more!

Need a little more help creating your pin? Check out my article here on designing a pin that will go viral!

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