How To Convert Canva File To Illustrator That’s Editable

When I tried to download Canva as a PDF and opened it up in Illustrator, the file was entirely embedded or flattened.

In this guide, I document the steps to convert any Canva file with multiple pages to open in Illustrator so that you can edit and customize.

So if you are wondering if this conversion from Canva to Illustrator is doable, yes, it’s possible, and easier than you think.

I remember the first time a client asked, “Can you send me the .AI file of this Canva design?”

My heart skipped a beat.

Because here’s the truth:
Canva is amazing for fast, beautiful designs, especially when you’re juggling client work, family life, and deadlines. But Adobe Illustrator? That’s still the go-to tool when you need true control over your vector graphics.

And if you’ve ever tried exporting a Canva file into Illustrator only to end up with a flattened, uneditable mess, you’re not alone.

Good news: you can convert a Canva file to Illustrator, and make it editable. You just need to know the right workflow.

So whether you’re packaging up a graphic design project, sending final files to a client, or turning Canva templates into sellable SVG assets or icons, this guide will walk you through every step.

Step 1: Prep Your Canva Design (It Matters More Than You Think)

Before you hit download, let’s set things up right.

✓ Remove unnecessary image effects like blur or drop shadows
✓ Make sure all your text is readable and not weirdly grouped
✓ Keep your layout clean, this helps Illustrator read the file better

Now go to the top-right corner in Canva:
→ Click Share
→ Choose Download
→ Select PDF (Print)
→ IMPORTANT: Uncheck “Flatten PDF”

This tells Canva to export with layer data, so Illustrator can read individual elements. Never choose PDF (Standard), that one is more for email or web delivery, not editing.

This method is also what I use when I’m prepping files for web design assets, because it keeps things crisp and editable.

Step 2: Open It Up in Adobe Illustrator

Now it’s time to switch tools.

Open your Adobe Illustrator software:

1. Go to File → Open
2. Select the PDF you just exported from Canva
3. If it had multiple pages, pick the one you want

Voilà, your Canva design is now living inside Illustrator.

But don’t get too excited yet. Most of the time, it’ll look fine visually, but the elements might be grouped or outlined weirdly. That’s what we clean up next.

Step 3: Ungroup Everything and Clean Up Your Layers

To make the file fully editable, you’ll need to:

✔ Press Command + Shift + G (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + G (Windows)
✔ Repeat that ungrouping until individual shapes and text blocks are separate
✔ Check that your graphics, shapes, and text are selectable

Text not editable? Canva might’ve auto-converted it, especially if it’s a Pro font not installed on your system. You can either retype it, use a font match, or, if desperate, use Illustrator’s OCR workaround.

This step is crucial when you want to later export designs as SVG files for digital products or integrate them into prompt engineering tools or AI workflows where clean vector layers matter.

Optional: Convert Images to Vectors Using Image Trace

If your Canva export came with flat images (like logos or custom icons) that you want to edit as vectors:

1. Select the image
2. Go to Window → Image Trace
3. Choose a preset like “Logo” or “Black and White”
4. Click Expand

Now you’ve got editable vector graphics that you can tweak, recolor, or resize endlessly without losing quality.

This trick also helps if you’re turning Canva assets into digital products, graphic design templates, or selling assets like SVGs on marketplaces.

Why Convert Canva Files to Illustrator?

I get asked this a lot. Why go through all this trouble?

Here’s why it matters:

✓ You want editable files, not flattened ones
✓ You need scalable vector graphics for client work or product creation
✓ You’re handing off to a developer for web design
✓ You want to future-proof your designs in professional design software
✓ You’re building a brand toolkit, not just a quick social post

Illustrator is simply the industry standard when it comes to layered, editable, high-resolution graphic design work. So even if you start in Canva, converting to Illustrator gives your work more legs.

TL;DR – Canva to Illustrator Conversion Workflow

1. Export from Canva as PDF (Print) with “Flatten PDF” OFF
2. Open the file in Adobe Illustrator
3. Ungroup all elements
4. Rebuild and clean up text, shapes, and layout
5. Use Image Trace to convert images into editable graphics if needed

Bonus: What You Can Do With This Skill

If you’re running a service-based business or selling graphic templates, learning how to convert Canva files into Illustrator projects gives you a serious edge.

You can:

✓ Sell editable SVG files
✓ Offer editable brand kits with both Canva and Illustrator formats
✓ Create layered mockups for use in other tools
✓ Use Illustrator to prep assets for prompt engineering workflows (yes, AI tools love clean vectors)
✓ Design assets for apps, print, or multi-format projects

Plus, it makes you look like a pro, because you are one.

Final Thoughts

Look, Canva is a fantastic tool. I still use it daily for social posts, client templates, and marketing visuals.

But when you need to take a design further, whether for printing, packaging, scaling, or custom tweaks, Adobe Illustrator is your best friend.

And now you know exactly how to bridge that gap.

So the next time someone says,
“Can I get that in AI format?”

You’ll say:
“No problem. It’s already done.”

Did you get it going? Share with us in the comments below.