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Publishing

Add images and videos from free libraries, links and Canva

Updated

On this page
  1. Before you start
  2. Open the feature
  3. Steps
  4. Expected result
  5. Example
  6. Limits and permissions
  7. Troubleshooting

Find free photos, videos and GIFs, pull media from a link, or bring in a Canva design without leaving the composer.

Before you start

  • Select the accounts you're posting to first. Each network has its own rules for images and videos.
  • To use Canva, have your Canva login ready. You connect it the first time you use it.
  • For files in Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, connect the drive first. See Connect an integration.

Open the feature

Choose Publish in the left sidebar to open the Publish Content composer. Choose Image or video in the toolbar below the text box. The Add Media window opens, with its tabs down the left side.

Steps

Add free images, videos or GIFs

  1. In Add Media, choose Free Images, Free Videos, GIFs, Flickr or Imgur.
  2. Type what you're looking for in Search. Results load as you type.
  3. On Imgur, you can also open Filter By and choose All Types, Images or Videos.
  4. Click the media you want to select it.
  5. Click Upload. The media is added to your post.
  1. In Add Media, choose Direct Link.
  2. Paste the file's web address into Type or Paste media URL, then click Fetch.
  3. Wait while the media loads. A preview appears when it's ready.
  4. Click Upload.

Import a Canva design

  1. Open your Canva designs in one of two ways:
    • In Add Media, choose Canva.
    • Click the Canva icon (Design with Canva) in the toolbar below the text box, or open More tools and choose Canva. In Canva Design Type, click Import existing design. The Import from Canva window opens.
  2. If Canva isn't connected yet, sign in to Canva in the window that opens. In Add Media, click Connect Canva first, then open Image or video and the Canva tab again.
  3. Find your design. Type in the search box (Search or Search your designs) to narrow the list, or click Load more to see older designs.
  4. Click the design to select it.
  5. Click Import to add it as an image. To pick another format, open the arrow next to Import and choose Image, Video or PDF.
  6. For a multi-page design, Choose pages opens. For image imports, the selector limits your selection to the remaining image capacity and shows how many pages you can select. Select the pages you want, or click Select all, then click the Import button (for example, Import 3 pages).
  7. If an older app version imports without the selector, review the resulting media. For image imports, only pages that fit the composer's remaining image capacity are added. If some pages fit and others are skipped, a message tells you how many didn't fit. If no image slots remain, nothing is imported and a message explains that the composer is full. Review the imported media before saving or scheduling.

To design inside Social Champ instead, choose Design in Add Media, right after Canva, where it's turned on. See Design an image from scratch. The designer can search free photos, your recent media and your Media Library too, in Photos > Find photos.

To start a new design instead, open Canva Design Type, pick Image, Video or GIF under Select Post Type and a size under Choose Design Type, such as Instagram Post, then click Open Canva. Finish your design in the Canva window, then return to Social Champ from Canva. The design is added to your post.

Use cloud storage and recent media

In Add Media, choose Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, connect the selected service if prompted, and select a file you can access. Review the selected media and finish the upload. Use Recent to find previously used media. If a file is missing, check the connected storage account and its sharing permissions.

Expected result

The media appears in your post below the text box, and in each network's preview. You can then edit, reorder or remove it like any file you upload.

Files you pick from Dropbox are added to the post once each.

Example

You're posting a "Monday motivation" quote to your Facebook Page and need a background photo. Choose Image or video, then Free Images. Type "sunrise" in Search, click a photo you like and click Upload. The photo is attached. Choose Schedule, pick Monday at 8:00 AM and click Schedule.

Limits and permissions

  • Direct Link only accepts links that end in .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .mp4 or .mov.
  • When you open these sources from the designer (Photos > More sources), you pick one JPEG or PNG image, up to 25 MB, and only the sources the designer can use are shown. See Design an image from scratch.
  • To import a Canva design as a PDF, select a LinkedIn Page in the composer first.
  • When you import pages as images, you can only pick as many pages as the post has room for. Choose pages shows how many you can add.
  • Each network's limits on media still apply. For example, YouTube only accepts videos.
  • Some tabs depend on your plan. If a tab doesn't open when you click it, check your plan.
  • You can search Free Images, Free Videos and GIFs up to 40 times a minute. A Free Images or Free Videos search you repeat within a day is answered from Social Champ's copy of the results.

Troubleshooting

  • You see "Enter a valid URL of .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mov formats": use a link that points straight to the file and ends in one of those formats.
  • You see "Something went wrong with the link you provided": check the link opens the file in your browser, then try Fetch again.
  • You see "Couldn't load your designs": click Retry. If it keeps happening, connect Canva again.
  • You see "Couldn't connect your Canva account. Please try again.": open Import existing design again and finish signing in to Canva. Check your browser isn't blocking pop-up windows.
  • You see "No designs found.": check you're signed in to the Canva account that holds your designs, or clear your search.
  • You see a message that the composer already has the maximum number of images: remove an image from your post, then import the design again.
  • You see "Importing a PDF needs a LinkedIn Page selected. Pick one, then try again.": select a LinkedIn Page, then import the design again.
  • You see "Unsupported media selected. YouTube supports video uploads only.": choose a video instead, or remove YouTube from the selected accounts.
  • No results show up: try a different search word. If results stopped loading after many searches in a row, wait a minute, then search again.

Still need help?

Our support team is happy to help with anything these guides don’t cover.

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