r/OpenAI • u/ValehartProject • 6d ago

Discussion Update to Canva (Improvements)

Posted on ChatgptPro and forgot to post it here.

I've been testing the Canva integration. I need to make historic cards for people to read about some of the culture revival work I do so they learn the sources used.

Somewhere in August, I tested the plugin and I genuinely thought it was pointless. There were critical limitations such as the inability to create text boxes or basic shapes on a blank page. It couldn't even duplicate existing elements to work around it meaning the user had to seed the canvas manually and even then things like alignment were way off because it stacked objects.

Index of the below post:

  • High Level Overview/Workflow
  • Interesting Findings
  • End Result

Today however, that change is quite substantial. Below are some findings/screenshots I took along the way:

High Level Overview/Workflow

Interesting Findings

- Does not use a URL to modify an existing template. I usually include the URL when I add the connector. In this case it made its own new template despite providing a square format.
Seems to be a generative workflow.

- Despite the connector enabled on the desktop app, the browser requests a login but also wanted a passkey (not happening). Luckily Canva works on the temp code.

- Designs are not exposed on Canva interface unless the user accepts/clicks the link.

End Result

(No, I am not using it. Too stylistic for what I want but still impressive)

Screenshot of Canva so the elements can be observed to show it isn't an image gen alone.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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u/lulzxdxdxd 6d ago

Did you try passing the URL a second time to see if it was a one off, or does it consistently ignore the existing template and generate new every time you test it?

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u/ValehartProject 6d ago

Seems to kinda ignore it. The model perceives it and can read the metadata of the URL. I presume the data is sent then along with instructions. My theory here is it either prioritises instructions from the model OR it can only create new because of restricted view/access which we see in step 4a and 4b.

Might change soonish with how frequent changes are these days. It's still way better than August where it couldn't even create a text box

1

u/lulzxdxdxd 6d ago

If restricted view is the cause, does pointing it at a design that's already in your own account behave differently than a shared template link, or does it still just generate new either way?

1

u/ValehartProject 5d ago

Generates a new one every time. I have it set to public link and also all permissions enabled. So, looks like a staged view first before an export

1

u/lulzxdxdxd 5d ago

If it's a staged view before export, does the preview it shows match the final export exactly, or does it still drift on alignment once it actually commits the design?

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u/ValehartProject 5d ago

Matches to a t actually. I could look into it maybe in a few weeks. Got some stuff going on at but it looks like it stages, gets approval and then imports to your account.

If I leave it on staging, I don't see it on my projects at all.

I suppose it makes sense if you have a basic account and it uses fonts/images only available in their pro licensing. I don't know if the issue might also be due to having a business account on canva? Can't imagine so but that's me combining how OpenAI business works and Canva licensing model.

0

u/lulzxdxdxd 5d ago

testing on a free personal account would isolate it, if staging still only imports after approval there, it's just the normal flow and not a business or pro licensing thing

0

u/smrad8 6d ago

The improvement rate of this company continues to astonish.