How to Use Special Characters in Canva Pro

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Blog, Creativity | 0 comments

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Use Special Characters in Canva
  3. Where to Find Special Characters in Canva Pro
  4. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Special Characters
  5. Using Fonts with Built-in Glyphs & Swashes
  6. Best RaisProject Fonts for Canva Designers
  7. Tips for Creative Typography
  8. Conclusion
  9. References

1. Introduction

If you’ve ever wanted to make your Canva designs look more artistic and professional, using special characters is one of the easiest ways to level up your typography.
These hidden gems — such as glyphs, swashes, and alternate letters — can transform plain text into a stylish and elegant design.

Whether you’re designing logos, invitations, or social media graphics, understanding how to use special characters in Canva Pro can make your designs stand out instantly.

(Reference: Letterhend – Using Special Character in Canva Pro)

2. Why Use Special Characters in Canva

Special characters allow you to bring personality and creativity to your text. Here’s why they matter:

  • Enhance visual appeal: Decorative alternates and swashes make typography unique.
  • Brand consistency: Adds sophistication to logos and titles.
  • Express emotion: Script fonts with glyphs can evoke elegance or romance.
  • Increase readability: Alternate forms can balance letters for better visual harmony.

For Canva designers, mastering this technique is a small step that delivers a big upgrade in design quality.

3. Where to Find Special Characters in Canva Pro

While Canva Pro doesn’t have a built-in glyph viewer, you can still use special characters easily. Here’s how:

  1. Upload your font (OTF/TTF format) to Canva under Brand Kit → Upload Fonts.
  2. Open the Character Map (Windows) or Font Book (Mac) on your computer.
  3. Locate your uploaded font and browse through its alternate characters or swashes.
  4. Copy the special character you want.
  5. Paste it directly into your Canva text box.

This simple method allows you to access every unique glyph or symbol included in your chosen font.

4. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Special Characters in Canva

Let’s go through the process more clearly:

  1. Choose the right font — Make sure it supports OpenType features (OTF).
  2. Upload your font to Canva Pro via the Brand Kit.
  3. Find the special characters in your system’s font viewer.
  4. Copy and paste the desired glyph into Canva.
  5. Adjust size and spacing to fit your design perfectly.

Pro Tip: Always test your font first — not all fonts display alternates properly in Canva, especially non-OpenType versions.

5. Using Fonts with Built-in Glyphs & Swashes

At RaisProject, we create premium fonts designed specifically for creative professionals. Many of our typefaces come with alternates, ligatures, and stylish swashes, making them perfect for Canva Pro users.

Here are some top choices:

All of these fonts are fully compatible with Canva Pro, allowing you to access their special characters and design like a pro.

6. Best RaisProject Fonts for Canva Designers

If you often design in Canva, try using display and script fonts that include beautiful alternates and ligatures.
One great example is the Legend Hunter Font — a bold and adventurous typeface that works perfectly in Canva Pro for logos, posters, and branding.

The Legend Hunter Font comes with strong strokes and unique styling that stand out in any layout. You can easily upload it to Canva Pro and combine it with special characters for powerful visual results.

Other fonts that pair beautifully with Legend Hunter include:

Each of these fonts was handcrafted for designers who want expressive, professional typography inside Canva Pro.

7. Tips for Creative Typography in Canva

  • Combine script and serif fonts to create contrast.
  • Use alternates sparingly for balance and readability.
  • Preview your design at different sizes before final export.
  • Experiment with letter spacing (tracking) for elegant alignment.
  • Mix RaisProject fonts to build a consistent brand style across projects.

Typography is not just about choosing fonts — it’s about visual storytelling.

8. Conclusion

Learning how to use special characters in Canva Pro is one of the best ways to elevate your design skills.
By exploring the hidden features of your fonts, you can transform simple text into something expressive, elegant, and professional.

With consistent practice, you’ll develop a stronger eye for design and create visuals that truly stand out — whether for personal projects, client work, or brand identity.
Remember, great typography isn’t about using more elements, but using the right ones with purpose and creativity.

9. References

  1. Letterhend — How to Upload and Use OpenType Fonts in Canva
  2. Sensatype — How to Use OpenType Features in Canva
  3. Up Up Creative — Using Ligatures and Other Special Features in Canva