Canva Unveils Craft AI Model to Challenge Conventional Image Generator

Canva Unveils Craft AI Model to Challenge Conventional Image Generators

Canva introduced its own AI image generator, Craft, trained on design templates to boost control and cut costs.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 26, 2026 · 11:19 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Canva launched its own AI image generator named Craft, built entirely in-house.

Craft was trained on millions of Canva templates rather than raw photographs.

The model uses a two-stage architecture that first plans a layout then renders the image.

It supports outputs up to 2K resolution across more than thirty aspect ratios.

Researchers from Leonardo.ai, acquired by Canva, helped develop Craft.

Canva, the Australian design-software company, rolled out its first internally developed image-generation model called Craft. The tool was created from the ground up in the firm's research lab to give users more creative control and to lower operating expenses.

Instead of relying mainly on raw photographs, Craft was taught using millions of human-crafted templates such as professional presentations, infographics, posters and menus drawn from Canva's extensive library. This training lets the model internalise core design rules, including visual hierarchy, margins and type size.

"We started by creating flat images with diffusion models. Omni models have taken that a step further, where you're able to edit those flat images with a lot of sophistication through prompting. But the tools have made you prompt your way to the final result, which, for a visual medium, is challenging," Canva's global head of product, Robert Kawalsky said to the media. "What we've found is that people . . . want the ability to start with a prompt and get far, but also be able to iterate directly themselves."

The application uses a two-stage system. First, an internal planning model reads the user's prompt and drafts a layout, defining spatial relationships, element placement and any needed text. Next, a rendering engine converts that blueprint into a finished image, resulting in clearer typography and cleaner layouts than many single-pass generators.

Craft can output images up to 2K resolution in more than thirty aspect ratios, and the generated assets integrate directly with Canva's editing suite, allowing creators to adjust individual text or graphic layers.

Company leaders said that the rising cost of external AI services, driven by growing user demand, prompted the shift to proprietary infrastructure to reduce API fees and protect profit margins. Researchers from Leonardo.ai, a media-generation platform Canva acquired earlier, also contributed to the model's development.

Early benchmark tests place Craft near the top of industry leaderboards, and teams are already working on lighter versions called Craft-fast and Craft-ultrafast to further speed up generation.

The release provides millions of users worldwide with a tool tailored for professional marketing and everyday design tasks.

Questions and answers