Canva Translate

Translate all text elements in a Canva design to a target language, creating a new copy with translated content.

Workflow

1. Locate the Design

If user provides a URL: Extract the design ID from the URL (format: https://www.canva.com/design/{design_id}/... ).

If user provides a name: Use Canva:search-designs to find the design by title. If multiple matches, ask user to clarify.

2. Create a Translated Copy

Use Canva:resize-design with the same dimensions to create a copy. This preserves the original design untouched.

3. Start Editing Transaction

Use Canva:start-editing-transaction on the new copy to get:

• transaction_id for making edits

• All text elements with their element_id and current text content

4. Translate Text

For each text element returned:

• Translate the text to the target language (use Claude's translation capability)

• Preserve formatting cues (line breaks, emphasis patterns)

• Keep proper nouns, brand names, and technical terms as appropriate

5. Apply Translations

Use Canva:perform-editing-operations with replace_text operations for all translated elements. Batch all replacements in a single call.

Also update the design title to indicate the language (e.g., append " (Spanish)" or use translated title).

6. Commit Changes

After showing the user the translated preview thumbnail:

• Ask for explicit approval to save

• Use Canva:commit-editing-transaction to finalize

• Provide the link to the new translated design

Example Interaction

User: Translate my "Summer Sale Poster" to French

Steps:

• Search: Canva:search-designs with query "Summer Sale Poster"

• Copy: Canva:resize-design to create duplicate

• Edit: Canva:start-editing-transaction on copy

• Translate all text elements to French

• Apply: Canva:perform-editing-operations with all replace_text operations

• Show preview, get approval, commit

Important Notes

• Always create a copy—never modify the original design

• Batch all text replacements in one perform-editing-operations call for efficiency

• If translation significantly changes text length, warn user that layout adjustments may be needed in Canva

• For designs with many pages, translate all pages in the same transaction