Discover Canva’s Dream Lab, the new AI-powered tool from the October 2024 ‘Droptober’ release!
Dream Lab, powered by Leonardo AI, lets you create unique, custom visuals perfectly aligned with your brand’s style and colours. Say goodbye to generic stock photos and hello to eye-catching, on-brand imagery for your social media, website, and marketing materials.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- How to access Dream Lab (even if it’s not in your Canva sidebar yet)
- Tips for crafting detailed prompts to get stunning results
- How to use styles and aspect ratios for tailored visuals
Resources Mentioned
- Free Trial of Canva Pro (Affiliate Link)
Transcript
Canva launched Dream Lab in October 2024 as part of their ‘Droptober’ release, adding a new way to create custom images that feel truly aligned with your brand.
Dream Lab, powered by Leonardo AI, is a tool that can be an effective option for small business owners who want to add unique, on-brand visuals to their marketing materials without relying on the same stock images everyone else is using.
Imagine being able to generate custom backgrounds for your social media posts or eye-catching images for your website that actually match your brand colours and style!
If you don’t see Dream Lab in your account yet, you can access it directly by typing https://canva.com/dream-lab into your browser. This link takes you right into Dream Lab, even if it hasn’t popped up in your sidebar yet. You can also check if it’s listed in the side menu on your Canva homepage.
Dream Lab is available to everyone, though free users have a one-time limit of 20 prompts. Canva Pro, Teams, Enterprise, and Not-for-Profit accounts get up to 500 prompts per month, refreshing at the start of each month.
Just a heads-up – Dream Lab isn’t available for K-12 Education accounts, and users under 13 can’t access it. Also, if you’re part of a team or enterprise account, keep in mind that your admin may choose to turn it off based on internal guidelines.
Once you’re in Dream Lab, the magic really starts with your prompt. Here’s where being specific pays off. Instead of typing ‘coffee shop scene,’ try something like ‘a cozy coffee shop with warm lighting, rustic wooden tables, and a view of people working on laptops.’ Adding these little details gives Dream Lab more to work with, making the results feel much more “you.”
You can also select from a range of styles to give your images just the right look. Dream Lab includes options like cinematic, illustration, and 3D render, so you can experiment to see what feels best for your brand’s personality. It’s a fun way to go beyond basic visuals and create something that stands out.
Dream Lab even lets you choose an aspect ratio. This way, your images are ready to go, fitting seamlessly into whatever format you need without extra cropping.
When you’re happy with the image Dream Lab creates, you can download it, , or place it right into your Canva design.
If you’re running a business, this means less time hunting for the perfect image and more time creating materials that actually represent your brand.
Of course, styled stock photo memberships can still play an important role in your content. When you need consistency across a collection of images or highly polished, professional visuals, those memberships can be an excellent resource.
Dream Lab is another tool to have on hand for specific images or custom touches, especially when you want a one-of-a-kind look that feels unique to your brand.
