Recommended Free Tools
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Free scan · under a minute
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Free scan · no reinstall
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Free scan · exact hardware match
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
You can change the color of text in Canva directly if it is an editable text layer. If the letters are baked into a JPG, PNG, screenshot, or photo, use Grab Text to extract them into a new text layer, or cover and recreate them manually. The right method depends on whether you can select the letters themselves.
First, check whether the text is editable
Click the letters in your design. If Canva shows text controls such as a font selector and text-color button, the text is an editable layer. This is common with Canva templates and text boxes placed over a photo. If selecting the lettering instead shows image-editing controls—or selects the whole picture—the text is likely part of the image pixels.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
A flattened JPG or PNG, screenshot, scanned page, poster, logo, or transparent PNG may all contain pixel-based lettering. Canva cannot recolor those original pixels using the ordinary text-color control. You will need to extract the text or make a replacement layer.
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
Change the color of editable Canva text
- Open the design and select the text box. If you want to change only some of its text, double-click or tap into the box and highlight the word, character, or phrase.
- Choose Text color in the editor toolbar. The control commonly looks like an A with a colored underline; its position and appearance can vary by device and editor version.
- Choose a preset, a document or saved brand color, or a custom color. If the color panel offers a HEX field, enter the exact value you need.
- Click or tap outside the text box to finish. For several different colors in one box, select each word or section in turn and repeat the color step.
Canva’s text-editing help explains that text formatting controls appear in the editor after you select or edit text. Brand Kit features and saved brand-color options depend on the account and plan; see Canva’s current plan details.
If the text sits on top of a photo
The photo does not prevent you from changing a separate text layer. Select the text, not the photo, then use Text color. If Canva keeps selecting the photo, press Esc and try the text again, or use the Layers or Position controls to select the correct element. If the text or image is locked or grouped, unlock or ungroup it if needed.
Rank #2
- Wacom Intuos Medium Bluetooth Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- Wireless Superior Connectivity: Connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or directly using USB-A cable which enables you to work, draw or create whether it's at a desk, on the sofa, in classrom or even outside
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
Do not use Edit image → Adjust to change the color of a separate text box. Image adjustments affect the picture—such as its brightness or saturation—not the independent text layer. If the new color blends into the photo, improve readability with a shadow, outline, highlight, or semi-transparent shape behind the lettering.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Change text color in a JPG, PNG, or screenshot
For clear printed lettering embedded in a flat image, Canva’s Grab Text feature can extract detected words into a separate, editable text layer. Canva currently identifies Grab Text as a Pro feature; access and availability can vary by account, location, and product updates. Check Canva’s Grab Text feature page for current details.
Rank #3
- WACOM’S BEST PEN TECHNOLOGY: Pro Pen 3 offers amazing precision, 8192 pressure levels, tilt support & lag-free tracking for smooth, precise strokes; choose slim, straight or flared grip, adjust balance & button layout for precision and comfort
- DIAL INTO PRODUCTIVITY: Speed up and stay in the creative flow with 10 customizable tablet ExpressKeys & 2 mechanical dials conveniently located at the top of the tablet and close to your keyboard for efficiency
- DESIGNED FOR MODERN MONITORS: With a versatile 16:9 format perfect for multiple monitors and wide displays; medium size has a large active area with a small footprint 11.4 x 8.1” / 291 x 206 mm
- SLEEK AND STURDY: Measuring 4mm at its thinnest this professional-grade drawing tablet feels like pen-on-paper on your desk, combined with the robust durability of magnesium making it equally suited for your office or life on the go
- WIRELESS FREEDOM: use Intuos Pro with USB or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to multiple computers with a simple switch
- Upload the image to Canva and place it in a design.
- Select the image, then choose Edit or Edit image.
- Under Magic Studio, choose Grab Text.
- Select the detected text and click Grab.
- Select the resulting text layer. Edit or correct the words, then use the regular Text color control to choose a new color.
- Review the replacement’s position and appearance, and repair the area where the original lettering was if necessary.
Labels and control placement can differ between desktop and mobile or change with Canva updates. If you cannot find Grab Text, make sure the image—not a text box—is selected and look in the image-editing controls. The feature may not be available to your account. Trying a desktop browser, where controls may be easier to locate, is another option.
When Grab Text is unavailable or inaccurate
- The feature is missing: Confirm that you selected the image and checked Edit or Edit image, rather than the text toolbar. Check your account’s feature access. If it is unavailable, manually recreate the words in a new text box.
- Canva reads the words incorrectly: Try a higher-resolution source or crop the image so the target text is larger and clearer. Remove or ignore incorrect detections, then correct the replacement yourself.
- The lettering is curved, distorted, handwritten, low-contrast, or partly obscured: Extraction may be unreliable. Recreating the text manually is often faster than repairing a poor result.
- The text contains critical details: Proofread every character, including spelling, punctuation, line breaks, names, dates, URLs, phone numbers, prices, and small-print legal copy.
If the color control is missing after extracting text, check that you selected the new text layer rather than the original image. The original letters in the flat image remain pixels; the extracted text is a separate object.
Rank #4
- Wacom Intuos Small Bluetooth Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- Wireless Superior Connectivity: Connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or directly using USB-A cable which enables you to work, draw or create whether it's at a desk, on the sofa, in classroom or even outside
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
Match the original look and repair the background
Changing the color does not guarantee that the replacement will match the original lettering. Adjust the font family and weight, size, letter spacing, line height, alignment, rotation, transparency, effects, and position. Canva says it may match the original font when it is available in its library; otherwise, it may choose a close alternative. Some Pro users can upload fonts to a Brand Kit, subject to account features and applicable font rights.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Also check what remains beneath the replacement. Extracting text and adding a new layer is not the same as perfectly restoring the background. Depending on the image and account tools, you might:
Best Value
- IMMERSIVE CREATIVE CANVAS: 16" IPS display with 2.5K WQXGA resolution (2560 x 1600) delivers sharp, crisp, detailed visuals for digital art and design
- WACOM’S BEST PEN TECHNOLOGY: Pro Pen 3 with 8192 pressure levels responds to your lightest touch; includes tilt support, 3 shortcut keys for tool access, and a holder that mounts to either side of the display with adjustable angle for quick access
- CINEMATIC COLOR DISPLAY: 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage with 8-bit color depth delivers the wide color gamut used in modern displays and digital media - see your artwork as it's meant to be viewed
- READY TO CREATE: Built-in fold-out legs provide a 20-degree working angle or purchase adjustable stand for personalized comfort
- CONNECTION: includes USB-C cable to connect to Windows/Mac computers with DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 input (computers without DP Alt or TB 3 or 4 input require additional cables)
- Use an available erasing or removal tool to clean up the old letters.
- Cover them with a carefully color-matched shape on a plain background.
- Patch the area with a duplicated or cropped section of nearby background.
- Rebuild a simple graphic from scratch.
For textured, patterned, or photographic backgrounds, a basic shape may look like a patch. A dedicated image editor or the original editable design file may be a better choice when precise cleanup matters.
Check contrast and export
Preview the design at its intended display size and check that the new color remains readable against the image. Use a shadow, outline, highlight, or semi-transparent backing shape if needed. Do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning, and check thin lettering at reduced size and on both light and dark screens.
For a finished static design, choose an export format for its use: PNG is useful for sharp text, graphics, or transparency; JPG is often a smaller option for photographs; and PDF suits documents or many print workflows, though it may not be the right format for social-media uploads. If the source has a transparent background that you need to keep, avoid exporting to a format that adds an opaque background.
Canva guidance: Editing text · Grab Text for image lettering · Plans and feature availability.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
