How to Design Your Own Footpath Sign Using Canva or PDF Templates

How to Design Your Own Footpath Sign Using Canva or PDF Templates

Designing your own footpath sign doesn't require professional graphic design skills. At aframefootpathsign.co.nz, we offer both PDF footpath sign templates and Canva templates to help you create your own design with confidence — whether you're in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Whangarei, or anywhere else in New Zealand.

Many small business owners find the process both interesting and rewarding. Designing your own footpath sign NZ allows you to bring your vision to life and communicate directly with your local customers — without the extra cost of hiring a designer.

Getting Started: Footpath Sign Templates for Canva and PDF

We provide two main resources for DIY footpath sign design:

  1. PDF templates for footpath signs – great for use in professional design software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign.
  2. Canva templates for sandwich boards – ideal for beginners and easy to customise online.

If you’re using Canva, we recommend following the steps in our updated guide:
👉 5-Minute Quick Canva Tutorial for Footpath Sign Design

You can also follow this page:
👉 How to Create an A-Frame Sandwich Board Sign on Canva in 5 Minutes

New Canva Sharing Policy: How to Share Your Design with Us

Due to recent changes in Canva’s sharing settings, customers can no longer send public template links unless they have Canva Pro.

To share your footpath sign design with us for printing, please follow this method:

  1. Click “Share” in the top-right corner of your Canva design.
  2. In the “Share” section, enter our email:
    📧 aframefootpathsign@gmail.com
  3. Set the permission to “Edit”. Don’t worry — we’ll make a copy of your design, so your original version won’t be changed.
  4. (Optional) Add comments if you have special instructions or requests.
  5. Download your design by clicking “Download”, and choose “PDF Standard” as the format. This ensures print quality.

You can then email us the PDF file and let us know once shared.

Key Design Considerations for Footpath Signs

While designing your own sandwich board sign NZ, here are a few important factors to keep in mind to ensure your design is print-ready:

1. Resolution

To ensure your footpath sign prints clearly and professionally, the resolution must be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the final print size. Canva supports high-resolution output, but make sure:

  • You design at the correct size (typically matching the sign dimensions).
  • You export your file using high quality PDF or PNG (for simple designs).

2. Bleed Settings

Footpath signs often require full-edge printing. To avoid white edges after trimming, make sure to:

  • Enable the bleed area when setting up your design in Canva.
  • Extend background colours and graphics all the way to the bleed edge.

More information is available in our 5-Minute Canva Tutorial for Footpath Sign Design.

3. Best File Types for Printing

When you're finished designing your pavement sign or sidewalk sign, download your design in one of the following formats:

  • PDF (Print) – best for general printing (recommended)
  • SVG – ideal for logos or illustrations (Canva Pro only)
  • PNG (High Resolution) – suitable for simple graphics and logos

We recommend using PDF files for all orders involving sandwich board signs, outdoor signage, or advertising boards.

How to Submit Your Design

Once you’ve completed your design:

  1. Place your order online for the relevant footpath sign with custom printed ACM panel.
  2. Share the Canva design with us by email (see above instructions).
  3. Email us your downloaded PDF file for print reference.

If you prefer, you can also email us with a simple sketch or rough drawing that includes:

  • Text or wording
  • Font style preferences
  • Colour choices (e.g. background or text colours)
  • Your logo file (if applicable)

Our team will then use that to assist with layout — this is a great option if you're not confident with Canva or graphic tools.

Need Inspiration?

Visit our footpath sign design inspiration page to view sample templates and layout ideas. Many customers start with one of these and customise it with their brand name, hours, or event information.

Whether you're designing a sandwich board Wellington, footpath sign Christchurch, or pavement sign in Tauranga, our templates are optimised to help your message stand out on the street.

Final Notes

Creating your own footpath sign design can be a creative and fulfilling experience — and with the help of our templates and resources, it’s easier than ever. Just remember the key print specifications, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help.

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