Certificate Background: All You Need To Know

Much has been said about certificates, but have you ever given your real attention to the importance of the background of this document?

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Sergey Butko

Updated: January 29, 2024

14 min read

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Of course, apart from the visual aspects and the fact that it is simply pretty, you have to consider that the right certificate background design is not meant to be just "nice."

In this article, we'll tell you why a certificate background is an important factor and what are the pros and cons of a ready-made selection of certificate templates and those created by you.

We'll also show you three steps to help you create a great background with Certifier! Let's go!

What is a certificate background?

All diplomas, certificates, and credentials can be issued on a white piece of paper or in the form of online file formats. Precisely: they can, but do they have to?

Absolutely not, because you can create a beautiful design or use a ready-made background and make this award even more valuable and bring the owner more happiness!

So the certificate's background is a combination of relevant elements that, when merged, create a colorful, eye-catching, and attractive design.

Why choosing an ideal certificate background is so important?

The certificate's background is a visual element that makes the document more attractive and valuable to the holder.

In addition, it is intended to make it more than just another black and white document, but an unforgettable souvenir that can be framed and displayed. In the end, such a certificate is praise for the owner and a motivator for further action and growth.

Therefore, you should definitely consider what background will be perfect for your certificate. The importance here is additionally about:

  • selection of elements

  • arrangement of elements

  • text placement

  • additional image formats

Also, remember that using too many elements is not healthy. When you want to do a fantastic project, it's easy to overdo it, add too many details, mix up the colors, etc. And it doesn't work out well, but quite the opposite.

The power of colors

Bins with different colors.

Source

Speaking of the certificate's background, we cannot ignore the vital role of colors here. Their proper selection is significant because they impact the psyche and emotions of a person.

Warm colors are reviving and activating. However, if they are used too often or in a dissonant arrangement, they can also cause anxiety. You can use these properties to your advantage as these colors are directly eye-catching.

Also, do not use too many colors, try to limit yourself to three of them. For example, yellow symbolizes summer feelings and a good mood. We associate it with youth, lightness, optimism, and openness. And the pink color symbolizes gentleness, care, and love. We often associate it with femininity. Less intense than red, it still draws attention but has a milder effect.

On the other hand, cold colors have a calming and serious effect. Green, for example, often has a calming yet positive impact. Pure shades of purple stand out and feel rather "loud."

Do we reject black and white altogether, then?

Not necessarily. We associate white with purity, innocence, and perfection. However, white alone does not create emotions and takes over the attributes of the other colors. Black is noble, modern, and functional. We associate it with luxury and elegance, seriousness, and sadness. Especially in combination with noble-looking colors such as silver and gold, it gives a sense of prestige, comfort, and luxury.

Pros & Cons of using ready-made templates and creating a new one

You may want to use a background that is just right for your company's visual identity. If you can’t find any certificate design templates that fit your needs, you can easily create a new one or just customize the existing background.

But, if you feel that you are not good at design, you can just use the modern certificate templates.

When your design already looks good, you can put it wherever you want, right?

However, every solution has its advantages and disadvantages, as with each business. There are some that appear only when you use ready-made templates and others when you design a certificate from scratch.

For that reason, we have compiled a list of specific benefits and problems you may encounter.

Already existing templates

Would you like to make an eye-catching, professional certificate? What background should you choose? Which colors work best together? You do not need to worry about these issues when selecting from our ready templates in Certifier.

With our easy-to-use click-based design interface, all you need to do is pick a template that looks somewhat like the one you want and customize it to fit your needs.

Certifier doesn't require any coding or design skills to create unique backgrounds. Simply choose one from available templates and customize it accordingly. Your changes will be visible immediately. And don't be afraid to make a few mistakes along the way. Experiment with graphic print layouts, color themes, texts, and a certificate background image.

Certifier dashboard and choosing certificate background design template.

✅ Pros

Time-saving

In most companies, employees are heavily burdened. They are able to perform immediate and urgent tasks, but they no longer have time for additional tasks. These, although important, are often postponed "until later." Planned deadlines are often very distant or even unrealistic, which means that many tasks are not completed.

By using ready-made templates, you definitely save time. You certainly don't need to design everything from scratch, and as a result, creating a certificate background focuses on selecting already-prepared images or customizing them. So it is an ideal solution for those who do not have time to design independently.

Ease of use

Of course, using the available templates is easy and involves no knowledge. Fortunately, most available platforms for creating certificates can use pre-made templates now.

The use of these templates is easy and intuitive with such platforms. It only takes a few clicks to prepare the entire background.

Ready templates are created in such a way as to create a fully prepared certificate simply and effectively in a few steps. Additionally, they are always integrative with other functions like text, pictures, shapes, etc. But always try to place your elements logically and symmetrically.

Therefore, the whole process is just simple. Thus, even beginners who are not experts in using the platform can quickly create such a certificate on their own.

Many variants to choose from

When a platform offers ready-made templates, it means it probably has a lot of ready-made backgrounds and you can search and search until you find what you like.

This means you don't have to worry about not having an idea for your certificate background, that creating certificates isn't your job, or that you are not creative enough.

In this way, choosing the correct pattern and background for your certificate is just a matter of selecting the right design and background.

High customization

Even if you choose a ready-made certificate template or background, that does not mean your adventure with design is over. Generally, you can add your own elements, remove something, change the color, etc.

This does not limit your imagination but supports it because you already have picked up a vision of the project, and if you wish to change it, it is up to you.

⛔️ Cons

High repeatability of themes

However, you need to be aware that although there are a lot of background templates available, the patterns may duplicate those available on other platforms.

In other words: if you choose a ready-made template, be aware that it is not original and there is a high probability that it is often used and common among other customers who like it.

Due to the fact that the templates are generally available, they are not very distinctive. And customers appreciate it when they are distinguished from the crowd - even when it comes to certifications.

For this reason, careful research is essential before deciding so that you don't make a mistake and use the same designs as your direct competitor.

Your fresh new templates

Okay, you've done your research, gone through all the available backgrounds and themes, and you don't like anything. What now? 

Is it worth creating a background yourself and devoting your time to it? Yes, of course! Is it so hard? Much less than you think! With Certifier it's just a matter of one click:

upload custom certificate background.webp

So let's see what the case with your own background preparation looks like now.

✅ Pros

Lots of features are available

Exactly. Typical certificate design platforms have so many different functions and design possibilities that it's a sin not to use them – starting with shapes, colors, different fonts, symbols, emblems, and much more.

Of course, you don't have to use all of them. It is only up to you what you want to try out. Our point is to show you what great opportunities lie in front of you and your certifications.

Ease of creating

We think we all like help at work or from other people. But sometimes it is impossible, and we know that we really have to do something ourselves without delegating work.

Designing certificate backgrounds is not something complicated and demanding that we cannot handle ourselves.

Just like using ready-made backgrounds, creating a design ultimately from scratch is also intuitive and straightforward.

Even though it contains more time, it is not a waste of time, as once created, a background design can be used many, many times. Or you can use it non-stop afterward.

And again, even with little knowledge of certificate design, we are able to create our dream one.

Originality of background

Each work you create is one of a kind, and it's as original as just you made it. Even if you model yourself on an idea, it is still a project of your authorship. It is okay if you change your mind or are dissatisfied with the results. You can start over at any time.

Choose from dozens of elements. The interface will apply to your project when clicking any of them. Additionally, you can create a certificate design for virtually any situation. So it doesn't matter if you're certifying a skill or recognizing the completion of an educational course - you can do it all.

It is possible to customize your certificates in an unlimited number of ways, making them unique and distinctive.

You can use your never-ending imagination

When it comes to building a certificate background, there are no creativity restrictions as your imagination is endless.

Creativity is about not only creating a visually beautiful certificate background but also experimenting with the project, creating new concepts and ideas, looking for new solutions, and company development.

Additionally, developing your creativity strengthens the belief that you can accomplish a lot by coming up with new ideas. Finally, the more you enjoy your work and have fun designing certificates, the more creative you will become.

⛔️ Cons

Time-consuming

The disadvantage that comes to mind is that it is time-consuming to create your background on your own. Of course, this results in an amazing end result, but the truth is actual: it's not as time-saving as picking a finished material.

As a result, you complete the same task with more effort. You also have less time to complete your following job responsibilities. But on the other hand, practice makes perfect. If you design regularly, it will also go smoothly in the end.

Creating a perfect certificate background in 3 steps with Certifier!

You can use this checklist to create backgrounds for certificates for your online school students, webinar attendees, or course graduates using a one-click automatic email that uses Certifier.

Certifier dashboard with a visualization of steps required to create and send certificates.

#1 Create an account

Your first step should be to register and log in to Certifier. It takes less than a minute to complete. Thus, if you are logged in, you will automatically be redirected to the Design tab and can begin creating your first certificate background.

#2 Choose or make up a template

Here you have 2 design options: using a pre-made template or creating a background from scratch.

If you want to use a template, click on the Templates button and find your favorite pre-made template offered by Certifier's templates library. Next, customize the template that you have chosen and design your first certificate. With Certifier, creating an artistic certificate with formal paper certificate background, or stock image is possible. The sky is the limit here.

But if you want to do your certificate background by yourselves, choose images, attributes, and colors on your own and let your imagination dive you!

#3 Finish and send!

When you think your background is already, add the text layer and some extra images and elements (but remember not to overdo it). You can save your design and use it for your later needs if you wish.

Ready to create a certificate in minutes? Ready!

Now send your certificates using bulk sending. And if you want to know to make it fast, check this out ➡️ How To Use Dynamic Attributes To Create and Send Certificates in Bulk

Are you ready for a unique certificate background?

Create astonishing backgrounds for graduations, memberships, course completions, and more by designing and changing editable certificate templates in Certifier. Make your certificate design step by step, avoid the most common mistakes, and you will be amazed.

And you don't need to download any application for this tool because Certifier only requires you to be connected to the internet.

Do you want to start creating certificates today? Sign up for the Certifier family.

Certificate background design FAQ

Which creative certificate designs can I find in Certifier?

The tool provides a wide range of beautiful certificate templates and customization options that make it possible to adjust them to your needs. Among them are:

  • certificate of achievement template

  • certificate of appreciation business

  • certificate of completion

  • certificate of education

  • certificate of excellence

  • gift certificate

How do you add a background to a certificate?

Adding a background to a certificate is easy! Just open up Certifier and choose "Upload Background". From there, you can select any image you like and add it to your certificate. If you're not sure what kind of background to use, you can always browse through our library of free background images. Just pick the one that you think looks best.

What do I have to know before printing the certificate?

Make use of printable certificate templates which guarantee high-quality print. Don't forget to choose the appropriate size (A4 or US Letter) and save the file in the appropriate file format.

Sergey Butko avatar

Sergey Butko

Tech entrepreneur. Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe. At Certifier, Sergey’s work focused on revolutionizing the way credentials, certificates, and badges are issued and managed through cutting-edge APIs and software infrastructure.

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