3 Easy Ways To Add Frames In Canva

You’re in the right place to discover all you need to know about adding frames on Canva. Let’s get started.

Ways To Add Frames In Canva

The easiest way to add frames in Canva is to select the Elements tab, then go to the Frames section. Browse all frames and select the one you want. Next, click on the asset you want to add a frame to, and drag and drop it into your selected frame.

In Canva, frames are a type of element that you can add to your designs. If you are also wondering how to add a border in Canva, you can use frames to help you with that.

Canva frames come in various shapes, sizes, and styles and can be customized to fit your design needs.

You can find frames under the various sections within the Canva editor. You will find simple frames like squares, circles, and rectangles, and more complex frames like Polaroid-style frames, ornate frames, and abstract frames.

Here are a few ways to add various kinds of frame templates on Canva.

1. Add Asset To Frame

In this method, you will be adding the frame to your page first before adding a Canva element (image, graphic, or video) to your frame. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Elements

Go to the left-hand side menu and click the Elements tab. In the slide-out panel, browse to the Frames section and select the See All link.

Step 2: Select Frame

To decide what kind of frame to select will depend on how you wish to use it and how you want it to look with your Canva design.

In this example, if I want a laptop graphic as my frame, I can enter the keyword “laptop” in the Frames search bar. With the various laptop frames that appear below, I’m able to select one that works best.

Choose a frame you want and click on it once for it to appear on your Canva page on the right side.

Step 3: Add Element To Frame

Next, go to the element or asset you’d like to add to your frame. It can be a photo, video, or graphic from the Canva library.

You can also upload your own asset by selecting the Uploads tab on the left menu. In the side panel that slides out, click on the Upload Files button to select the asset you want from your desktop.

Once you are sure of which element you’d like to select, click and drag the asset to your Canva page right over the frame. Then, release your cursor to drop the asset into the frame on your Canva design canvas.

2. Add Frame To Image

In this method, instead of adding your image to the frame, you will be adding the frame to your image instead. It’s a change in the order of sequence as well as the location to select your frame. Also, this method only applies to images.

Here are the steps.

Step 1: Select Your Image

In this example, I will click on the Photos tab and select a Recently Used photo. Click on it once and it will appear on the Canva page on the right side.

Step 2: Edit Image

Next, select the Edit Image button on the options menu above the page canvas.

Step 3: Select Frame

In the panel that slides out from the left, scroll down to find the Frames section and select See All.

A range of frame options appear. Select any one of them and you will see the selected frame appear with your image on the Canva design canvas.

If this is what you want, click the Apply button.

3. Add Shadow To Image

In this section, you will learn how to add frames in Canva using the Shadows feature. You can adjust the Shadow settings and options to create a frame effect around your image. Similar to the previous method, this applies only to images.

Here are the steps.

Step 1: Select Your Image

Select a photo from the Canva library, or upload your own photo to Canva. Click on it once and it will appear on the Canva page on the right side.

Step 2: Edit Image

Next, select the Edit Image button on the options menu above the page canvas.

Step 3: Select Shadow

In the panel that slides out from the left, scroll down to find the Shadows section and select See All.

A range of shadow styles appear. Select any of them and it will be applied to your image automatically.

In this example, I’ve selected Glow by clicking on it once. Zoom in to your Canva design to help you get a bigger view of the edges. You can see that the Glow effect makes a soft shadow appear all around the image.

To adjust the shadow to look more like a frame border, bring your cursor over the shadow button and click the See Controls icon once.

A settings page will appear in the panel. Go to the Blur section and bring the toggle down to 0 in value.

Then, go to the Size section and bring it up to 15 in value or anything that makes your border frame balanced with your image. Next, click on the color tile to change the default color black to any color that matches your image.

You can see your frame taking shape on your image in real-time. Once done, select the Apply button to allow these changes to take place.

Adding Frames In Canva FAQs

Next, upload your PDF to Canva, select the placeholder image, and delete it. You can now drag and drop your image or video into your own frame in Canva.

Another way is to upload your own images and use them as frames. To do this, you first need to create or import a frame design, save it as an image file, and upload it to Canva. Once uploaded, simply drag it to your design.

However, note that this method doesn’t allow you to take advantage of Canva’s in-built frame feature where you can directly drag and drop images into frames.

From here, you can upload the picture you wish to add, or select an existing one from your uploads. Once selected, drag the picture to your chosen frame, and it will automatically adjust to fit the frame.

You will see the frame appear on your Canva page. Then select your image by clicking on it, drag and drop it into the frame.

Another way to add a border to an image is to use shapes in Canva. First, click on the image you want to add a border to, then click on the ‘Elements’ option from the side panel.

Now, you’ll find a variety of shapes that you can use as borders, including rectangles, circles, and lines. Simply choose the shape that fits your design best, and place it on your image. Resize and adjust the shape as needed, then choose your desired color and thickness for the border.

1. Add multiple frames to your canvas.
2. Click and drag each frame to position it where you want it on the canvas.
3. Use the ‘Position’ button at the top of the screen to send frames backward or bring them forward.
4. Use the align and distribute buttons at the top of the screen to align your frames and distribute them evenly.

Arranging your frames properly can help you create a balanced and attractive design.

Frames allow you to showcase a single image, while grids enable you to display multiple images in a structured layout. Once you’ve selected a frame or grid, simply drag and drop your images into it, and they’ll automatically adjust to fit.

Your original image will be deleted and the new image will be cropped in the frame automatically.

Another way to replace an image in a frame in Canva is to click on the image you wish to replace, then hit the Delete key. Then, navigate to your chosen replacement image in the Uploads or Photos panel, and drag and drop it into the frame.

The new image will automatically adjust to the frame’s dimensions.

Start by selecting your desired element from the ‘Elements’ panel, then adjust its size to your preference. You can also change the color and thickness of the element to further customize your frame.

This allows you to adjust the visible portion of the image within the frame. Once you’ve positioned the image to your liking, click on the Done button to apply the changes.

1. Add multiple frames to your design.
2. Arrange the frames so that they overlap each other.
3. Adjust the size and orientation of each frame as needed.
4. Fill each frame with an image, text, or video.

Layering frames can be a great way to create collages or mood boards.

1. Open the Canva app and start a new design or open an existing one.
2. Tap on the ‘+’ button at the bottom of the screen and then tap on ‘Elements’ to see the available options.
3. Scroll down and look for the Frames section
4. Select See All
5. Tap on the frame you want to add, and it will appear on your canvas.
6. Use your fingers to resize, move, and rotate the frame.

1. Click on the frame you want to transform.
2. Use the rotate handle at the top of the frame to rotate it.
3. Use the flip buttons at the top of the screen to flip your frame horizontally or vertically.
4. Drag the resize handles at the corners of the frame to resize it.

1. Click on the frame you want to customize.
2. Use the color picker at the top of the screen to choose a new color for your frame.
3. If your frame contains an image, click on the image and then click on the ‘Filter’ button at the top of the screen to apply a filter.
4. If your frame contains text, click on the text and then click on the ‘Effects’ button at the top of the screen to apply an effect.

Now that you know how to add frames in Canva, the next level is to learn How To Use Frames In Canva.