You might already be using Canva, the popular graphic design tool. However, this guide explains how to use frames in Canva you might not have already thought to use.
Recent statistics show the enormous size of Canva’s user base and net worth. In 2021, Canva boasted over 60 million monthly active users in 190 countries. Big companies such as PayPal, American Airlines, and Marriott Hotels use Canva. The company is valued at over 40 billion dollars.
What’s the appeal? By the time you’re done reading this post you will know the magic of Canva.
This guide to using Canva gradient, fonts, and frames share graphic design methods available on both Canva’s free and paid plans.
Why should you learn how to use frames in Canva?
- Tell a Story
- Convey a Mood
- Brand Your Business
- Boost Social Media Marketing
- Improve Off-line Marketing
By reading this post, you discover how to use Canva frames for all these purposes.
You also discover more exciting designs for Canva that you might not have already been using. For instance, this post covers how to use Canva gradients and special effects.
As a result of reading this guide, you will become a more skilled Canva user.
Are you ready to explore how to use Canva frames for your blog or business?
What is a Canva Frame?
A frame is inside of an image.
Canva has frames in different shapes for you to choose from.
UPDATE: September 2022
Here are more examples of how to use frames in Canva that I made since publishing this guide.
Can you tell the person is in an oval-shaped Canva frame?
Here are more examples that show you how to use frames in Canva:
I love how the letters behind the Canva frame work to make the image more interesting.
You have many creative choices when it comes to discovering how to use frames in Canva.
As you can see, Canva has frames in a large number of shapes. Canva even has collage frames.
When you scroll down, you can tell just what a large library of frames Canva has. By regularly changing the frame, you consistently maintain a versatile look to your graphics.
You add a photo to the frame The result is an image on top of an image for a cool effect.
You can choose one of Canva’s stock photos to put in the frame or upload one of your own.
To find the stock photo, go to Canva.com. and create an account. Click Elements and then search for the photo using the Canva search bar. Add it to the frame using simple drag and drop technology.
Do not confuse a frame and a border. The border goes around the image while the frame is in its own shape inside the image.
How to Use Frames in Canva
UPDATE: August 2022
Here is my latest example of how to use frames in Canva.
Whether you use Canva’s pre-designed templates or you choose to make your own frames, these methods are easy to follow. You will also find that Canva frames are quick to make when you do decide to customize the template.
Tell a Story
More than 60% of people are visual learners. They would prefer to learn from viewing an image instead of reading text.
By looking at the image, you can conclude the message: Businesses should use blogs.
Convey a Mood
This Canva frame creates a mood. By framing the man, the image’s focus is on the man. I used this for a post about the sadness of receiving a disputed invoice.
The image exudes sadness. Without the frame, it would just be the back of the man’s head.
You can also generate a mood with retro fonts. Retro fonts create an old-time, vintage feeling.
Here are some retro fonts Canva offers (Source):
- Lobster
- Funkies Antique Cherry
- Vintage Party
- Norwester or Noreater
- Isabella
- Yellow Tail
- Rugrats
- Art Nouveau
- Lucidty Condensed
- Genty
- Art Nuvo
- Pacifico
- Art Nuvo Outline
- Gliker Semi Bold
- Lucidty Psych
- High Cruiser
- Gliker Expanded
- Art Nuvo Letterpress
- Gliker
- Graduate
- Six Gaps
- Art Nuvo Stamp
Canva Pro allows you to upload custom fonts. Of these, only selected fonts are available on Canva’s free plan.
This design uses the lobster retro font.I put a white strap shadow on pink font and for the important word I put a pink drop shadow on white and made the word “fashion” a bigger font than the rest. ART could be perceived as giving the message “fashion design is art.” As you can see, Canva can be used for word play.
Brand Your Business
When you brand your business, knowing how to use frames in Canva is powerful.
The frame draws the viewer’s focus away from the background and onto the image.
Let’s look at the original image:
Can you tell I’m in a restaurant?
The background looks cluttered and distracts from me and the professional attire I’m wearing.
By dropping the background and placing the image in a frame, the focus is on the brand image I’m trying to convey.
Be sure to change the background color so the image stands out.
Where will you put your graphic designs?
This design is intended for my YouTube videos. The graphic could accompany my video and remind viewers to subscribe for more tips. Canva also offers this in MP4, video, format.
Could you say that learning how to use frames in Canva is a social media marketing engagement strategy?
Yes!
Many social media marketers are already using Canva. However, they may not know how to use Canva frames, make a gradient using Canva, or design these other eye-catching graphics which puts you ahead of the competition when it comes to graphic designs.
It gets better: You could use your Canva frames anywhere. In addition to social media sites, you can use your graphics with Canva frames on your websites or on your business cards.
It’s true: Canva offers offline printing.
Once you know how to use frames in Canva, you can put your graphic designs on merchandise such as
- Business cards
- Stickers
- Posters
- Flyers
- Mugs
- Tickets
- Coupons
- Brochures
- Menus
- Yard Signs
- Tote Bags
- Notebooks
Related Reading: How to Effectively Boost Your Brand [With Instagram Stickers in 2022], 5 Ways
When you use personalized merchandise in your business, customers remember you all year round.
Here is another example:
Like in the above example, I’m wearing a blazer. However, I’m sporting a more casual look than in the above photo.
The problem is the background. Since the photo was taken of me in a classroom, the map and other aspects of the room would distract from my blog’s brand message.
By knowing how to use Canva frames, you can still use the image even if the original intent was for a different purpose.
Look:
Better? I think so.
Can you tell the outline frames me? This was originally the outline of a smartphone which I felt was relevant for the upcoming post about blog rebranding.
More information on how you can use your image to brand your business effectively can be found in this guide to choosing your LinkedIn profile photo.
Let’s look at more examples of how to use frames in Canva:
You can get this by searching “frames” in the Canva search bar.
How to Use Frames in Canva: Inset
I used the frame as an inset. If viewers weren’t familiar with Pinterest, this shows them what Pinterest board looks like in the frame.
How to Use Frames in Canva: Alignment
I clicked Elements/Frame. I scrolled down to choose the frame in the shape of a “T.” I Used the alignment tools to bring the T’s forward. I used Canva’s elements to fill the T’s.
Since TikTok shares music in videos, this seemed relevant to accompany my post about TikTok MP3 downloads.
Canva Gradient
Here is a Magazine Canva template. I wish I could tell you how to make such an impressive graphic design, but I didn’t make it. I simply searched “gradient templates” and modified the text to be relevant to my blog post.
Wrapping Up: How to Use Frames in Canva
By reading this guide to how to use frames in Canva, you discovered ways to increase your marketing effectiveness with Canva designs both online and off-line.
In addition, you saw examples and learned methods teaching you how to use frames in Canva.
Readers, please share so marketers and entrepreneurs looking to level up their graphic designs discover this article explaining how to use frames in Canva.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Do you know how to use frames in Canva? Do you have more ideas for Canva frames you can add to the discussion?
Janice Wald is the founder of MostlyBlogging.com and co-founder of the Mostly Blogging Academy. She is an ebook author, blogger, blogging coach, blogging judge, freelance writer, and speaker. She won the Best Internet Marketer Award and the Best Blogger Award at the 2021 Infinity Blog Awards. Wald was also nominated as 2019 Best Internet Marketer by the Infinity Blog Awards and in 2017 as the Most Informative Blogger by the London Bloggers Bash. She’s been featured on Small Business Trends, the Huffington Post, and Lifehack.
