How to Crop an Image to a Shape in Canva (Tutorial for Beginners)

So, you’re here because you want to crop an image into a shape in Canva.

And there are multiple reasons to do so. Maybe you want a cool circular profile picture, a heart-shaped image for a love letter, or a star because you deserve one.

The choice is yours, but in this article, I going to show you a Canva trick that makes your designs look like you actually know what you’re doing. (No judgment, we all start somewhere.)

Why Should You Crop an Image to a Shape in Canva?

Cropping an image into a shape in Canva isn’t just a trick, it has real benefits:

• Improve Visual Appeal – Regular rectangular or square images can look dull. A well-shaped image can make your design pop and feel more dynamic.
• Improve Branding – Using consistent shapes in your designs, whether for social media, presentations, or marketing materials, helps maintain a cohesive brand identity.
• Create Unique Layouts – Shaped images allow for more creative freedom when designing collages, posters, or social media graphics.
• Highlight Key Elements – A circular crop can draw attention to faces, while a heart-shaped crop can emphasize affection and emotion in a design.
• Make Social Media Graphics Stand Out – If you’re designing for Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, shaped images help break up monotonous feeds and attract engagement.

In short, cropping an image into a shape makes your design more visually interesting and professional-looking, even if you’re just getting started with Canva.

What Should You Know?

• Canva makes cropping super easy—no Photoshop degree needed.
• Frames are your go-to tool for shaped images.
• You can still adjust and resize images within the shape after inserting them.
• Downloading in PNG keeps the quality crisp, especially if you plan to print or use it in another design.
• Experiment with different frames to create fun and unique layouts.

Step 1: Open Canva and Start a New Design

Before we start, I am putting a short video tutorial about this trick so you can watch it below.

First, go to Canva and log in. If you don’t have an account yet, you can sign up for free. Yes, free. No credit card is required. Canva is nice like that.

Once you’re in, choose the type of design you want to create. This could be an Instagram post, a presentation, or whatever project you’re working on. If you want custom dimensions, hit the “Create a design” button and set your preferred size.

If you already have a project and want to crop an image inside it, simply open your existing design and follow the next steps.

Step 2: Upload Your Image

You have two options here:

• Upload Your Own Image: Click on the Uploads tab on the left and upload an image from your device.
• Use Canva’s Free Images: Canva has a bunch of free and premium images under the Photos tab.

Choose your image wisely, because once it’s cropped, there’s no going back. (Well, actually, there is, but let’s pretend it’s a big deal.)

If you want to remove the background from your image, Canva Pro has a background remover tool that works seamlessly.

Just select your image, click Effects, then choose Background Remover.

Step 3: Find the Right Shape

Here’s where you can do the trick.

1. Click on the Elements tab on the left.
2. Scroll down until you find Frames, or type “frames” into the search bar (because who has time to scroll?).
3. Select a shape that speaks to your soul—a circle, a star, a heart, or even something more funky.

Frames in Canva act as placeholders, meaning you can drop any image inside, and it will automatically conform to the frame’s shape.

Step 4: Drag and Drop Like a Pro

Once you have your frame:

1. Drag it onto your canvas. It will appear as a placeholder.
2. Drag your image into the frame. Watch in amazement as it magically snaps into shape.
3. Double-click the image if you want to adjust how it fits inside the shape.
4. Resize, reposition, and make it look perfect.

If you’re feeling fancy, add filters, text, or extra design elements to make it pop.

Step 5: Customize Your Cropped Image

You’re not limited to just placing an image inside a frame.

Canva allows you to:

• Adjust the image’s position inside the shape by double-clicking and dragging.
• Apply filters to make your image look more aesthetic.
• Add text overlays to make it part of a bigger design.
• Combine multiple frames to create a collage effect.

Pro tip: If you’re working on branding, Canva allows you to save templates so you can maintain consistency in your designs.

Step 6: Save and Download

Once you’re happy with your creation:

1. Click the Share button (top right corner).
2. Select Download.
3. Choose your preferred format (PNG, JPEG, PDF, etc.).
4. Hit Download, and boom—you’ve done it!

If you want a transparent background, select PNG and check the transparency box (only available for Canva Pro users).

Important

• Frames are the secret weapon. Without them, your image stays boringly square or rectangular.
• You can reposition your image inside the shape by double-clicking and dragging.
• Canva offers tons of shapes, so explore and experiment.
• Use high-quality images so your final design doesn’t look like it came from a potato camera.
• Try combining frames with backgrounds and text to create professional-looking social media posts.

And that’s it!

Now you can crop images into cool shapes in Canva like a pro. Go ahead, impress your friends, and pretend you knew this all along.

FAQs

Can I crop an image into a custom shape in Canva?

Not exactly, but Canva offers a ton of frame shapes to choose from. If it’s not there, you might have to get creative with overlays.

Is cropping an image into a shape free on Canva?

This feature is available even in the free version of Canva.

Can I adjust my image after placing it in a shape?

Just double-click the image inside the shape to reposition or resize it.

Can I crop a video into a shape in Canva?

The same method applies to videos. Just drag your video into the frame instead of an image.

How do I make my cropped image transparent?

Download your image as a PNG and check the “Transparent background” box (only available for Canva Pro users).

Can I add multiple cropped images in one design?

Use multiple frames to create a unique collage or layered effect.

What’s the best format to download my image in?

PNG is best for high-quality images, while JPEG is good for smaller file sizes.

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