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Canva is a great tool for creating graphics that words can’t describe. It is packed with features that allow you to create stunning graphics for personal and professional use. However, one crucial tool is not yet available: shape cropping an image. Fortunately, there is a solution. Just add a shape of your choice and fill it with the graphic of your choice. This article explains how to do just that on all devices.
How to Fill a Shape with an Image in Canva on PC
The process for filling out a shape with an image in Canva is different for the PC web version and the mobile app. We will first start with the web method.
In this tutorial, you are basically cropping your image inside the shapes. First, we will explain how to do basic farming on your PC. This will help you prepare the image for the next steps and will make it easier later in the tutorial.
Crop an image
If you are cropping a new image, follow the steps below.
- Launch canva in your web browser.
- Click on an image once you add it to the template.
- Press the “Crop” option at the top left of the screen.
- White corners will appear around the image. Drag them inside the image to crop it.
- Press “Done” once the image is cropped to your liking.
If you are replacing an existing image from a template, follow the steps below.
- Press the “Crop” button in the templates panel.
- Drag the image and crop it as you need.
- Click “Done” when you’re done.
Remember to save your work to your computer so you can upload it in the next set of steps.
Next comes the part where you cut that image into shapes. We’ll use the star example, but the steps are the same for all other shapes.
Fill the shape with an image in Canva
- Open the desired template in canva.
- Navigate to the “Elements” section.
- Choose a shape in the “Frames” part. You can expand your options by pressing “See all.”
- Once you click on a shape, it will appear in the template. Drag the image you want (the one you cut out earlier) onto the shape. The image will fill the shape automatically.
- Adjust the size of the shape using the rounded corners.
- Crop the image by double-clicking the shape. Use the white corners again to cut out.
- Press “Done” when you’re done.
How to Fill a Shape with an Image in Canva on an iPhone
iPhone users have two options for filling a shape with an image in Canva: do basic cropping of the image to fit the shape or start inserting the shape right away. We will provide steps for both methods.
Crop an image
To crop an image on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Launch canva and upload the image you want to crop.
- Press the image and tap the crop icon at the top of the screen.
- Use the pinch and zoom gestures to make changes.
- Tap the check mark at the top to save your work.
Now you are ready to use that image and fill a shape with it.
Fill the shape with an image in Canva
If you want to start from a new template, follow the steps below.
- Open a new template in canva.
- Press the “Add” icon at the bottom right of the screen.
- Press the “Illustration” or “Shape” buttons to open the search bar. Enter “frames” in the search bar and press Enter.
- Select the frame of your preference. It will automatically appear in the template.
- Tap the “Edit” icon at the bottom of the screen and select “Gallery.”
- Select the image you cropped earlier. The tool will automatically fill the image with the shape.
- Adjust the visible area or crop the image further by pressing the frame and then pressing the “Edit” icon.
- Save your work by pressing the check mark.
- Adjust the size of the frame using the corners.
If you are using an existing template that presents the shape you need, follow the steps below:
- Go to the applicationThe home screen and find the shape of your choice. You can search for “star”, “circle”, “triangle”, etc.
- Find a template that suits your needs.
- If you searched for “triangle”, press the triangle shape on the template.
- Select “Gallery” to upload an image from your iPhone.
- When you touch the image, it will automatically crop into a triangle shape.
- Press the “Crop” icon to make modifications or use the pinch and zoom function to modify the visible area.
- Tap the check mark to save your work.
How to fill a shape with an image in Canva on an Android
Just like on iPhone, Android users have two options for filling a shape with an image: first crop an image and then use it to fill a shape or get to the shape immediately. We will first start the steps on how to crop an image.
Crop an image
- Upload an image to a canva template.
- Tap the image once, then press the “Crop” icon located at the top.
- Crop the image using the pinch and zoom gesture.
- Press the check mark to save your progress.
Save the image to your phone so you can use it later. Now let’s proceed to fill out the form.
Fill the shape with an image in Canva
If you want to create a new template and add the cropped image, follow the steps below.
- Create a new template in the application.
- Tap the “Add” icon and press “Illustration” or “Shape” to bring up the search bar.
- Search for “frames” and press Enter.
- Choose a frame you want to add to the template.
- Tap the “Edit” icon and select “Gallery.”
- Upload an image that you want to fill that particular shape with. The program inserts the image automatically.
- Modify the visible area or crop the image by tapping the frame and pressing the “Edit” icon.
- Save your progress by pressing the check mark.
- Use the corners to adjust the size of the frame.
If you want to use an existing template that has the shape you need, follow the steps below:
- Go to the canva app home screen and find the shape you prefer: it can be a circle, a triangle, a star, etc.
- Tap the template you like.
- Press the shape on the template and select “Gallery” to add an image to it from your Android device.
- The app will automatically fill that shape with your image.
- Use the crop icon to change or adjust the visible area with pinch and zoom.
- Tap the check mark to save your design.
How to fill a shape with an image in Canva on an iPad
As an iPad user, you can crop an image first to fill the shape more accurately or start the second part right away. But let’s start with the basics.
Crop an image
- Press the image into your Canva template and select the “Crop” icon.
- Make changes using the pinch and zoom gesture.
- Tap the check mark to save.
Fill the shape with an image in Canva
If you want to work on a new template and fill a shape with an image, follow the steps below.
- Start a new template in the application.
- Press the “Add” icon and select “Illustration” or “Shape.”
- Type “frames” in the search bar.
- Choose a frame you want to add.
- Select the “Edit” icon and go to “Gallery.”
- Insert an image from your iPad that you want to complete with that shape.
- If you want to adjust the visible area or crop the image, tap the frame and press the “Edit” icon.
- Press the check mark to save.
- Use the white corners to resize the frame if necessary.
If you want to use a pre-made template in the shape of your choice, follow the steps below:
- Open canva and go to the home screen to find the way you need. Use the search box to execute the query.
- Choose a template you like and tap the shape on that template.
- Add an image from your iPad gallery by pressing “Gallery.”
- Tap an image to crop it to the desired shape.
- Adjust the image using the crop icon or pinch and zoom functions.
- Tap the check mark to save.
Take control of Canva shapes
Although Canva does not have a dedicated tool for filling a shape with an image, the flexibility of the software still allows us to do it with ease. You can add a pre-cut image to a new or pre-made template and complete a shape, or work with original graphics depending on your needs.
What shape did you fill an image with? Did you cut out an image beforehand or start filling the shape right away? Share your experiences in the comments below.
