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Canva TutorialsEpisode 6

How to Use Text, Shapes & Photos

Learn the core building blocks of Canva — working with text, shapes, and photos to create stunning designs.

How to Use Text, Shapes & Photos

Text, shapes, and photos are the three core building blocks of every Canva design. Mastering these elements is essential for creating professional graphics.

Working with Text

Adding Text

  1. Click the "Text" tab on the left panel
  2. Choose: Add a heading, Add a subheading, or Add body text
  3. Or use a pre-designed text combination for instant styling

Text Editing Options

  • Font, size, color — basic formatting in the top toolbar
  • Effects — shadow, lift, hollow, splice, echo, glitch, neon, outline
  • Animate — add motion to text (for videos and presentations)
  • Transparency — adjust opacity for subtle text overlays
  • Curved text — Effects → Curve for circular or arched text

Working with Shapes

Adding Shapes

  1. Click "Elements" tab → search "shapes" or scroll to the Shapes section
  2. Click any shape to add it to your canvas
  3. Resize by dragging corners, rotate with the rotation handle

Shape Techniques

  • Background blocks — place a semi-transparent rectangle behind text for readability
  • Dividers — use thin lines to separate sections
  • Frames — use circles/squares as photo frames (drag a photo into a shape)
  • Decorative accents — small shapes add visual interest

Working with Photos

Adding Photos

  • Upload your own — drag files into the Uploads tab
  • Canva's library — search millions of free and premium photos in Elements
  • Drag into frames — drop photos into shape frames for creative layouts

Photo Editing in Canva

  • Filters — apply preset color filters
  • Adjust — brightness, contrast, saturation, blur, vignette
  • Crop — double-click to crop and reposition
  • Flip — horizontal or vertical flip
  • Background Remover (Pro) — instantly remove photo backgrounds

Combining the Elements

Great designs layer these elements together:

  1. Background layer — photo or solid color
  2. Shape overlay — semi-transparent shape for contrast
  3. Text layer — headline and supporting text on top
  4. Accent elements — icons, small shapes, and decorative graphics

Key Takeaways

  • Text, shapes, and photos are the core building blocks
  • Use text effects and combinations for professional typography
  • Shapes serve as frames, dividers, and background overlays
  • Layer elements strategically: background → shape → text → accents