Canva is a favorite design tool for bloggers and brand owners everywhere. It makes creating professional-looking photos and graphics super quick and easy. You’ll love that it’s user-friendly and has everything you need built in, from stock images to fonts to audio clips. It can seriously do all the work to get your blog and social media branded and beautiful.
With so many features, sometimes knowing how to do what you want isn’t as simple as you think (even with the stellar UX). So, we like to share with followers helpful guides to using some of our fave Canva features like grouping and link adding. And, today, we’re talking about borders!
Borders on photos, elements, pages, and text can add a little flavor to your graphic, depending on your brand vibe. However, getting those borders added isn’t as straightforward as it seems. So, here’s how you can add a border in Canva:
How To Add a Border in Canva
How to Add a Border to a Photo in Canva
Step One: Upload Your Photo
First, upload the photo you want into your editor by clicking the cloud icon on the design search bar. In the pop-up, click Use in Design and Continue. Your photo will open in a new project window.
If you already have a document open, head to Uploads on the left-hand side of the screen, drag your photo in, and click it to add.
Step Two: Find Your Borders
To locate your border options, click Elements on the left-hand side of the screen. Then, search “borders” in the search bar. You’ll see lots of options populate! Select the one that fits your vision the best.
Step Three: Adjust the Border to Fit
Change the border size to fit your photo, and then change your border color to fit your aesthetic. We’ll note you can’t always change the border color depending on the element!
If you want the most adjustment options, simply use a square shape from the Elements folder. You can remove the fill and change everything about the size, thickness, color, and design of your border.
Step Four: Lock the Border
Once the border is right where you want it, click the lock icon on the upper right of the main toolbar. This will lock your border in place and allow you to adjust all the other design elements without worrying about your border placement.
How to Add a Border Around Text in Canva
Step One: Add Text to Your Design
In the left panel, click Text and add the desired type of heading or body text. Type what you want in the provided box.
Step Two: Navigate to Effects
With the text added, locate the Effects button in between the spacing icon and the Animate button. Click it to see all the effects you can add to your text!
P.S. Depending on your screen size, you may need to hit the ellipses icon to find the rest of the toolbar options.
Step Three: Select Outline and Adjust
From here, click Outline. You’ll see a thickness adjustment option and a color adjustment option. Use the slide and color picker to get the perfect look!
How to Add a Border to a Frame in Canva
Step One: Select a Shape
In the left panel, go to Elements and then select Shapes for all your shape options. Or, you can search for a specific shape in the search bar. When you find what you want, select it and place it where you want on the design.
Step Two: Find the Border Style Option
The shape likely won’t have a border when you select it, so click the Border Style icon on the top toolbar. The icon looks like three bars of various weights, and it’s between the color picker and the font selector.
Step Three: Design Your Border
Use the slides to change the border weight and corner rounding. And, don’t forget to choose your style of border! You can have a traditional straight line or a dotted line option! Do what fits your brand vibe the best.
How to Add a Page Border in Canva
Step One: Find Your Border Shapes
If you want to add a border around your whole page, head first to the Elements tab in the left panel. Then, navigate to Shapes.
Step Two: Select a Shape and Adjust
Next, select the shape you want to use. A square or rectangle will work the best! If your shape doesn’t look like a border and instead looks like a solid block of color, don’t worry. First, click the Border Style icon (the one that looks like three horizontal lines) and add weight to your border.
Then, select the color picker and choose the “no color” option. It’s to the right of the eye dropper and looks like a checkered pattern with a red line through it. This will make your shape the perfect border!
Step Three: Make it the Right Color and Size
Now, make sure your border is the right color and size using the Border Style options. Then, make sure the border is perfectly placed around your page. That’s all!
Where is Border Style in Canva?
The Border Style option in Canva is found when you go to select a shape or frame. Once selected, look at the top toolbar, and you’ll see an icon that looks like three bars of varying thickness. This is where you can change the weight, corner rounding, and style of your border.
Can You Wrap Text Around An Image in Canva?
Yes! You can quite easily wrap text around an image in Canva by following these steps:
Step One: Add Your Image
Insert the image you want to wrap text around by dragging it into your design or uploading it from your device.
Step Two: Add Your Text
Click the Text button in the left-hand panel and choose your text style. Then you can type in your desired text.
Step Three: Position the Text
Drag the text box so it sits near your image. Then you need to resize and adjust the text box to flow around the edges of your image.
Step Four: Fine-Tune Spacing
Use the spacing and alignment options in the top toolbar to adjust line spacing, letter spacing, and padding to get the perfect wrap effect.
How to Make the Canva Inner Border Transparent
Making an inner border transparent in Canva is simple. Here’s how you can do it:
Step One: Select Your Shape
Click on the shape you want to turn into a border. This could be a rectangle or square from the Elements tab.
Step Two: Open Border Style Options
Click the Border Style icon in the top toolbar. Adjust the weight and corners as needed.
Step Three: Set Fill to Transparent
In the color options, select the “No Color” option (it’s a checkered pattern with a red line). This makes the inside of your border fully transparent.
Step Four: Adjust Border Color and Placement
Choose the border color and ensure it’s positioned correctly around your element. Lock it in place if you need to.
See your designs come to life with the right border.
Adding a border in Canva is a fantastic way to give your designs a polished and professional look. Whether you’re creating visuals for social media, blog posts, or presentations, borders can elevate your design game. Experiment with different border styles, weights, and colors to find the perfect fit for your brand and design.
Now, it’s time to get designing!!! Use this step-by-step guide to add borders to your photos, graphics, and even collages for a little added balance and flair. (Here’s more on how to create a Canva collage for your gift guides and product recs.) Remember, good search engine optimization means adding at least 4 high-quality images with alt text to each blog post. Canva can help you do it!
For more super helpful blog posts like this one, be sure to head on over to the InfluencerSEO blog. We’ve got all the need-to-know info for bloggers looking to grow their brand using social media, monetization strategies, SEO, and more. You won’t want to miss out on this awesome resource!
Jordan Becerra, founder and Lead SEO Strategist at InfluencerSEO, has spent almost 15 years in the creator internet space, the last nine building InfluencerSEO into the go-to SEO partner for content creators, with 500+ creators served from pre-launch to massive publication. She learned creator monetization and community building strategy from the inside working for Lauryn Bosstick of The Skinny Confidential prior to founding InfluencerSEO, so she understands both halves of the game: how search actually works AND how creators actually build a strong community online and make money. Her job now is to stay ahead of where search engine optimization is going, especially as AI rewrites the rules, and to make sure the creators she works with get there first.
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