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Last Edited Time
Jul 3, 2025 09:18 AM
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Platform
Canva
Category
Basics
Topic
Shapes and Icons
AI summary
Easily add and customize shapes and icons in Canva by accessing the "Elements" section, dragging items into your design, and using the toolbar for adjustments. You can also upload custom graphics and combine elements for more complex designs.
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Add Shapes and Icons in Canva
TL;DR
- Click "Elements" in the left toolbar to access shapes and icons
- Find shapes under "Lines & Shapes" or search for specific icons
- Drag elements directly into your design workspace
- Use the toolbar to change colours, sizes, and styles
- You can add text directly inside shapes
- Upload your own custom graphics if needed
Main Content
Finding Elements
Click "Elements" in the left toolbar to open Canva's library. For basic shapes like circles, squares, and arrows, scroll down to "Lines & Shapes". For icons, use the search bar at the top - type what you're looking for like "arrow", "heart", or "business".
Adding to Your Design
Once you've found what you need, drag it straight into your workspace. You can also click once to add it to the centre of your design. The element will appear selected, ready for you to adjust.
Customizing Elements
With your shape or icon selected, you'll see editing options appear:
Size and Position
- Drag the corner handles to resize (hold Shift to keep proportions)
- Click and drag to move the element around
- Use the rotate handle to turn it
Colours and Effects
- Click the colour box in the toolbar to change the fill colour
- For shapes with borders, you can adjust border thickness and colour separately
- Add effects like shadows or transparency using the effects panel
Adding Text to Shapes
Click on any shape and start typing to add text inside it. This works well for buttons, labels, or callout boxes. You can format this text just like any other text element.
Working with Icons
Icons behave differently from shapes. Most icons are single-colour graphics, but some premium icons come with multiple colour options. You can change the colour of most icons using the same colour picker as shapes.
If you can't find the right icon, try different search terms. Canva has thousands of icons, but they might be tagged differently than you expect.
Upload Your Own
Need something specific? Click "Uploads" in the left toolbar and drag your own SVG files or PNG images into Canva. These will behave like any other element once uploaded.
FAQs
Can I change icon colours?
Yes, most icons can be recoloured using the colour picker in the toolbar. Some premium icons have preset colour schemes you can choose from.
How do I make shapes transparent?
Select your shape, then look for the transparency slider in the toolbar or effects panel. Drag it left to make the shape more see-through.
Can I combine shapes to make new ones?
Canva doesn't have a shape-combining tool, but you can layer shapes on top of each other and group them together to create complex designs.
What file types can I upload for custom shapes?
PNG, JPG, SVG, and GIF files work best. SVG files are ideal for icons as they stay crisp at any size.
Jargon Buster
Elements - Canva's library of graphics, shapes, icons, and other design components you can add to your projects.
Handles - The small squares or circles that appear around selected objects, used for resizing and rotating.
SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics. A file format that stays sharp at any size, perfect for icons and simple graphics.
Transparency - How see-through an element is. 100% is completely solid, 0% is invisible.
Wrap-up
Adding shapes and icons is one of the quickest ways to improve your Canva designs. The drag-and-drop system makes it simple, and the customization options give you plenty of control over the final look. Start with basic shapes to frame content or highlight important information, then add icons to support your message visually. The more you experiment with combining different elements, the more professional your designs will look.