How to merge colors in canva

To access the blend modes, simply click on the image you want to edit, and then click on the “Edit image” button in the top toolbar. You’ll see a menu of different blend modes to choose from on the left-hand side of the screen.

Canva tip: How to add a gradient in Canva

It may not be obvious, but it is actually quite easy to add a gradient in Canva.

A gradient is a graduated blend between two or more colors or between two tints of the same color.

Adding a gradient can give your design a more natural feel, and you can also play with adding color to create an inspiring look.

Follow this step by step tutorial to apply a gradient in Canva.

You may also be interested in this episode of the podcast:

How to add a gradient in Canva

Step one: Create your design in Canva. While a gradient is most commonly applied over a photo, you can use it over the entire design. Or you can create layers by adding a gradient over the background then layer text and other elements over the top of that.

Step two: In the search field, search for gradient. A number of choices will appear. In this tutorial, we are using a dark to light gradient, but you can also experiment with other choices, like centered light. When you search you can select a gradient from the photo options, but there are now much better selections in the the graphics results (see second photo) including the option to add gradient shapes.

Step three: Add the gradient you want to your design. You can use the element rotate arrow at the bottom of the gradient element to swivel it to best match the shape of your design or place it in the direction you want the gradient to flow.

Step four: Drag the gradient element to adjust the size so it covers your design.

Step five: You can change the transparency and color of the gradient in Canva as well. While many gradients will be black or grey based, you can experiment with a shade that matches or contrasts with your color palette.

Step six: Once you’re happy with the result, download your design! It’s that simple to add a gradient in Canva.

Now you can experiment with adding a gradient in Canva with some of your projects. Try adding a gradient to your Facebook cover image to create a more interesting graphic.

If you want more tips to help you use Canva, scroll down to see the latest posts on the blog. Or you might be interested in joining nearly 10,000 people who have learned how to use Canva in the free beginner’s course.

8 Related Question Answers Found

When it comes to choosing colors for your Canva designs, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, think about the overall tone or feeling you want to convey with your design. Are you going for something playful or serious?

As a general rule of thumb, you should always use the background-blend-mode property in conjunction with the background-image property. That way, if your background image is unavailable or if it fails to load, the browser can display a solid color background instead. With that said, there are four main ways to blend a background image in Canva: Normal mode: The default blending mode.

Can You Share Templates in Canva?

As a design platform, Canva is widely known for its easy to use tools and templates. For those who are not familiar with Canva, it is a web-based design platform that allows users to create graphics such as presentations, logos, and more. Canva also has a built in library of photos, illustrations, and icons to help users with their designs.

Yes, you can have multiple users on Canva. You can either add people as collaborators or give them access to your organization. To add someone as a collaborator, go to the project you want to share and click on the “Share” button in the top right corner.

How Do You Find Similar Elements in Canva?

Designing in Canva is super easy, even if you’ve never designed anything before. But one of the first things you need to know is how to find similar elements in Canva. This is important because it will help you create a cohesive and well-designed project.

There’s no doubt that Canva is a powerful design tool. But one of the things that can be a bit tricky to master is color matching. Whether you’re trying to match a specific color from an image, or you’re just looking for colors that compliment each other, there are a few things you can do to get it right.

How to Create a Gradient on Text in Canva

Adding a gradient to text allows it to pop against a flat color background, creating a sense of depth that makes the text stand out. Again, the process varies depending on whether you’re using a PC or the Canva mobile app.

Creating a Gradient on Text using a PC

There are two ways to create gradient text on a PC. The first is a workaround that enables you to create this text on the free version of the software. The second uses some paid features to speed up the process.

The Free Method

The free method requires you to create a custom gradient inside Canva before you can apply it to text.

1. Log in and tap on Create a design.
   
2. Click the Elements option on the left-hand sidebar.
   
3. Type in gradient and select a free design.
   
4. Locate the two color options in the upper-left corner and choose your desired colors.
   
5. Save and download your new file as a PNG.
   

Now that you have a gradient, you’re ready to use it to create a text effect.

1. Open a new page.
   
2. Select Elements.
   
3. Type and click the Letter a frame option.
   
4. Select the letter you need and drag it into position.
   
5. Repeat this process for every letter required.
   
6. Locate your gradient PNG file and drag it into each letter.
   
7. Double-click each letter and resize your gradient image to cover all edges of your page.
   
8. Select the gradient and click Position to Backward in the top-right menu.
   

The Paid Method

The paid method uses Canva’s background removal tool to speed up the process.

1. Open a new page.
   
2. Click the Elements option and add a gradient to your background.
   
3. Select Elements again and go to Letter a frame.
   
4. Drag your chosen letters onto the page.
   
5. Select all of the letters and set their transparency to 35%.
   
6. Download the entire image as a PNG.
   
7. Upload the new PNG into Canva.
   
8. Click Add Page.
   
9. Drag your new page into the uploaded PNG file.
   
10. Click Edit image at the top of the block.
    
11. Choose Background Remover and wait for about five seconds.
    
12. Click Apply.
    

You should now have gradient text without having to repeatedly drag a PNG file into each letter.

Creating a Gradient on Text using a Mobile Device

Creating gradient text using the Canva mobile app is a little more difficult than doing it using a PC. It also requires you to have some gradient images saved in your mobile device’s photos. Start by creating a new gradient background.

1. Open your Canva dashboard and click the + icon at the bottom-right of the screen.
   
2. Tap the Facebook Post template.
   
3. Select the + icon again and navigate to photos.
   
4. Search for Gradient.
   
5. Tap your desired gradient image.
   
6. Drag the edges so the gradient image covers the full template.
   

Now, you need to add the text you wish to apply the gradient to.

1. Tap the + icon.
   
2. Select the Text icon. If it isn’t visible, tap ••• More icon to find it.
   
3. Select either a heading, subheading, or body text and choose a font.
   
4. Insert the text into your image.
   
5. Drag the text’s edges to make it the desired size.
   
6. Tap the text box and enter your desired words.
   

You now have a gradient and a font. Next, it’s time to apply the gradient to your text.

1. Change the text color to white.
   
2. Select the text box and use the transparency slider to set the text transparency to 40%.
   
3. Download the image as a PNG file.
   
4. Reenter Canva and swipe across to open a blank template.
   
5. Tap the + icon.
   
6. Go to Uploads and select your newly created PNG.
   
7. Resize the PNG so it fills the template.
   
8. Select Effects from the tools at the bottom of the screen.
   
9. Tap Background Remover and wait.
   

You should now have your gradient text against a white background. The final steps involve adjusting the text so the gradient is more pronounced.

1. Crop the text in your PNG image.
   
2. Select Adjust from the toolbar.
   
3. Use the sliders to adjust the colors in your text.
   

How to Create a Gradient in a Shape

Adding a gradient to a shape works similarly to adding one to text. You must first create a gradient image before you can apply it to the shape.

Creating a Gradient in a Shape on a Computer

1. As shown above, tap on Create new Design and then Custom Size.
   
2. Chose the Elements icon.
   
3. Type Gradients, hit Enter, and click a design.
   
4. Drag the gradient’s edges to cover your entire page.
   
5. Choose your color options.
   
6. Save and download your image as a PNG.
   

Next, you need to create a shape that you can apply the saved gradient image to.

1. Open a new Canva template.
   
2. Navigate to Elements.
   
3. Click Frames and choose your shape.
   
4. Resize the image as needed.
   
5. Upload your created PNG file into the new template and drag it over the shape.
   
6. Use the image’s round corners to adjust its size.
   
7. Double-click the image and crop it to fit the shape.
   
8. Click Done when you’re finished.
   

Creating a Gradient in a Shape on a Mobile Device

Similar to a PC, you’ll need to create a gradient image on your mobile before you can add it to a shape. Again, it’s best to do this with some gradient photos saved to your device. Start with creating a gradient background.

1. Open Canva and select the + icon.
   
2. Choose a blank template.
   
3. Tap the + icon again and find your photos.
   
4. Search for Gradient.
   
5. Choose the gradient image to insert into your template.
   
6. Drag the image’s edges so it fills the template.
   
7. Save the template as a PNG file.
   

Next, you’ll create a shape and add the gradient image to it.

1. Open a new Canva template.
   
2. Click the + icon.
   
3. Tap Elements.
   
4. Scroll to Frames and select your desired shape.
   
5. Click the arrow to see all available shapes.
   
6. Tap the frame and adjust its size using the round corner icons.
   
7. Select the frame and click the + icon.
   
8. Tap Folders and navigate to your saved PNG file.
   
9. Drag the uploaded PNG into the middle of the frame. The image will automatically crop itself to fit the frame.
   

Gradients for All Occasions

Though it takes a bit of extra work, it’s possible to create gradients in text and shapes using Canva. This allows you to create attractive images that have more depth and pop to them.

Have you ever used gradients in Canva before? Did you know it was possible to use gradients for shapes and text, as well as backgrounds? Let us know in the comments section below.