How to Add Shadow in Canva

Welcome to Ben’s Experience! In this guide, I will walk you through the process of adding a shadow to your elements in Canva, a popular design tool. Shadows can add depth and dimension to your designs, making them stand out.

Step 1: Create a New Design

To get started, visit canva.com and create a new design. For this example, we’ll use a YouTube thumbnail template. Select the template to open a blank canvas where we can add our design elements.

Step 2: Add an Element

Next, add an element to your template. This could be an image, text, or any other design element. For this tutorial, we’ll use an image.

Step 3: Select the Element

Once you’ve added your element, click on it to select it. You’ll see various editing options appear.

Step 4: Open the Effects Menu

With your element selected, click on the edit icon. A new window will pop up with different editing options. Scroll down to the ‘Effects’ section and click on ‘Shadows.’

Step 5: Choose a Shadow Type

Canva offers several shadow types, including Glow, Drop, Outline, Curved, Page Lift, Angled, and Backdrop. For this tutorial, we’ll use the Backdrop shadow. Select the shadow type that best suits your design needs.

Step 6: Customize the Shadow

After selecting your shadow type, you can customize its appearance. Adjust the blur amount to control the shadow’s softness. Change the direction to determine where the shadow falls, and tweak the intensity to make it more or less pronounced.

Additional Resources

Before we continue, I want to let you know that you can access my Canva Essentials online course for free. In this course, you’ll learn everything from Canva basics to advanced techniques, including how to add text, backgrounds, audio, video, and more. You’ll also learn advanced text features, image editing techniques, animation, video editing, creating specific designs like YouTube thumbnails, team collaboration, exporting, and various tips and tricks. To get free access to this comprehensive course, visit university.bensexperience.com.

Final Touches

After customizing your shadow, take a moment to review your design. Make any additional adjustments to ensure it looks just right.

Conclusion

Adding shadows in Canva is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your designs. Whether you’re creating YouTube thumbnails, social media posts, or any other type of graphic, shadows can add a professional touch. Don’t forget to check out my free online course for more in-depth Canva tutorials and tips.

Thank you for following along with this tutorial on how to add a shadow in Canva. If you found this guide helpful, please like the video and subscribe to my channel for more design tips and tutorials.