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Can You Do Layers in Canva?

Last updated on November 24, 2022 @ 7:33 pm

Layers are a fundamental part of any image editing software, and Canva is no different. With layers, you can add elements to your design and move them around or remove them without affecting other parts of your design.

To add a layer in Canva, there are two ways.

The first is to simply click the “Elements” button on the left menu of the editor. From there, type in the search bar the element that you want to use. Click on one of the results and it will add a new element or layer to your design.

For the second one, you can choose to upload an image that will serve as your layer. For that, select “Uploads” on the left menu, click on “Images” and then on “Upload files”.

From the pop-up window, browse for the image that you would like to upload, then click on “Open”.

Once done uploading, click on the image and it will add this to your canvas. From there, you can also click and drag elements to move them around.

You can also modify the position of each of your layers in Canva. To give you an idea, here is a sample design with five layers of elements. We will experiment with the blue element in the middle to visualize the effect of each option.

To change the position of your layer, simply select a layer and click on the three dots above it.

As you can see, there are four ways in which you can move the position of your elements or layers.

The first option is “Send backward”. This will make your layer move one step backward.

Second is the “Send to back” option which means your layer will move to the last layer.

The third one is the “Bring forward” option which will move your element one step forward.

Lastly, the “Bring to front” option. This will move your element to the top layer.

PRO TIP: Can You Do Layers in Canva?

While you can create layers in Canva, they work differently than the layers in other design programs. In Canva, each element is its own layer. You can also group elements together to create one layer.

Layers are especially useful when you want to add text to your design. By adding text to a separate layer, you can move it around or remove it without affecting the rest of the design.

To style your text, simply select “Text” on the left menu of the editor, then select “Add a text box”. This will add a text box to your canvas.

To change the font, size, and color of the text, click on the text box, then use the menu at the top of the canvas.

NOTE: The layers positioning procedures above are also applicable for text boxes.

So, can you do layers in Canva?

Absolutely! Layers are a crucial part of any image editing software, and Canva is no different.

Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.