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How to Mask in Canva: Create a Clipping Mask Effect

HOW TO DO A CLIPPING MASK in Canva - Youtube Thumbnail

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How to mask in Canva

Use Canva’s Background Remover to remove the background from a custom shape. Then, place your image behind the shape and adjust it to fit the design. You can do the same with the Video Background Remover.

Are you using Canva Pro? You will need it to do clipping masks.

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What is a Clipping Mask?

A clipping mask lets you see an image through the shape of something else, like text or a design.

It makes the picture fit inside the shape, showing only what’s inside the outline.

Here are some examples of clipping masks.

examples of clipping masks

Creating clipping masks in Canva is not a 1-click action as it is in Adobe tools, but it can still be done.

In this guide, I will show you 2 ways to do a clipping mask effect for images and how to do a clipping mask for videos as well.

You can check out this video for the complete processes. Or read the post below.

How to mask images in Canva

Mask images in Canva by dragging them into frames or using the Background Remover with custom shapes. Frames are straightforward, while custom shapes give more creative control.

Make a simple mask in Canva with frames

The simplest way to create a clipping mask in Canva is by using frames. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Select the image in Canva you want to place inside a shape.
  • Step 2: Select a frame from Canva’s Elements Library
  • Step 3: Drag your image into the frame. Canva will automatically fit the image into the shape.
  • Step 4: Adjust the image within the frame by double-clicking it and resizing or repositioning as needed.

clipping mask in canva with the frames method

Note: This method is perfect for basic designs but doesn’t allow for more customized shapes.

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Create a Custom Shape Clipping Mask

Pro Tip:

To create a clipping mask with custom shapes (e.g., typography or silhouettes, or specific cutouts), you’ll need Canva Pro and its Background Remover feature.

Here’s what I want to create:

A forest image masked in the shape of a cat. 

clipping mask forest masked in a cat shape

So I need 3 things:

  • The cat shape
  • The forest image
  • The Background Remover tool

Here’s how to create a custom clipping mask of an image in Canva.

Step 1: Add Your Custom Shape in a Design

First, choose or create the custom shape where you want your image or video to appear. You can choose from Canva’e Elements.

Place this shape on your design. I chose the silhouette I want, which is of a cat. You can also upload your own image.

choose the mask shape

Step 2: Add a Background Color

Behind the custom shape, place a solid color background. I did that grey, in my example.

Add a Background Color to the Custom Shape of the mask

 

Step 3: Make the shape color the same as the page color.

Make sure the color of the design matches the color of the page, as this will be important for the next steps.

It can be any color, as long as they are the same.

In this case, the background of my design is white, so I also made the cat white.
Make the shape color the same as the page color

Step 4: Download the Design as an Image

Download the current design page as an image.

This will save the shape and background as a single flat image. You can download it both as a JPG or an PNG.

You see above my design is a white background, has a grey foreground, and a white cat on top of it. I save this as an image.

Step 5: Upload the Image Back In Canva

Re-upload the JPG or PNG image back into Canva. Now, you have an image with the background color white.

Step 6: Remove the Background of the Image

Select the image, go to Edit Image, and choose Background Remover. This feature will remove the background, leaving only the custom shape visible.

As my background and cat are both white, they are both removed and only the grey part is left, cut out in the shape of a cat.

I made the background purple so you can see the shape.

Remove the Background of the Mask Image

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Step 7: Add The Image To Be Masked

  • Upload or choose the image you want to place inside the custom shape.
  • Drag the image onto the design, send it to the back (behind the custom shape), and adjust it so that it fits perfectly within the shape.

I chose my forest image and put it behind my image and the cat shape.

And there you go! The forest is masked in the cat shape.

Clipping mask in Canva applied for images

However, we still have the grey part of the image.

Now, that’s simple to remove. The grey part is the background, and the cat is the foreground. So, how do we remove the grey?

Yup, use the Background Remover!

Step 8: Remove the Background Again

Make the whole background grey by placing a rectangle grey box. Then, download it as an image.

Upload it back again to Canva and use Background Remover to remove the grey background.

clipping mask forest masked in a cat shape

Whew! That was a few steps, but once you do it regularly, you will get the hang of it.

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How to create a video mask in Canva

You can apply the same technique to videos, which adds a dynamic and eye-catching effect to your designs.

Step 1: Choose and Trim Your Video

Upload a video to Canva and trim it to the desired length. I chose a forest video.

Step 2: Apply the Same Custom Shape Technique

Follow the same steps as for images: create your custom shape, place it on a colored background, and make the color of your shape the same as the page color.

Then, you download the image and upload it.

First, use the Image Background Remover tool to get your cutout shape.
Remove the Background of the Mask Image

Step 3: Insert the Video

Choose a video you want and arrange it behind the custom shape.

Resize it to fit behind the shape completely.

Then, download the design as an MP4 video.

Step 4: Remove the video background

Upload the video back into Canva and apply the Video Background Remover.

Now you have the video masked in your custom shape!

Clipping mask in Canva applied for videos

Download the final design as an MP4 video.

Conclusion

Clipping masks in Canva may not be as straightforward as in Photoshop, but with Canva Pro’s Background Remover feature, you can create both simple and complex masks with ease. Whether working with images or videos, this tool unlocks a world of creative possibilities.

If you don’t have Canva Pro yet, consider trying their 30-day free trial to explore these features.

Let me know how your designs turn out, and check out the other tutorials below!

Other Canva tutorials you may like: 

Pages & Elements

Fonts & Text

Visual Effects

Print & Business

FAQ: How to Mask in Canva

Yes, you can create basic masking using frames in Canva’s free version. However, to create masks in custom and specific shapes or text needs advanced features like the Canva Background Remover.

You can mask images inside text shapes in Canva by treating the text as a custom shape. Simply select the text, add an image, and the image will fill the letters, similar to how you would mask images inside other shapes.

Yes, after placing an image inside a mask or frame, you can double-click it to adjust its position or zoom in and out.

No, once an image is placed in a mask, the shape’s color is replaced by the image itself.

Yes, you can access both the Image Background Remover and the Video Background Remover in the free trial. However, once the trial ends and you don’t sign up for Canva Pro, you will only have access to the free version of Canva, which doesn’t support these features.

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