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.
Here are some ways to get Canva Pro for free or get 33% off.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Step 2: Add a Background Color
Behind the custom shape, place a solid color background. I did that grey, in my example.
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.
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.

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30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva Pro features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files
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.
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.
Whew! That was a few steps, but once you do it regularly, you will get the hang of it.

30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva PRO features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files

30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva Pro features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files
Related posts on creating visual Effects
- How to add a gradient in Canva
- How to add drop shadow in Canva
- How to invert colors in Canva
- How to slice in Canva
- How to pixelate a photo
- How to change the color of an image in Canva
- How to curve an image
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.
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!
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
- How to change page orientation in Canva
- How to change to landscape in Canva
- How to flip elements in Canva
- How to rotate in Canva
- How to select all in Canva
Fonts & Text
Visual Effects
- How to add a gradient in Canva
- How to add drop shadow in Canva
- How to invert colors in Canva
- How to slice in Canva
- How to pixelate a photo
- How to change the color of an image in Canva
- How to mask in Canva
- How to curve an image
- How to select all in Canva
- How to Add an Outline to an Image in Canva: 3 Ways
- How to Cut Out an Image in Canva: 3 Ways
Print & Business