Design Trick: Gradient Cut-Out with Canva

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Ever looked at a design and wondered "how did they create that?" The answer to that question can be much simpler than you think!

This design was created in Canva using simple tricks. They're easy to apply and useful for a variety of different effects you may like to create.

Let's walk through it step by step and see how to use the available tools to produce this design!

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First we'll start with an image for our background. Something interesting that speaks to our message, but not critical to that message. (Important as we'll be covering it with our colors and letters).

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Next, add a Gradient element on top of the image and reduce it's transparency. It's good to have it transparent enough so the image is visible, but not too much to make the color unimportant.

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When the gradient element is the way you like it, copy and paste it. Place it exactly over top of the other gradient element.

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Select it, and choose the "Crop" option from the grey bar above. Drag in the corners so that there is a nice spacing all around the shape. You can make it any size or shape that will work with your content.

When we crop the exact same element on top of the other one, the gradients from each will line up. This way, there is one color gradient that is flowing through the whole design, but two elements. We can to play with these two layers of transparency for cool effects!

Speaking of cool effects. We'll now add a drop shadow behind this new square so it appears to be lifting off from the photo in the back.

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An easy way to do so is to upload an image of a shadow, then place it as you need.
 
Want an excellent shadow pack for use in Canva and other designs? Download my free shadow images pack HERE.
 
Once placed, we'll send it backwards to be behind our second gradient square.
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To have our front square show a bit of the background, we'll need to make it transparent. The problem with this is it would first show the shadow behind it.
 
To fix this we'll use the "Group" feature. First select both the second gradient square and the shadow and choose "Group". (Either in the grey bar above or with a right click with both selected).
 
Now when you adjust the transparency of the group, it applies to the square and shadow together!
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From here we add our text…

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…and a border to help focus the eye in the middle.

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We can add a line above and below the main title for further structure and prominence. This also repeats and reuses the line element surrounding the box.
 
Canva doesn't have an obvious way to allow you to edit the thinkness of the line. A quick trick is to simple grab a corner of your line and scale it down until the thickness of the line is right. Then drag an edge until it's as long as you need.
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And with that the design is complete!
 
There are even faster ways to achieve roughly the same effect. Pasting a square without transparency, for example. But these tiny details can be the difference between a good design, and a great design!
 
More than that, knowing this type of trick opens up new possibilities to you. It enables a new approach as you come up with a new design for your work.
 
Combine a few tricks. Add some nice colors / fonts / images...and suddenly you're creating stunning new pieces.
 
Cheers to your next great design, whatever it's "cut-out" for!

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Posted in Canva, Creativity, Design Tips, Learn Design

6 Comments

  1. De on October 20, 2020 at 8:13 am

    This was so helpful! Now, I can finally add gradients to shapes. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Trevor on October 20, 2020 at 1:36 pm

      So glad you found it useful! Cheers to some great designs with gradient shapes!

      Reply
  2. Vee on February 23, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    This is super great!

    Reply
  3. Vee on February 23, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    This is super great, I am so happy to be adding to my Canva skills! I was originally looking for how to make a grouped element made from lines have a unified gradient colour scheme… is that even possible? Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Trevor on May 14, 2021 at 4:37 pm

      So happy you found it useful! The best option may be to apply a gradient to a shape, then lay other squares over it the same colour as the background to make it appear as if it’s only lines. You can perhaps find a Frame element that will work the same way for you.

      Reply
  4. nate on March 18, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    I wish it was possible to use the gradient as a mask to fade an image.

    Reply

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