How to Create a Glow Effect in Canva

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a glow effect in Canva. This is an excellent effect that can easily be achieved in Canva. We’ll show you how to create a glow effect for basic shapes and uploaded images.

To show how to create a glow effect for an uploaded image, we’ll be using this photo bundle of spring and summer flowers. You can also use the glow effect on a photo of a person if you'd like.



Using Basic Shapes

Step 1 - Edit the Background

Change Background Color to a Dark Color

In order to see the glow effect better, we will pick a dark color for the background. Select the background, and then click the Background color icon. Choose a dark color from the list. We picked black.

Lock Background

With the background still selected, click the padlock icon near the top right corner to lock the background.

Step 2 - Pick a Shape

Click on the Elements tab and pick a shape from the Lines & Shapes category. We selected a circle.

Step 3 - Change Shape Color if Needed

With the shape selected, click on the Color picker icon, and change the color of your shape. We chose red.

Step 4 - Duplicate the Shape

Make a copy of your shape. You can click the Duplicate icon or press Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy and Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste.

Step 5 - Edit the Duplicate Shape

Lower Transparency

With the duplicate shape selected, click the Transparency icon, and lower the transparency by 20. We lowered the transparency from 100 to 80 in the following image.

Resize the Shape

Without deselecting, click + drag the shape by one of the handles on the corner to make the shape slightly larger than the original shape.

Center the Duplicate Shape to the Original

Use the magenta guidelines to help you center the shapes with each other. Click + drag the duplicate shape, and let go when you see the vertical and horizontal magenta guidelines.

Step 6 - Repeat Step 4 to Step 5

Now you can repeat Step 4 and Step 5, but every time you repeat the steps, use the lowest transparency shape as the “original" shape. Continue repeating until you’re happy with the glow effect.

Step 7 - Group Shapes

Once you are done with the glow effect, group the shapes together. Click + drag over all the shapes to select them. Then right-click and choose Group.

Using Uploaded Images

Note: some of the features in this part of the tutorial are only available with a Canva Pro membership.

First, upload your image to Canva.

Step 1 - Remove Image Background if Needed

Background Remover is a Canva Pro feature. If you don’t have Canva Pro, you will have to use an image that doesn’t have a background or a free background remover website.

To remove the background on Canva, select the image and click on Edit image above the canvas.

Scroll down until you see Background Remover and select it. If you don’t see it in the list, enter “Background Remover” into the Search box, then select it when it comes up.

It may take a little bit for the background to be removed. Once Canva has removed the background to the best of its ability, you can use the Erase and Restore tools if you need to edit the image some more. Then click Apply when you’re happy with the results.

Step 2 - Crop the Image if Needed

Because we removed the background, there’s a lot of empty space as part of the image, so we’ll crop the image down a little bit. Double-click on the image to enable the Crop function. Click + drag using one of the crop handles on a corner to pull in the sides and crop the image.

Step 3 - Duplicate the Image

Duplicate your image by clicking the Duplicate icon or pressing Ctrl/Cmd + C and then Ctrl/Cmd + V.

Step 4 - Change the Duplicate Image’s Colors

We’ll show you two ways to change the color of the duplicate image. The selected color will be the glow color.

Change Colors Using the Adjustment Options

With the duplicate still selected, click on See all for the Adjust section while Edit image is enabled.

Move the slider all the way to the right for Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Highlights, and Shadows.

To create the glow effect, increase the Blur setting to your liking. We set ours to 34.

Use Duotone Feature

The second way of changing colors is using the Duotone feature.

Scroll down in while Edit image is enabled, and select See all for the Duotone feature.

Pick a duotone color from the list and click Apply.

Now you can go back to the Adjust options and increase the Blur.

Step 5 - Resize Blurred Image

Make the blurred image slightly larger than the original image by dragging a corner handle.

Step 6 - Rearrange the Order of Images and Center Align Images

Rearrange Order of Images if Needed

We want the blurred image in the back, so we will rearrange the order of the images. Select the blurred image, right-click on the image and choose Send to Back (Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + [).

Center Align Images to Each Other

Click + drag over both images to select them. Then click Position to the top right and select Middle then Center.

Step 7 - Group Images

Group the images together so it’s easier to move and scale them later on. Select both images, right-click, and choose Group.

You could use a colored glow effect in front of any background, but the glow effect still looks best against a dark background.

Now you know how to create a glow effect in Canva for basic shapes and uploaded images! If you’d like to have some more fun in Canva, try out our tutorials on making a Snapchat filter and making a monthly calendar.