How to Outline an Image in Canva: Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Borders.
Adding an outline or border to an image is one of the easiest ways to make your design stand out. Outlines help highlight images, improve visibility, and create a clean, professional look.
Canva offers both manual and AI-based ways to create image outlines. Recently, Canva’s AI tools have allowed users to generate images with borders directly using prompts. In this blog, you’ll learn all the correct ways to add outlines in Canva.
Methods to Create an Outline in Canva
Canva provides two main approaches:
- Manual editing
- AI-generated images with built-in borders using prompts
1. Manual Step-by-Step Guide to Add an Outline in Canva
This is the most commonly used method in Canva.
Step 1: Open Canva and Create a Design
Open Canva and log in to your account.
Click on Create.
Step 2: Choose the size
Choose the size you need, such as a presentation slide, Instagram post, or custom size.
Step 3: Upload or Select an Image
Click on Uploads from the left menu to upload your own image (or)
Choose an Image from Canva’s Library.
Step 4: Select the Image
Click once on the image so it is selected.
Step 5: Click on the Elements and select Frame
Step 6: Drag and drop the image
Drag and drop the image into the frame, then resize the frame and image as per the requirement.
Step 7: Now your outlined image is ready
AI-Based Method in Canva Using Text Prompts
Canva now allows users to generate images with outlines directly using AI prompts, without manual efforts.
Steps to Create an Image with Outline Using Canva AI
Step 1: Open Canva and Select Canva AI
Step 2: Click Image Option
- Here you can create a complete Image using a prompt or
- You can upload the existing Image.
Step 3: Enter the Prompt and generate
Type the prompt and create images
Step 4: Download and use.
- Now you can download and use it.
- You can edit based on your requirements.
A Method You Should Know to Modernise Your Designing with Smarter AI Tools:
Here is MagicSlides AI Image Generator. This takes your image creation to the next level by giving you complete control and flexibility through powerful AI add-ons. Instead of setting for generic results, you get to choose from multiple AI-models in one place. Each is designed to craft visuals exactly the way you want them.
MagicSlides allows users to select from multiple powerful image generation models, such as Flux, Nano Banana, SDXL Lighting, Ideogram, etc. You can test and refine results faster.
Instead of generating an image and fixing borders manually, MagicSlides AI Image Generator helps you generate images that are closer to the final output from the start.
By combining powerful AI image models with prompt-based generation, MagicccSlides gives you the flexibility and depth that advanced creators, educators, and professionals need.
Conclusion:
Canva is a powerful design tool and works well for manual image outlining and basic AI image generation. However, when it comes to creating images with clean, consistent outlines using prompts, Canva has limitations and often requires extra editing.
MagicSlides AI simplifies this entire process. By generating images with built-in borders from the start, it helps creators, educators, and marketers save time and maintain visual consistency. If your focus is speed, clarity, and presentation-ready visuals, MagicSlides is the smarter choice.
Also Read: How to Make a GIF in Canva.
Quick FAQs:
1. Can I add an outline to an image in Canva for free?
Yes, you can add outlines using the Glow effect in free Canva. However, background remover needs Canva Pro.
2. What is the best outline color to use?
White, black, or colors that contrast with the background work best.
3. Can I add outlines to photos without removing the background?
Yes, but the outline will appear around the full image, not just the subject.
4. Is MagicSlides beginner-friendly?
Yes. MagicSlides is very easy to use because it works with simple prompts.
5. Can I use outlined images for social media?
Absolutely! Outlined images work great for Instagram posts, thumbnails, and presentations.
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About the author
Ayan Ahmad Fareedi— Senior Writer & Spreadsheet Specialist
Ayan Ahmad is our Senior Writer specializing in Google Sheets tutorials and productivity guides. With over two years of experience at companies like Amazon and Okaya, he has mastered data analysis and spreadsheet automation. He creates comprehensive guides that help users unlock the full potential of Google Sheets for business and personal use.
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