How Do I Merge in Canva?

October 5, 2023 canva

Merging elements in Canva is a useful feature that allows you to combine multiple objects into one. This can be particularly handy when you want to create complex designs or streamline your workflow. In this tutorial, we will explore how to merge elements in Canva using simple and straightforward steps.

Step 1: Open Canva and Create a Design

To begin, open Canva and either choose a pre-existing design template or create a new design from scratch. Canva offers a wide range of templates for various purposes, including social media posts, presentations, flyers, and more. Select the template that suits your needs or start with a blank canvas.

Step 2: Add Elements to the Design

Once you have your design canvas ready, it's time to add the elements you want to merge. Canva provides an extensive library of elements such as shapes, text boxes, images, icons, and illustrations.

To add shapes: Click on the "Elements" tab on the left sidebar and select "Shapes." Choose the desired shape from the available options and drag it onto your canvas.
To add text boxes: Similarly, click on the "Text" tab on the left sidebar and select "Text." Click anywhere on your canvas to add a text box.
To add images: Click on the "Uploads" tab on the left sidebar to upload your own images or choose from Canva's vast collection of stock photos by clicking on "Elements" > "Photos. "
To add icons and illustrations: Head over to the "Elements" tab again and select either "Icons" or "Illustrations." Browse through the available options and click on any icon or illustration you want to use in your design.

Step 3: Arrange and Position the Elements

After adding all the elements to your design, you may need to arrange and position them correctly before merging. Canva provides various tools to help you align and position elements precisely.

To move an element: Simply click on it and drag it to the desired location on your canvas.
To resize an element: Click on the element, and you will notice resize handles around it. Click and drag these handles to adjust the size of the element.
To align elements: Select multiple elements by holding down the Shift key while clicking on them. Once selected, click on the "Arrange" button that appears at the top toolbar. From there, you can choose options like aligning vertically or horizontally, distributing space evenly, or centering elements on your canvas.

Step 4: Merge Elements

Now comes the exciting part – merging your elements into one cohesive design. Canva offers two different methods for merging:

Merge Method 1: Grouping Elements

This method is ideal when you want to merge multiple elements but still retain their individual properties. For example, if you have a group of shapes or icons that form a logo, grouping them allows you to move or resize them as a single unit without affecting each element separately.

Select all the elements you want to merge by holding down the Shift key while clicking on them.
Right-click on any of the selected elements and choose "Group" from the context menu.
The selected elements will now be grouped together as a single object.
To ungroup them later, right-click on the grouped object and choose "Ungroup."

Merge Method 2: Merging Layers

This method is useful when you want to combine multiple elements into a single layer, essentially merging them visually. This is often handy when working with elements that overlap or when you want to create a seamless composition.

Arrange the elements in the desired stacking order. Elements on higher layers will be merged onto elements in lower layers.
Hold down the Shift key and click on each element you want to merge.
With all the elements selected, right-click on any of them and choose "Merge" from the context menu.
The selected elements will now be merged into a single layer.

Conclusion

Merging elements in Canva is a valuable technique that allows you to create cohesive designs and streamline your workflow. Whether you need to group elements together or merge them into a single layer, Canva provides simple yet powerful tools to accomplish these tasks. Experiment with different combinations of shapes, text boxes, images, icons, and illustrations to unlock your creativity and design stunning visuals!