Using the Masking Effect in Canva

The use of Canva is often a debated topic in the design community. Many graphic designers tend to dismiss the platform when someone mentions they've "designed" something using Canva.

And you know what? They're not wrong. Most small business owners (and even digital marketers) aren't professional designers. They don't have advanced skills in Photoshop or Illustrator—they’re just trying their best to create engaging content to promote their brand. Hiring a skilled graphic designer for branding and asset creation is a luxury that many can't afford.

Fortunately, there are some simple yet effective design tricks that small business owners can use to elevate their marketing visuals—masking being one of them. Masking is a technique that involves hiding or revealing specific elements of your images in your designs. It can create visual effects like making images appear to pop off the page or giving them a more three-dimensional feel. This technique is perfect for transforming basic photos into professional-looking marketing assets.

Watch the video below for a quick tutorial on how to use masking in Canva to improve your design skills.