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Canva’s built-in frames are limited to basic shapes. Frames Lab is a Canva app that lets you build frames exactly the way you want — grids, arcs, sunbursts, diagonal layouts, or a frame traced from your own shape — then drop any photo or video inside. Every frame auto-fits the design you’re working in, so you never resize by hand.
Frames Lab Create tab in Canva showing the five create modes

Frames Lab — Create, Explore, and Style tabs in Canva

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What Frames Lab does

Frames Lab works in three tabs:

Create

Build a new frame from five modes: Shape, Burst, Grid, Arc, and Diagonal.

Explore

Pick a ready-made frame from themed collections — no setup needed.

Style

Re-add a frame you just used with blur, border, or inner shadow effects.

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How to make a custom frame (Create tab)

Open Apps in Canva, search for Frames Lab, and open it. In the Create tab, pick a mode from the Create mode strip.

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Turn a shape into a frame

1

Add a shape to your design

From Elements → Shapes or Graphics, add any shape to your Canva page.
2

Recheck design

In Frames Lab, click Recheck design so the app detects your shape.
3

Add the frame

Click the detected frame to drop it into your design. Set a border color and weight first if you want one.
Whenever you change a shape in your design, click Recheck design again so Frames Lab updates.

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Make a grid (collage) frame

Frames Lab Grid mode showing grid dimensions and layout controls

Grid mode — set columns, rows, and gap

1

Choose Grid mode

Select Grid in the Create mode strip.
2

Set dimensions and layout

Adjust width and height, then set columns, rows, and gap. The preview updates live.
3

Add a wave (optional)

Open the Wave effect to make the grid lines curve, or use Advanced options for combined cells and corner rounding.
4

Add to design

Click Add to design, then drag a photo into each cell.

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Other Create modes

Burst

Random sunburst/spark frames. Tune Style, Density, Size, Spread, and Distribution — results are random, so grab one you like.

Arc

A curved/arc frame. Set the sweep angle and start angle.

Diagonal

Like Grid, but the strips run on an angle you control.

Shape

Turn any shape already in your design into a frame.

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Use a ready-made frame (Explore tab)

If you don’t want to configure anything, open Explore and click a frame from the themed collections (Trending, seasonal sets, and more). It drops straight into your design.
Explore tab in Frames Lab with themed frame collections

Explore — ready-made frame collections by theme

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Add effects (Style tab)

Every frame you add is saved under Last frames in the Style tab. Re-add it with effects:
Style tab in Frames Lab with blur, border, and inner shadow controls

Style tab — blur, border, and inner shadow

  • Blur — a soft glow behind the frame.
  • Border — an outline that hugs the frame edge.
  • Inner shadow — depth inside the frame.
Pick a color and strength for each, then click the frame to re-add it with the effects applied.

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Drop in your photo

After any frame is in your design, drag a photo or video onto it. The image snaps to the frame’s shape and crops automatically — double-click to reposition it inside.

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Frequently asked questions

Frames Lab has a free tier with a limit on how many frames you can add. Pro removes the limit.
Make sure the shape was added from Elements → Shapes/Graphics, then click Recheck design so the app picks it up.
Very complex grids (too many cells or a strong wave) get blocked. Reduce the rows/columns or the wave strength and try again.