> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.qrdyai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Glass Maker Complete Guide

> The full walkthrough of Glass Maker for Canva: Photo glass frames and all 5 effects (Frosted, Glass block, Fluted, Cracked, Stained), Text glass, Export design, and Pro.

This is the complete, step-by-step guide to [Glass Maker](https://docs.qrdyai.com/glass-maker/what-is-glass-maker.md) — both tabs (**Photo glass** for placing glass panes on images, **Text glass** for 3D glass lettering) plus the **Export design** workflow for applying glass to anything that isn't a photo.

![Glass Maker panel in Canva showing the Photo glass and Text glass tabs](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/panel-tabs.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=2a4baf0fe33ffc7717ba33fd59656799)

Glass Maker in Canva with its two tabs: Photo glass and Text glass

## Part A — Open the app

**1. Open Glass Maker from the left sidebar**

Open a design that contains an image (an upload or a Canva stock photo). In the left sidebar, click the **Glass Maker** icon — or open **Apps** and search for "Glass Maker". The panel opens on the **Photo glass** tab, with **Text glass** next to it and your plan status line at the bottom.

**2. Skim 'How it works' if you're new**

Press **How it works** at the bottom of the panel for a built-in Q\&A — how the app works, why **Start glass effect** might be disabled, how to use glass with graphic elements — and a link to the tutorial video. Press `←` to come back.

![Glass Maker How it works screen with frequently asked questions](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/how-it-works.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=a236dcd7d5e96ce72554c0a23886ffa0)

The How it works screen answers the most common questions

## Part B — Photo glass: put glass panes on a photo

**1. Select an image and press Start glass effect**

Click an image on your page — it appears as a thumbnail under "Select an image in your design". Press **Start glass effect**.

![A photo selected in the design and the Start glass effect button highlighted](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/select-image-start.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=d6dcb15b100372274dd39c2e20ccfd89)

The selected photo shows in the panel; Start glass effect opens the editor

> [!WARNING]
>
> Photo glass only detects **image elements**. For graphics, stickers, text, or a whole page, use [Export design](#part-f--export-design-apply-glass-to-anything) first.

**2. The editor opens with a default glass frame**

The app overlays an editor on your photo with one rectangular frosted frame in the middle. The panel shows a "How to use" box (*1. Adjust the effect in the canvas — 2. Add the glassy image to your design*), the **Glass frames** row, the **Effect** row, and the settings for the selected frame. Close the hint box with ×.

![Glass Maker editor opened over a photo with the default frosted rectangle frame](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/editor-default-frame.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=edee6a0cddcf4a7e56b7a5e5f3b7e846)

The editor overlay: default rectangle frame, Glass frames row, and Effect row

**3. Drag, scale, and rotate the frame on the photo**

Work directly on the image:

* **Drag the middle** of the frame to move it.
* **Drag a corner handle** to scale — both axes scale together.
* **Drag the rotate handle** above the frame to rotate it.

The **Position** X/Y and **Scale** X/Y boxes in the panel follow along, and you can type exact numbers into them too. Rotation is only set with the on-image handle — the panel has no angle box.

![A glass frame moved, scaled and rotated on the photo with Position and Scale values updating](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/frame-move-rotate.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=5b283f140b4c58d357e11d364986563c)

The frame moved, scaled (1.26) and rotated directly on the photo

**4. Fine-tune corners, border, and shadow**

Below Position and size you'll find:

| Control | What it does |
| - | - |
| **Radius and opacity** | Corner radius (Rectangle frames only) and glass opacity |
| **Stroke** | Border color and thickness |
| **Shadow** | Shadow color and spread |
| **Selection frame gap** | Gap between the dashed selection outline and the glass edge — editor-only, never in the exported image |

Press **Reset all to default** to return every setting to its starting value.

![Frame fine-tuning controls in the Glass Maker panel](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/frame-fine-tune.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=135309b66996c50d27a9bd38e940b07c)

Radius and opacity, Stroke, Shadow, Selection frame gap, and Reset all to default

**5. Add more frames with +**

In the **Glass frames** row, press **+**. A "Choose a shape to add" row appears — tap a shape to add it as a new frame, or press **See all** for the full grid.

![The + button in the Glass frames row showing the Choose a shape to add row](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/add-shape-plus.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=6a4d22f478f7eb9c1c8f76bc0107d058)

Press + to open the shape picker, or See all for every shape

The **All shapes** screen lists 12 shapes under **Basic shapes** — rectangle, pill, circle, ellipse, triangle, diamond, hexagon, star, heart, drop, leaf, and petal. The **From your design** section lets you scan a vector shape from your page (add it via **Elements → Shapes**, then press the rescan button).

![The All shapes screen with From your design and 12 basic shapes](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/all-shapes.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=657826ef28d7717cb496bf4b13a810fe)

All shapes: From your design + the 12 Basic shapes

Free plans place up to **2 frames** per photo; [Glass Maker Pro](https://www.qrdynamic.xyz/glassmaker-pro-canva) raises that to **8** and unlocks the 6 organic shapes (Hexagon, Star, Heart, Drop, Leaf, Petal) plus design-shape scanning.

**6. Switch between frames with the chips**

Every frame is a chip in the **Glass frames** row. Click a chip — or the frame itself on the image — to select it. The effect and all settings below apply to the selected frame only, so each pane can have its own shape, effect, and look.

![Two glass frames on one photo with the chips row showing both](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/multiple-frames.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=49ed72f4b39050c69585393b42f4ecbe)

Two frames: the rectangle chip is selected, the heart frame sits on the photo

## Part C — The 5 glass effects

Select a frame, then pick an effect in the **Effect** row. Each effect has its own controls; switching effects keeps the settings you made on the others.

### Frosted — classic blurred glass

The iOS/macOS-style frosted pane. Tap a quick level — **Subtle / Soft / Heavy** — or drag the **Glass** slider for precise control.

![Frosted effect on Heavy with the Glass slider at 0.35](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/frosted-heavy.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=906f54052f5fbcfdf9bcd433131167c4)

Frosted set to Heavy with the Glass slider at 0.35

### Glass block — refractive brick glass

Five styles under **Style**: **Brick** (default), **Deep**, **Pyramid**, **Pillow**, and **Frosted**, plus **Tile size**, **Distortion**, **Highlight**, **Prism**, and **Frost** controls.

![Glass block effect with Brick style and Tile size, Distortion, Highlight, Prism, Frost controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/glass-block-brick.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=440d916facf72246879042a83161393b)

Glass block in the Brick style with its five parameters

### Fluted — ribbed glass (Pro)

Grooved glass with an **Up** (vertical, default) or **Across** (horizontal) direction, plus **Groove width**, **Distortion**, **Highlight**, and **Frost**.

![Fluted glass effect with Up direction and groove controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/fluted.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=cd1be67f7aa66e8d0b7bbbeb4e1596a6)

Fluted with vertical (Up) grooves

### Cracked — shattered glass (Pro)

Set **Impacts** (number of impact points), **Intensity**, and **Frost**. Press the shuffle button next to Frost for a different crack pattern — "use the shuffle button to try a different pattern."

![Cracked glass effect with Impacts, Intensity, Frost controls and shuffle button](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/cracked.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=abbe2324b53d02e0c8a113d60543b529)

Cracked with Impacts 2, Intensity 0.8, and the shuffle button

### Stained — mosaic stained glass (Pro)

Four palettes: **Photo** (colors sampled from your image, default), **Amber**, **Ocean**, and **Festive**, with **Pieces**, **Lead width**, and **Coverage** controls and a shuffle button for new piece layouts.

![Stained glass effect with the Festive palette and Pieces, Lead width, Coverage controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/stained-festive.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=1c8ba275bd24f3f84fca8fdb7def9289)

Stained with the Festive palette selected

## Part D — Add the glassy image to your design

Press **Add to design** when you're happy. The app rebuilds the whole result at the photo's **original resolution** — no watermark — and adds the finished image to your page. Press **Cancel** to discard instead. The panel then returns to the Photo glass start screen, ready for your next image.

![The result added to the Canva page with two glass frames baked into the photo](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/add-to-design-result.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=1d5b2bb27534cc82b2718e519781ba9e)

The finished image on the page: a Stained rectangle and a heart frame

> [!NOTE]
>
> The result is a baked image, not a live effect layer — the app doesn't remember the settings of an image you added earlier. To change the glass, run the effect again from the original photo.

## Part E — Text glass: 3D glass lettering

**1. Switch to the Text glass tab**

No image needed here. The tab has a live preview at the top, a **Text** box (default "Glass"), **Font**, a **Bold** toggle, **Style** (Crystal / Neon), and the glass controls.

![Text glass tab showing the default Glass preview and controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/text-glass-tab.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=1ce865c65dcaa7a6d46c0b28c8b8b95b)

The Text glass tab with its default preview

**2. Type your text and pick a font**

Type into the **Text** box — multi-line text works. Click **Font** to scroll a list of 100+ Google fonts (Playfair Display is the default; Raleway, Inter, Roboto Condensed, Oswald, Roboto Mono, Noto Serif, Rubik and more — Vietnamese-friendly fonts included). Toggle **Bold** for heavier letterforms; if a font has no bold cut, the toggle locks.

**3. Style it: Crystal…**

**Crystal** is clear, embossed glass. Tune **Tint and opacity** (the glass body color and its transparency), **Depth and rim** (3D depth and edge lighting), and **Glow** (soft halo). The preview updates about a third of a second after each change.

![Crystal glass text GLASS in Rubik Bold with Tint, Depth and rim, Glow controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/text-glass-crystal.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=5e0e29f04b09062f2ef71c8c86cb403d)

GLASS in Rubik Bold, Crystal style

**4. …or Neon (Pro)**

Switch **Style** to **Neon** and the letters get a glowing color rim; a **Neon color** swatch appears — tap it to open Canva's color picker (design colors, Brand Kit, defaults). The same picker works on the **Tint and opacity** swatch to change the glass body color.

![Neon glass text style with the Neon color control](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/text-glass-neon.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=8097321547f07a1957eafabbe65f4a15)

Neon style adds a glowing rim and a Neon color swatch

**5. Add to design**

Press **Add to design**. The lettering is rendered as a **transparent PNG** and dropped onto your page — place it over any photo or background and resize it like a normal image.

![Neon glass text GLASS placed over a photo in the Canva design](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/glass-text-on-photo.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=8a403ecb6bdc245299ca7690f9373231)

The glass text sits on the photo like any image — background fully transparent

## Part F — Export design: apply glass to anything

Photo glass only reads images. To put glass on text, stickers, graphics, or a whole composed page:

**1. Press Export design on the Photo glass tab**

The button sits under "Select an image in your design", with the note *"Your design will be flattened and re-added so it can be detected as an image."*

![The Export design button on the Photo glass start screen](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/export-design.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=cd8cca7c39c8daa39fc7efc3bbd2b7ae)

Export design flattens the page into a single image

**2. Choose the export options**

A Canva-style export sheet opens: **File type** (PNG), **Size**, **Quality** (Compress / High / Limit size), **Transparent background**, and **Select pages** (All / This page / Custom), then **Export**.

![Export design options sheet with file type, size, quality and page selection](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/glass-maker/export-sheet.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=0fd143acf92a3b4443f9052afdc5c119)

The export sheet: PNG, size, quality, transparency, pages

> [!NOTE]
>
> Options marked with a crown (Size, Quality, Transparent background) are Canva options that may require Canva Pro. The app also recommends avoiding photos that were cropped or flipped inside Canva — use the original image for best results.

**3. Run the glass effect on the flattened image**

The flattened page is added back to your design as one image. Select it and press **Start glass effect** as usual.

## Free vs Glass Maker Pro

| Feature | Free | Glass Maker Pro |
| - | - | - |
| Glass frames per photo | 2 | 8 |
| Frame shapes | 6 basic (Rectangle, Pill, Circle, Ellipse, Triangle, Diamond) | + 6 organic (Hexagon, Star, Heart, Drop, Leaf, Petal) + shapes from your design |
| Effects | Frosted, Glass block (every style and slider) | + Fluted, Cracked, Stained |
| Text glass | Crystal, every font and slider | + Neon |
| Fine-tuning, Export design, full-res export, no watermark | ✓ | ✓ |

Everything stays previewable on the free plan — when a Pro feature is active, **Add to design** is replaced by an upgrade prompt, with an **I've upgraded — refresh Glass Maker** link for after purchase.

Pricing (via Lemon Squeezy, separate from Canva Pro): a **one-time lifetime purchase** or a **24-hour Day Pass** — see the [Glass Maker Pro page](https://www.qrdynamic.xyz/glassmaker-pro-canva) for current prices. There's no subscription to cancel.

## Tips & notes

* **The result is a baked image**, not a live effect — rerun the effect from the original photo to change it.
* **Photo glass has no glass tint.** The adjustable colors are the border (**Stroke**) and the glow (**Shadow**); tint lives in **Text glass**.
* **Glass block and Fluted follow the frame outline** — on curved or rotated frames the tiles are clipped along the edge, which is part of the look.
* **Stained is the heaviest effect**; very large photos take longer to rebuild on Add to design.
* **Ideas:** an Apple-style frosted pane under a headline; multi-frame glassmorphism mockups; fluted or stained posters for holidays; a heart or star frame to softly mask part of a photo; Crystal/Neon glass titles over photos.

Works well with [CreativeBG](https://qrdynamic.xyz) backgrounds to make the glass pop, [Image Merge](https://docs.qrdyai.com/image-merge/what-is-image-merge.md) for blended imagery, and [Text to Frames](https://docs.qrdyai.com/text-to-frames/what-is-text-to-frames.md) for photo-filled text.

## Frequently asked questions

> [accordion] Why can't I press Start glass effect?
>
> No image is selected. Click a photo on your page first — the app only detects image elements. For anything else, use **Export design** to flatten the page into an image.

> [accordion] Is the result editable afterwards?
>
> The output is a finished image. To adjust the glass, run the effect again from the original photo with new settings.

> [accordion] Does the free plan add a watermark?
>
> No. Free exports are full resolution and watermark-free — the free plan simply has fewer frames, shapes, and effects.

> [accordion] Is Glass Maker Pro a subscription?
>
> No. It's a one-time lifetime purchase (or an optional 24-hour Day Pass) — nothing auto-renews, and the license is tied to your Canva account.

> [accordion] Can I buy Pro on mobile?
>
> Canva doesn't show payment links on some devices (for example iOS). Open Glass Maker in Canva on a desktop browser to upgrade, then press the refresh link in the app.


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