> ## 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.

# Image Merge Complete Guide

> The full walkthrough of Image Merge for Canva: masks (44 shapes, design shapes, images, text), backgrounds (design, image, gradient), all 17 blend effects, and bulk merge.

This is the complete, step-by-step guide to [Image Merge](https://docs.qrdyai.com/image-merge/what-is-image-merge.md): choosing a **mask**, choosing a **background**, picking one of the **17 effects**, fine-tuning position and color, and merging — one image at a time or in bulk.

![Image Merge panel in Canva showing the full layout from Preview to Merge images](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/panel-overview.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=3b692a39184bf1c349f439b3f4ce2250)

The Image Merge panel: Preview, Effect, Mask type, Background type, and Merge images

## The panel at a glance

Open Image Merge from the left sidebar in Canva (or search for it in **Apps**). The panel is one scrolling column:

1. **Preview** — pinned at the top; what you see is exactly what gets merged.
2. **Effect** — a carousel of 17 blend-effect thumbnails.
3. **Mask type** — Shape / Image / Text tabs: the shape that cuts the result.
4. **Background type** — From Design / Image / Gradient tabs: what gets poured in.
5. **Merge images** — the purple button at the bottom, with your plan status line above it.

Each section collapses with the arrow in its corner.

## Part A — Choose a mask

### Shape tab: 44 built-in masks

Tap a shape in the **System** row — the selected shape gets a purple outline and the Preview changes immediately. Use the `›` arrow to scroll the row.

![Heart shape selected as mask with the preview showing a heart-cropped image](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/mask-shape-heart.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=de2576bf94bdf2b17dba0721b0244313)

The heart mask selected in the System row — the Preview updates instantly

Press **See all (44)** to open the full 4-column grid. Scroll down for the artistic masks — brush strokes, ink splats, torn paper, hexagons, leaves, mushrooms, butterflies and more. Tap a shape to pick it, or press `←` to go back.

![The All masks grid showing 44 built-in mask shapes](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/all-masks-44.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=8a80da5db13aae95fdba87bcc88ad317)

All masks (44): the full grid with artistic shapes further down

### From Design: shapes on your page

Right below System sits **From Design**. If the page has no shapes yet, the app shows "No masks found in design" — add a vector shape (**Elements → Shapes**), press **Reload**, and the shape appears as a selectable mask. A rotated shape keeps its rotation as a mask.

![From Design section with the No masks found message and Reload button](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/mask-from-design.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=5a8ff375a37777105f04e52a2aad21b4)

From Design with the Reload button — scan shapes you've added to the page

### Image tab: a picture as the mask (Pro)

Select an image on your page and press **Use selected image** — the app recommends *"use an image with a clear shape and transparent background"* (a logo, a cutout subject). The chosen image shows as a thumbnail; **Remove selection** clears it.

![Mask type Image tab with Use selected image button](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/mask-image-tab.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=75b58b66723f635a0d74d7300482968e)

Image tab: Use selected image with the transparent-background recommendation

### Text tab: type a mask (Pro)

Type into **Enter text to use as shape** (sample text: YOUR TEXT), toggle **B** (bold) or **I** (italic), pick a **Font** (Roboto, Open Sans, Montserrat, Inter, Roboto Condensed, Roboto Mono…), and set **Letter spacing**.

![Mask type Text tab with text input, bold and italic buttons, font and letter spacing](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/mask-text-tab.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=43f0b9c3ee7fbd25cbd741e39b68068b)

The Text tab: text box, B / I buttons, Font, and Letter spacing

![Text mask HELLO in bold Montserrat shown in the preview](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/mask-text-hello.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=b0f4fad593b92aa996f39fd01f00599b)

HELLO in Montserrat Bold as the mask

## Part B — Choose a background

### From Design: an image on your page

The **From Design** tab lists every image on the current page — tap one to pour it into the mask. Added a new photo? Press **Reload**.

![Background From Design tab with the Reload button](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/background-from-design.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=ed8b6d78f2815ffc2b507ef787330c81)

Background type → From Design, with Reload to rescan the page

### Image: selected image or the flattened page

Press **Use selected image** after clicking a photo on the page — or press **Export design** to flatten the entire page (text, stickers, graphics and all) into one image and use that as the background.

![Background Image tab with Use selected image and Export design buttons](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/background-image-export.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=361b82c73adefba8be12e58664c22f23)

Background type → Image: Use selected image or Export design

Until a background is chosen, the Preview shows "Background image required". As soon as you pick one, the mask fills with it:

![Preview showing the HELLO text mask filled with a photo](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/preview-hello-filled.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=13f9829a3c75362edb27d7e60449752f)

The HELLO text mask filled with the selected photo

### Gradient: Linear or Radial

Build a gradient instead of using a photo. **Linear** has an **Angle** slider (0–360); **Radial** radiates from the center and has no angle. Each color stop has a swatch and a position (0–100); **+ Add color** adds more stops.

![Gradient background with Linear type, Angle slider, color stops and Add color button](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/gradient-linear.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=749f24efef077089a895ff575f531ac4)

A Linear gradient at 90° with two color stops

## Part C — Pick one of the 17 effects

Scroll the **Effect** carousel with the `‹ ›` arrows. Every effect has a parrot thumbnail so you can compare them at a glance: **Mask, Double exposure, Darken, Multiply, Color burn, Lighten, Screen, Color dodge, Overlay, Soft light, Hard light, Difference, Exclusion, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity**.

![The Effect carousel showing blend effect thumbnails at different scroll positions](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/effects-carousel.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=020ef8aa945d6beb4c70398cb08f55db)

Scrolling the 17 effect thumbnails

* **Mask** is the clean cut — the background simply fills the shape.
* **Double exposure** is the classic portrait-meets-landscape blend with a soft, vintage light.
* The rest mirror Photoshop blend modes for darkening (**Darken, Multiply, Color burn**), lightening (**Lighten, Screen, Color dodge**), contrast (**Overlay, Soft light, Hard light**), comparison (**Difference, Exclusion**), and color mixing (**Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity**).

![Multiply effect selected, darkening the image inside the heart mask](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/effect-multiply.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=4766c92672561a0a8e0d63703d84c66e)

Multiply: the image inside the heart darkens

![Double exposure effect applied to the heart mask](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/effect-double-exposure.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=41c4ada6ca96018ae4e89cb8350ef017)

Double exposure: a soft, bright overlay blend

> [!TIP]
>
> Blend effects show their differences most clearly when the **mask is a color image** (Image tab). With silhouette masks (shapes and text), many effects differ mainly in tone.

### Adjustment controls

The controls under the carousel change with the selected effect:

| Control | What it does |
| - | - |
| **Intensity** | Strength of the blend, shown as 0–1 (Double exposure defaults to 0.6) |
| **Black & white** | Converts the mask image to monochrome before blending |
| **Invert** | Inverts the mask — available on Darken and similar effects |
| **Tint color** | Washes the result in a color — tap the swatch to open Canva's color picker |
| **Swap layers** | Flips which layer sits on top (Overlay, Soft/Hard light, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity…) |

![Intensity slider and Black and white toggle in the effect controls](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/intensity-bw.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=6dea3ce9d596cbb9ff4a9ff347435a17)

Intensity and the Black & white toggle

![Swap layers toggle and Tint color swatch with an orange tint selected](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/swap-tint.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=a498afd4bf40597f5f226d992d813fae)

Swap layers and Tint color — here an orange tint for a duotone look

## Part D — Position the background inside the shape

Tick **Adjust position manually** under the Preview to open the **Control** section:

* **Snap** tab — nine arrow buttons to push the background to a corner, an edge, or the center of the mask.
* **Adjust** tab — type exact **Position X/Y** offsets and a **Scale** value (for example 0.59) to zoom the background in or out inside the shape.

![Adjust position manually with the Snap tab and nine alignment arrows](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/snap-controls.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=6c022232b2c1d94f4a60b066ab50f3ec)

Snap: nine quick-align buttons

![The Adjust tab with Position X, Position Y and Scale fields](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/adjust-position.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=f560426ce6584e64b6d48f00af7ffcd5)

Adjust: exact Position X/Y and Scale

## Part E — Merge

Press **Merge images**. The merged result — a transparent PNG cut exactly to the mask — is added to your page and selected, ready to move, resize, and layer like any image.

![Merged image added to the Canva page after pressing Merge images](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/merge-result.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=49c2c0b1135d9df0f6965542a8e7d0e9)

The merged heart lands on the page, cut to shape with a transparent background

The panel keeps all your settings after merging, so you can change one thing — the shape, the effect, the background — and merge again for another variant. Every merge creates a new image; earlier ones stay untouched.

## Part F — Bulk merge (Pro)

Combine several masks with the same background in one click:

**1. Select multiple masks**

In the Shape tab, tap additional shapes. A **"2 selected"** badge appears next to System with a **Clear** button, the Preview becomes **Preview (2 merges)** as a grid, and the bottom button becomes **Merge 2 images**.

![Bulk merge with two masks selected showing the 2 selected badge and grid preview](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/bulk-two-masks.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=0d3af3ecb2778789ce1ba200dade0e45)

Two masks selected: the badge, Clear button, grid preview, and Merge 2 images

**2. Keep tuning as usual**

The same effect, adjustments, and background apply to every combination — the grid preview updates live.

**3. Press Merge n images**

Every mask × background combination is merged and the results are laid out on your page. Up to 50 combinations per run.

![Two merged images laid out on the Canva page after a bulk merge](https://mintcdn.com/qrdy/Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3/images/image-merge/bulk-result.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Fr3fOtk2W6pUdOZ3\&q=85\&s=0bcd882b5fdee13245b65de587dbe630)

Bulk result: the heart and circle merges placed on the page together

**4. Back to single mode**

Press **Clear** next to the badge to drop the multi-selection — the button returns to **Merge images**.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Multi-select works within one list (for example several System shapes). Text and Gradient stay single-select, and in bulk mode the position control keeps the Snap tab only.

## Free vs Image Merge Pro

| Feature | Free | Image Merge Pro |
| - | - | - |
| 44 built-in shapes + shapes from your design | ✓ | ✓ |
| All backgrounds (From design, Image, Export design, Gradient) | ✓ | ✓ |
| All 17 effects + adjustment controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manual positioning (Snap, Adjust) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transparent image from design as mask | — | ✓ |
| Uploaded masks and text masks | — | ✓ |
| Bulk merge (up to 50 combinations) | — | ✓ |

See the [Image Merge Pro page](https://qrdynamic.xyz/image-merge-pro-canva) for current pricing. Image Merge Pro is separate from Canva Pro.

## Tips & notes

* **The result is a baked PNG**, not a live effect — to change it, adjust the settings (they're kept after each merge) and merge again.
* **Preview = result.** The pinned preview matches the exported image exactly.
* **Blend effects pop with color-image masks**; silhouette masks mostly change in tone between effects.
* **Export design** is the move when your background should be a whole composed page — text, stickers, graphics included.
* **Ideas:** double exposure portraits (portrait mask + landscape background), product photos in hearts/circles/t-shirts, photo-filled words as hero titles, bulk mood boards and sticker sheets from one background.

Works well with [Glass Maker](https://docs.qrdyai.com/glass-maker/what-is-glass-maker.md) to add glass over merged images, and [Image to Frames](https://docs.qrdyai.com/image-to-frames/what-is-image-to-frames.md) when you need a refillable Canva frame instead of a baked image.

## Frequently asked questions

> [accordion] Is the merged image editable afterwards?
>
> The output is a finished PNG, not a live effect. To change it, adjust the settings in the panel and merge again — your previous settings are kept.

> [accordion] Why doesn't my design's shape show up under From Design?
>
> The app scans when it loads. After adding a shape or image to the page, press **Reload** in the Mask or Background section.

> [accordion] What's the difference between Image Merge and a Canva frame?
>
> A Canva frame stays editable but offers no blend modes. Image Merge bakes the image into the shape with any of 17 blend effects and a transparent background. If you need a reusable Canva frame, see [Image to Frames](https://docs.qrdyai.com/image-to-frames/what-is-image-to-frames.md).

> [accordion] Which features need Image Merge Pro?
>
> Image masks, uploaded masks, text masks, and bulk merge are Pro. The 44 shapes, design shapes, all backgrounds, all 17 effects, and manual positioning are free.


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