Sometimes the simplest things can drive you crazy – like trying to figure out how to make a thin rectangle in Canva.
Yes, seriously.
I use a few different services to create web graphics for my blog. The PicMonkey photo editor is one of my favorites – and so is Canva.
But for the longest time, I could not find a tool in Canva's arsenal that I could use to create a thin rectangle outline.
So, I did what anyone would do and sent them a message on Facebook.
They pointed me in the right direction, although there is still one little caveat which I will show you.
The Thin Green Rectangle
To find the right element, type “rectangle frame” in the search box in Canva.
Then scroll down until you see the thin green rectangle. Don't choose the white rectangles with “filling” because you will be prompted to drop in a picture.
Click on the thin green rectangle and it will be added to your canvas.
You can click on the little color button in the upper right hand corner of your Canva project to change to color of the thin green rectangle to something that matches your design.
Border Too Thick?
This is where I always ran into trouble. I wanted the border to be thinner than pictured – and I couldn't figure out how to do it.
Well, it was so ridiculously easy, that I am embarrassed to even say it.
All I had to do was grab the corner sizing dot (for lack of a better word) – and drag it to make the rectangle smaller.
As the the rectangle became smaller, the lines became thinner.
Then all I had to do, was grab the sizing dot on the side and pull the rectangle bigger.
As I did this, the line remained thin, it did not once again get thicker.
Watch the Video Tutorial
I think it is easier if you watch it in action, my words are not doing this justice.
Did You Know How to Make a Thin Rectangle in Canva?
Please tell me that I am not the only one having trouble figuring out how to make a thin rectangle in Canva (sheepish grin).
And make me feel better by pinning the image below, in case I am.
What are some of things that have you perplexed in Canva? Share in the comments below.
Find more tips and tutorials for creating website graphics here.
Hannah says
I went to elements, searched rectangle frame… and was not able to find the thin green rectangle! Any other suggestions to find this? Thanks!
Vicky says
Ohh my heck! Thank you SO SO much!
You are right. Sometimes it is the simplest things that elude us.
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Vicky,
You are welcome!
Nicole says
Thank you SO much for sharing this. It has been immensely helpful!
Neena Nandagopal says
You are welcome!
Ali says
THANK YOU!!!!! So incredibly helpful!
Neena Nandagopal says
You are welcome!
Stacy Covitz says
Lifesaver!!! Or Huge timesaver!! Thank you so much!
Neena Nandagopal says
Stacy,
You are welcome!
Paul says
Perfect – you just saved my sanity!
Neena Nandagopal says
Yay! So glad it helped. 🙂
Kam says
This is genius! Thank you… Canva is generally intuitive, but this feature was not! I’m repeating what everyone else said, but this is a great tip 🙂
Neena Nandagopal says
Thanks, Kam!
Brenda says
Ah, THANK YOU!! This made me so mad for the longest time!
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Brenda,
You are welcome!
Wendi Hay says
Wow! Thank you !!!! 🙂
What about a box with a partial line erased, like half of the middle bottom line erased to insert a logo.
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Wendi,
So, I was not able to find a rectangle with a partial bottom line.
But I did create the first image shown below using the rectangle element from this post and a circle frame placed on the bottom line.
I put my logo in the circle frame as an example. The thing with frames on Canva is that you cannot insert an image with a transparent background or cut out type pictures. So I used a jpg of my logo that had a white background.
I used the same technique on the second image below using a white background on the whole photo to match the white background in the logo, then I added a word overlay with a transparent background to make the logo look like it is floating. However, if the words get too close to the frame, then the white background from the frame overlaps on the words and you can see it – which is not what you want.
It is a kind of convoluted process to get the look you are going for – but I guess it can be done.
Shakti says
Thank you Neena!!! why so hard canva? everything else is so easy
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Shakti,
Happy to help. 🙂
Ugo says
Thanks I thought I was resigned to creating my template on word.doc as I could not figure it out myself. I even tried editing one of their template but the rectangle was still too thick. Time saving! 😀
Wendy Neal says
I was absolutely pulling my hair out trying to figure this out! You just saved me a bunch of time – and from going bald 🙂
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Wendy,
So happy to have helped you save your hair. 😉 It usually is little things like this that cause the most frustration.
Steven Thrasher says
Thank you!
That was as intuitive as quantum mechanics. I’ve been searching for a solution for DAYS!
#Canva — you listening?
All the best, Steve
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Steven,
Glad to help!
John says
I had searched high and low for a way to do this in canva but nothing intuitive showed up. I don’t understand for the life of me why they don’t make it easy to put a thin border around an image. It’s something I need to do all the time for white background images. Thanks so much. I may notify them to come up with an option.
Even your option, which makes total sense now, wasn’t super intuitive (in terms of making it thinner). But I’m glad you took the trouble to figure it out. Thanks again.
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi John,
You are right – it’s not intuitive. It took me awhile to find what I was looking for and did have to reach out to Canva to get the exact element.
At least we know that there is a way to make it happen. 🙂
Heather says
I have wasted so much time trying to figure this out! Thank you so much for this post. I have bookmarked it in case I forget how to do this.
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Heather,
Glad to help. 🙂
luella says
Hi Neena,
This has also been driving me nuts. Do you have any suggestions about how to do this for circles? There are only 4 corner dots on a circle and although the line does get thinner when you make the circle smaller. It gets thicker again when the size of the circle is increased.
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Luella,
As far as circles in Canva go – the best thing I could find is this:
In the search box type in the words – thin circle outline.
About 11 rows down you will see a thin orange circle that seems to stay relatively thin when you resize it.
Comment back and let me know what you think!
luella says
Genius! That worked perfectly, thank you so much 😃
Neena Nandagopal says
You are welcome!
Sarah says
HA! You have NO idea how long i have faffed about trying to do this on Canva. A quick google and up your tutorial popped. THANK you 🙂
Neena Nandagopal says
Hi Sarah,
That’s why I posted it – I went through the same frustration. Happy to have helped!