How To Create A Spotlight Effect In Canva - Blogging Guide

How to Create a Spotlight Effect in Canva

Written by Casey Botticello

June 30, 2022

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Sometimes, when creating a graphic design, you want to add flair or underscore the tone that a certain image conveys. If you want to help an image standout, using Canva to create a glow effect that outlines the image, can be a great option. This Canva tutorial will teach you how to create a glow effect in Canva, in just a few, simple steps!

How to Create a Spotlight Effect in Canva

1. Select Your Image

Search for a good picture. Here we searched for the ‘Man Posing’ keyword in the ‘Photos’ section. Set it as your background.

2. Choose Your Frame

Search for the ‘Frames’ in the ‘Elements’ section and put the circle frame over the image. Make sure to cover the areas you want to add the spotlight effect.

3. Adjust Image Positioning

Now fit the photo in the circle frame to blend with the original image.

4. Edit Image Settings

Go to ‘Edit Image’ and apply these settings.

• Brightness – 15
• Contrast – 5
• Saturation – 5
• Blur – -5
• Vignette – 50
• Clarity – 3
• Shadow – -20

And lock the frame.

5. Place Shape Over the Image

Go to the ‘Elements’ section and search for the Shape. Select the square. Make the color of the shape black and put it over the whole page. And place it the backward once.

6. Search for Blurred Circle

Get a new page and search for the ‘ Circle blurred shadow frame’ and place it over the whole page.

7. Edit Your Image Using Duotone Effects

Now put the DuoTone – Classic effect on the shape. With all white colors.

8. Adjust Image Settings

Make the background black, so you can see the shape in white. Make a copy of the shape. Apply the following settings to the first shape.

• Brightness – 100
• Saturation – 100
• Blur – -100
• Warmth – 100
• Clarity – 100
• Viberance – 100
• Highlights – 100
• Shadows – -100

9. Adjust Image Positioning

Put the circle over the image and put it backward.

10. Adjust Image Size

Put the second circle over the frame. Make it a little bigger.

11. Align Images

Now place the same image again and apply the following settings.

• Brightness – -25
• Contrast – 25
• Saturation – 40
• Vignette – 100

Make the transparency – 45 and place it over the whole image.

Conclusion

Canva is an amazing graphic design tool, and I hope you found this tutorial covering how to create a spotlight effect in Canva, useful! Click here to read our comprehensive Canva Guide. If you are interested in downloading Canva or trying Canva Pro for free, click here. Below are several related Canva tutorials that you might find useful:

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