If you’ve ever wanted to turn your own words into custom text frames in Canva, this tutorial will show you two different ways to do it using the Text to Frame app and the Type Cut Out app inside Canva.
Instead of being limited to the text frames already available in Canva Elements, these tools give you more flexibility to create custom words and phrases that you can fill with photos, patterns, digital paper, or other graphics.
In this tutorial, I walk through both methods so you can see how each one works and decide which option fits your design best.
Watch the full tutorial below to follow along step by step.
Method 1: Create a Text Frame with the Text to Frame App
The first method uses Canva’s Text to Frame app.
This tool allows you to enter your own wording and turn that text into a functional Canva frame.
Once your text frame is created, you can drag a photo, pattern, or other image directly into the letters just like you would with any other Canva frame.
In the tutorial, I show you how to:
- Open the Text to Frame app
- Enter your custom wording
- Generate the text frame
- Add the frame to your design
- Fill the letters with your own image or pattern
This is a quick way to create custom text fills without having to build every letter individually.
Method 2: Create Custom Text with the Type Cut Out App
Next, I demonstrate the Type Cut Out app.
This gives you another way to create custom text based designs inside Canva and is especially helpful when you want more control over the look of your typography.
I walk through how to create your text, bring it into your design, and use it as part of a custom filled text effect.
Trying both apps is a great way to see which workflow you prefer for different types of projects.
Fill Your Text with Patterns, Photos, or Digital Paper
Once your custom text frame is created, the fun part begins.
You can experiment with:
- Digital paper
- Seamless patterns
- Photos
- Textures
- Seasonal graphics
- School spirit designs
- Holiday patterns
Simply drag your image into the frame and reposition it until the fill looks exactly the way you want.
This makes it easy to create completely different designs from the same word or phrase just by changing the image inside the letters.
Why Create Your Own Text Frames?
Custom text frames give you much more freedom than relying only on premade frames.
You can use them to create:
- Personalized designs
- Trendy patterned text
- School spirit graphics
- Holiday designs
- Etsy digital products
- POD artwork
- Custom Canva templates
Once you understand the process, you can quickly experiment with different words, fonts, colors, and pattern fills.
Final Thoughts
If you love the look of pattern filled text but want more control over the wording you use, learning how to make your own custom text frames in Canva is a great skill to have.
The Text to Frame and Type Cut Out apps give you two simple options for creating text-based designs without having to leave Canva.
Try both methods and see which one works best for your design style!
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