Master Canva’s Element Tab – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
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Master Canva’s Element Tab – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

By Sawan Kumar
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Struggling to Make Your Canva Designs Pop? You’re Not Alone

Whether you’re designing social media posts, sales funnels, pitch decks, or ads — you’ve likely felt the frustration of making your visuals look “just right.” You want to make a lasting impression, but instead, you waste time hunting for assets, adjusting visuals, or starting from scratch.

If that sounds familiar, the Canva Elements Tab is your secret weapon.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to master Canva’s Element Tab, so you can create scroll-stopping designs, save hours, and drive real results — even if you’re not a designer.

What Is the Elements Tab in Canva?

The Elements Tab is Canva’s all-in-one library of customizable visual assets — from basic shapes to complex charts and AI-generated images.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

  • Shapes, Lines, and Icons

  • Graphics and Illustrations

  • Photos and Videos

  • Charts and Graphs

  • Frames and Grids

  • Stickers and Animations

  • AI Tools (like Image Generator and Magic Design)

  • Tables and Smart Mockups

Whether you’re building a brand kit, designing a product launch deck, or creating content for Instagram, the Elements tab is where most of your visual firepower comes from.

Why Should You Care?

If you're a marketing agency owner, SaaS founder, or local business owner, your visuals are often the first impression.

Mastering the Elements tab allows you to:

  • Design faster and smarter without relying on a designer

  • Keep branding consistent with reusable graphics

  • Visualize data with charts and infographics

  • Automate your content creation process with AI tools

  • Build high-converting creatives for funnels, ads, and lead magnets

Let’s dive into how to use each feature effectively.


1. Start With the Search Bar (Your Best Friend)

At the top of the Elements tab, you’ll find a powerful search bar.

Search for anything — “gradient background,” “eco icons,” “pricing table,” or “blue arrows.” Canva auto-suggests and categorizes results into:

  • Graphics

  • Photos

  • Videos

  • Audio

  • Stickers

  • Charts

  • Frames

  • Grids

💡 Pro Tip:

Use filters like “Free”, “Animated”, “Color”, or “Orientation” to narrow down results. This is especially useful for finding brand-consistent assets quickly.


2. Shapes, Lines, and Icons – Build Better Layouts

Need a callout box, underline, divider, or checklist tick?

Canva’s basic elements are incredibly versatile:

  • Shapes – Use for buttons, banners, callouts, backgrounds

  • Lines – Separate content visually, guide reader attention

  • Icons – Add minimal but clear visual context

These can be resized, rotated, colored, and layered to build clean and functional layouts.


3. Graphics, Stickers & Illustrations – Add Personality

Want your brand to stand out? Use illustrative graphics or animated stickers to infuse fun, emotion, or brand tone.

  • Use hand-drawn illustrations for an organic feel

  • Add animated stickers to emphasize CTAs on social media posts

  • Mix in seasonal or thematic graphics for time-sensitive campaigns

👉 Case Study:
One SaaS founder added animated "✨Free Trial✨" stickers to their ad creatives, increasing CTR by 28%.


4. Photos & Videos – Access Thousands of Stock Assets

No need to pay extra for stock libraries. Canva gives access to:

  • High-quality stock photos

  • Video clips for reels and promos

  • Transparent PNGs

Use Canva’s “Background Remover” or “Magic Grab” to isolate subjects and create product mockups or lifestyle posts fast.


5. Frames and Grids – Auto-Resize Like a Pro

Frames and grids let you:

  • Drag-and-drop images into perfect shapes (circles, phones, laptops)

  • Auto-format multi-image collages or slides

  • Maintain symmetry and alignment

These are game-changers for presentation decks, testimonials, and before-after visuals.


6. Charts, Tables & Infographics – Simplify Data

Use Charts to turn numbers into engaging visuals:

  • Line charts, bar charts, donut graphs, and more

  • Customize colors, values, labels, and themes

  • Drag data directly from CSV files

Tables are great for side-by-side comparisons, pricing packages, or product specs.


7. Smart Mockups – Instantly Create Product Visuals

Highlight your digital product, app, or ebook by:

  • Uploading your design

  • Choosing from dozens of realistic mockups (iPhones, T-shirts, books)

  • Exporting instantly

Great for landing pages, lead magnets, Etsy listings, and Facebook ads.


8. AI Image Generator – Original Visuals in Seconds

No stock image fits your need? Describe it.

Use the Text-to-Image tool:

  • “An astronaut drinking coffee on Mars in 3D cartoon style”

  • “A female coach in front of a whiteboard, pastel theme”

Perfect for creating scroll-stopping, on-brand visuals no one else is using.


Real-World Use Cases

Marketing Agency Owner

Create a client proposal using charts, mockups, icons, and frames — all within 15 minutes. Add animation and export as a video.

SaaS Founder

Use icons, flow charts, and mockups to build pitch decks and landing pages that convert. Drop in testimonials in frames for proof.

Local Business Owner

Create flyers, Instagram Reels covers, menus, and seasonal promos using ready-made graphics and frames in your brand colors.


How to Stay Organized: Use Folders and Favorites

Avoid the chaos.

Click the three dots beside any element and “Add to Folder”
✅ Use Star icon to add to Favorites
✅ Create design systems with custom collections for each client or product line


Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overloading graphics – Less is more. Avoid visual noise.

  • Ignoring hierarchy – Use size, color, and space to guide the viewer.

  • Not saving favorites – You’ll waste time finding that “perfect” graphic again.


Conclusion: Elements Tab = Your Growth Weapon

If you’re serious about growing your MRR, getting more clients, or automating your brand visuals — mastering Canva’s Elements tab is non-negotiable.

It’s not just about design. It’s about:

  • Saving time

  • Creating consistency

  • Boosting conversion

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