How to Resize an Element Without Aspect Ratio in Canva

Resizing elements in Canva while maintaining their aspect ratio is easy. But sometimes, you need more control and want to resize an element without preserving its aspect ratio. This opens up creative possibilities by letting you stretch, squeeze, and distort elements like shapes, text, and images. In this post, we’ll explore what aspect ratio is, when you may want to resize without it in Canva, and step-by-step instructions to resize elements without aspect ratio.

You’ll also learn tips like using the shift key, unlocking the aspect ratio lock, and entering precise dimensions. With this guide, you’ll gain total control over resizing elements in Canva to create unique layouts, typography, and effects.

Whether you want funky shapes, fitting text, or distorted images, resizing without aspect ratio in Canva gives you the freedom to break design “rules” and get creative.

What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?

Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of an element. For example, a square has an aspect ratio of 1:1, meaning that its width and height are equal. A rectangle has an aspect ratio of 2:1, meaning that its width is twice as long as its height. An element’s aspect ratio affects how it looks and how it fits in your design.

By default, Canva preserves the aspect ratio of an element when you resize it. This means that the element’s width and height change proportionally, keeping the same shape and appearance. This is useful for maintaining the quality and consistency of your design, especially when you resize images, photos, or logos.

However, there are some cases where you might want to resize an element without aspect ratio in Canva. For example, you might want to:

• Create a custom shape: You can use the Shapes tool in Canva to create various shapes, such as circles, triangles, stars, and more. But you can also customize these shapes by resizing them without aspect ratio, creating new and unique shapes that suit your design.
• Adjust the text size and alignment: You can use the Text tool in Canva to add various types of text, such as headings, subheadings, paragraphs, and more. But you can also adjust the text size and alignment by resizing it without aspect ratio, creating more space or emphasis for your text.
• Crop or distort an image: You can use the Photos tool in Canva to add various images, such as stock photos, illustrations, icons, and more. But you can also crop or distort an image by resizing it without aspect ratio, creating a different perspective or effect for your image.

How to Resize an Element Without Aspect Ratio in Canva

Resizing an element without aspect ratio in Canva is very easy and only takes a few steps. However, before you do that, make sure that you are happy with the element’s appearance, as resizing it without aspect ratio might affect its quality or clarity.

Here is how to resize an element without aspect ratio in Canva:

• Step 1: Log in to your Canva account and open the design that you want to edit. Alternatively, you can create a new design from scratch or choose from one of the templates available in Canva.
• Step 2: Select the element that you want to resize without aspect ratio. You can do this by clicking on the element or dragging a selection box around it. A blue border and blue handles will appear around the element, indicating that it is selected.
• Step 3: To resize the element without aspect ratio, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and drag one of the blue handles on the element’s border. You can drag any of the handles, depending on which direction you want to resize the element. For example, you can drag the top or bottom handle to resize the element vertically, or the left or right handle to resize the element horizontally. You can also drag the corner handles to resize the element diagonally. As you drag the handle, the element’s width and height will change independently, without keeping the same aspect ratio.
• Step 4: To confirm the resizing, release the Shift key and the mouse button. The element will be resized without aspect ratio, and you can see the changes in your design. You can also use the Undo or Redo buttons on the top left corner of the screen to revert or repeat the resizing, if you are not satisfied with the result.
• Step 5: To exit the resizing mode, click anywhere outside the element or press the Esc key on your keyboard. The blue border and white handles will disappear, indicating that the element is deselected. You can now continue working on your design or save and download it as usual.

Tips and Tricks for Resizing an Element Without Aspect Ratio in Canva

Besides resizing an element without aspect ratio in Canva, there are some other tips and tricks that you can use to enhance your design and make it more appealing. For example:

• Use the lock icon to toggle the aspect ratio: If you want to switch between resizing an element with or without aspect ratio, you can use the lock icon on the position menu. When the lock is closed, the element’s aspect ratio is preserved. When the lock is open, the element’s aspect ratio is ignored. You can click on the lock icon to toggle it on or off, depending on your preference.
• Use the arrow keys to nudge the element: If you want to adjust the element’s position slightly, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to nudge it up, down, left, or right. This can help you align the element with other elements in your design or create a more balanced layout.
• Use the crop tool to crop an image: If you want to crop an image without resizing it, you can use the crop tool on the top right corner of the image’s border. When you click on the crop tool, a gray border and white handles will appear around the image, indicating the cropping area. You can drag the handles to adjust the cropping area, and click on the Done button to confirm the cropping. This will remove the parts of the image that are outside the cropping area, without changing the image’s size or aspect ratio.

Conclusion

Canva is a great tool for creating amazing designs, but sometimes you might want to resize an element without aspect ratio. This can help you create custom shapes, adjust the text size and alignment, or crop or distort an image. To do that, just follow the simple steps that we have shown you in this article, and you’ll be able to resize any element without aspect ratio in Canva.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. And if you want to learn more about Canva and how to use it effectively, check out our other articles on this website. Thanks for reading!

FAQs

What is the difference between resizing and scaling an element in Canva?

Resizing and scaling an element in Canva are similar actions, but they have different effects on the element’s aspect ratio. Resizing an element means changing its width and height independently, without keeping the same aspect ratio. Scaling an element means changing its width and height proportionally, keeping the same aspect ratio.

How can I resize multiple elements at once in Canva?

You can resize multiple elements at once in Canva by selecting them and dragging one of the white handles on the group’s border. However, this will resize the elements with aspect ratio, not without. If you want to resize multiple elements without aspect ratio, you have to do it one by one, holding down the Shift key and dragging the handle.

How can I reset the aspect ratio of an element in Canva?

You can reset the aspect ratio of an element in Canva by using undo button.

How can I resize an element by entering exact dimensions in Canva?

You can resize an element by entering exact dimensions in Canva by clicking on the element and typing the desired width and height in the Size fields on the position menu. You can also use the + and – buttons to increase or decrease the size by 1 pixel. However, this will resize the element with aspect ratio, not without. If you want to resize an element without aspect ratio by entering exact dimensions, you have to do it manually, holding down the Shift key and dragging the handle.

Last modified: February 27, 2024