How to Blur Background in Canva to Create Beautiful Designs

Learn how to blur background in Canva to make your subject stand out, add depth, and design cleaner graphics for social posts or presentations. Alternatively, try CapCut's background blur to highlight focus and add depth to your videos.

how to blur background in canva
CapCut
CapCut
Jun 16, 2025

Blurring the background in your design can instantly elevate its visual impact, helping your subject stand out while adding a touch of depth and professionalism. Canva makes this easy, even if you're not a seasoned designer. With just a few clicks, you can soften busy backgrounds, draw attention to key elements, or create a dreamy atmosphere that enhances your message. Whether you're designing social media posts, presentations, or invitations, the blur tool in Canva offers a quick way to improve clarity and focus.

In this article, we'll walk you through simple steps on how to blur background in Canva and create stunning visual designs.

Table of content
  1. Can you blur the background in Canva
  2. Benefits of using Canva to blur the background
  3. How to blur the video background with elements in Canva
  4. Unique ideas to use blurred backgrounds in Canva
  5. Another offline & efficient way to blur the background in videos: CapCut
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Can you blur the background in Canva

Yes, Canva enables you to blur the background of any image using its built-in editing tools. You can either apply a manual blur effect or use the Background Remover (Pro feature) to isolate the subject before blurring. This gives you full control over how soft or intense the blur appears. The feature works well for photos, thumbnails, and promotional designs. Below we will take a detailed look at how to make background blur in Canva.

Benefits of using Canva to blur the background

Blurring the background in Canva not only enhances your visuals but also makes design editing more accessible and efficient. Here's why using Canva for background blur can be a smart choice:

  • Simple interface

Canva offers an intuitive layout that allows you to blur backgrounds with minimal steps. Even first-time users can navigate the tools without confusion.

  • Focus enhancement

Blurring the background helps your main subject pop by reducing distractions. This technique is great for product photos, portraits, and promotional designs.

  • No skill needed

You don't need design training to use Canva’s blur tools. The process is straightforward, making it easy for anyone to create polished visuals.

  • Social media ready

Blurred backgrounds give a professional touch that fits perfectly with platform aesthetics. Your designs will look clean, stylish, and more engaging.

  • Desktop/mobile access

Canva lets you edit designs from both mobile and desktop devices. This flexibility ensures you can make quick adjustments on the go or at your workspace.

How to blur the video background with elements in Canva

Blurring the background of a video in Canva helps bring focus to your subject and gives your content a clean, polished look. Canva's built-in editor lets you do this without needing advanced editing skills. Here's how to blur the video background on Canva in a few simple steps:

    STEP 1
  1. Upload your video

Start by selecting the "Video" template from Canva’s homepage or by clicking "Create a Design" > "Video". Then upload your own clip or use a stock video from Canva's library.

Creating a new design to blur the video background in Canva
    STEP 2
  1. Add a blur overlay from Elements

Go to the "Elements" tab, type "Blur" in the search bar, and choose a suitable blurry shape or gradient overlay. Place it over the background areas of your video that you want to soften.

Applying overlay from elements to blur background n Canva
    STEP 3
  1. Adjust size, timing, and positioning

Resize and reposition the blur overlay to fit the background. Click on the timeline, hit the three dots, and choose "Show element timing" to sync the blur effect with specific parts of your video for a smooth transition.

Adjusting size, timing, and positioning of blurred backgrounds in Canva

Unique ideas to use blurred backgrounds in Canva

Blurred backgrounds are more than just a design trend. They're a smart way to improve focus, clarity, and visual appeal in your projects. Below are some creative ways to use them effectively:

  • Highlight text

Blurring the background behind your text helps it stand out clearly, especially in busy designs. This ensures your message remains the main focus without distraction.

  • Focus on products

Apply a blur to the surrounding areas of a product photo to draw the viewer's attention directly to the item. It works great for ads, product launches, and catalogs.

  • Create depth

Use background blur to give your design a layered, three-dimensional look. It adds visual separation between elements and makes the overall layout more dynamic.

  • Improve readability

When using image backgrounds, a blur can tone down patterns or textures that clash with your text. This keeps everything easy to read without changing the entire image.

  • Set the mood

Soft blurs can add a dreamy, elegant, or professional tone depending on your design theme. They're perfect for mood boards, event invites, or artistic content.

Another offline & efficient way to blur the background in videos: CapCut

The CapCut desktop video editor is a smart choice for effortlessly blurring video backgrounds offline. With just one click, you can apply a clean blur effect or use the automatic background removal tool for precise control. It also supports customizable blur levels and a chroma key feature for professional green screen edits. If you're looking for more flexibility than online tools, CapCut offers the creative edge you need.

Interface of the CapCut desktop video editor

Key features

  • Blur the background with a click

Easily apply a smooth blur effect to your video background with a single tap, creating a sharp focus on your subject.

  • Automatically remove background

The video background remover enables you to effortlessly erase backgrounds, even without a green screen.

  • Advanced color correction

CapCut provides video color correction tools to adjust brightness, contrast, and tones, enhancing your video’s visual appeal.

  • Customizable blur levels

Adjust the blur intensity to suit your video’s style, ensuring the background complements the subject perfectly.

  • Chroma key (green screen)

Use the chroma key feature to replace solid color backgrounds, giving you full control over creative visual effects.

How to quickly blur backgrounds in CapCut

If you haven't installed CapCut desktop video editor yet, click the button below to download and follow the setup instructions to get started.

    STEP 1
  1. Import the video

Open CapCut and select the "Import" option to upload your video. Choose the video you want to edit and start your project.

Uploading a video to the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 2
  1. Blur the video background

Drag your video to the timeline and duplicate it to create two layers. Apply the blur effect to the first layer by searching for "Blur" in the "Effects" tab and dragging it onto the layer. For the second layer, use "Remove BG" and select "Auto removal" to separate the subject from the background. Then, apply the background blur on the second layer. Fine-tune the blur effect by selecting the background layer and adjusting it to your preferred level. You can also try "Motion blur" for a dynamic movement effect.

Blur the video background in the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 3
  1. Export and share

Once you're happy with your edits, click "Export" to adjust settings like resolution, frame rate, and codec. Then, tap "Export" again to save the video. You can also share your video directly to platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Exporting video from the CapCut desktop video edtor

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning how to fade background in Canva is a powerful technique to enhance your visual designs, offering a cleaner and more professional look. Whether for social media posts, presentations, or other creative projects, this feature helps highlight your subject and create a stunning effect.

For an even smoother and more advanced editing experience, consider using CapCut desktop video editor. With its customizable blur levels and easy-to-use interface, CapCut provides a streamlined process for blurring backgrounds in both photos and videos.

FAQs

    1
  1. What types of effects are available to blur background in Canva?

Canva provides a variety of blur effects, including soft, sharp, and gradient-style blurs that can be applied to backgrounds. These effects can be customized to match the tone of your design. For more precise background control, CapCut desktop video editor also provides customizable blur levels, allowing you to enhance both your images and videos with greater detail.

    2
  1. Does blurring background in Canva affect the image resolution?

Blurring the background in Canva may slightly reduce the image's sharpness, but it typically doesn't have a significant impact on the overall resolution. To ensure high-quality results with even more control over resolution, you can use CapCut desktop video editor, which allows you to adjust blur effects while maintaining excellent video clarity.

    3
  1. Can I blur background in Canva for both images and videos?

Yes, you can blur the background in both images and videos in Canva. For videos, you can apply the blur effect to specific parts of the video or adjust the intensity. If you require more advanced editing tools, CapCut desktop video editor offers features like customizable blur levels and background removal for videos, providing a smoother editing experience.