How to Lock Aspect Ratio in Canva – Maintain Proportions Easily

This guide will walk you through the process of unlock aspect ratio in Canva.
By following these steps, you can ensure your design maintains its aspect ratio when resizing.

Locking or unlocking the aspect ratio in Canva lets you control whether an element resizes proportionally or can be freely stretched.

1. Select the Element

• Click on the image, shape, or element you want to resize.

2. Access Resize Options

• You can either:

  • Drag the corner handles to resize while maintaining the aspect ratio, or

  • Drag the side handles to stretch it.

• Look for a lock icon either on the top toolbar or near the corner handles (depending on your element type and device).

3. Lock or Unlock the Aspect Ratio

• Locked: The lock icon is closed—resizing maintains proportions.

• Unlocked: The lock icon is open—you can freely adjust width and height independently.

Note: Not all Canva elements show the aspect ratio lock. It’s most visible on images, frames, and grouped elements.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To lock Cop Ratio in Canva

Step 1

Begin by opening your design in Canva.

Step 2

Navigate to the "Resize" option located at the top of the interface, next to the "File" menu. Click on "Resize" to proceed.

Step 3

Within the resize options, select "Custom Size" to access the dimensions of your design.

Step 4

Observe the displayed size of your design. Next to the dimensions, you will find a lock icon which is currently in the unlocked state. Click the lock icon to secure the aspect ratio.

Pro tips for locking crop ratio in Canva

1. Select Your Image:
   Click on the image you want to crop. This will open up the editing options in Canva.

2. Click the Crop Button:
   In the top menu, click the "Crop" button to enter the crop mode.

3. Maintain Aspect Ratio:
   Hold down the "Shift" key while dragging the crop box to lock the crop ratio. This ensures the aspect ratio stays the same as you resize the image.

4. Use Preset Aspect Ratios:
   Canva offers preset crop ratios like square (1:1), 16:9, and 4:3. You can select these from the "Resize" options in the top menu to lock the crop ratio to one of these common dimensions.

5. Adjust Image Without Distortion:
   After cropping, you can adjust the placement of the image inside the crop box by dragging the image within the frame. This will keep the original crop ratio without distorting the image.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them for locking crop ratio in Canva

1. Distorting the Image While Resizing:
   Fix: Hold down the "Shift" key while resizing the crop box to maintain the original aspect ratio and prevent distortion.

2. Unwanted Crop Edges:
   Fix: Ensure you position the image inside the crop box in a way that avoids cutting off important parts of the image. Use the “Position” tool to adjust the image placement.

3. Not Using Preset Ratios:
   Fix: If you're aiming for a specific crop ratio, use the preset crop options (like 16:9 or 1:1) to avoid manually adjusting the image, which can lead to inaccuracies.

4. Losing Part of the Image During Cropping:
   Fix: Before cropping, ensure you’re selecting the portion of the image you want to keep, especially if it's an important detail. Adjust the image placement to fit the crop area.

5. Forgetting to Lock the Ratio:
   Fix: Always remember to hold "Shift" while resizing to lock the aspect ratio, or use one of Canva’s preset ratios to ensure consistency.

Common FAQs for locking crop ratio in Canva

1. How do I lock the crop ratio while resizing an image?
   Hold the "Shift" key while dragging the corners of the crop box to lock the ratio.

2. Can I use preset crop ratios in Canva?
   Yes, Canva offers preset ratios like 1:1, 16:9, and 4:3, which you can select from the "Resize" options in the top menu.

3. What happens if I don’t hold the "Shift" key when resizing?
   Without holding "Shift," the aspect ratio may change, causing the image to appear stretched or squished.

4. Can I adjust the position of the image within the crop box?
   Yes, after cropping, you can drag the image inside the crop box to reposition it.

5. Can I crop an image to a custom ratio in Canva?
   Canva allows for cropping to preset ratios, but for custom ratios, you can manually adjust by holding "Shift" while resizing.

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10. How do I Zoom in on a screen recording?
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