← Back to All Guides
A free guide by Lauren Dallas Instagram
How to make your photos jump OUT of the frame using Canva!
You've probably seen this trend all over Instagram… where someone looks like they're literally stepping out of their photo and into your screen. 👀 And YES, you can recreate this effect in Canva! No Photoshop. No complicated editing. Just a few clever layers and a little Canva magic. 💗 Let's get into it!
STEP 1
CREATE YOUR CANVA DESIGN
Open Canva and create a new design.
For an Instagram carousel, use 1080 × 1350 px (4:5).
If you're recreating the full-screen Reel version, use 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).
Next, upload a screenshot of your iPhone's photo-sharing screen.
How to get the screenshot:
1. Open your iPhone's Photos app.
2. Select a photo and tap the Share icon.
3. Take a screenshot of the sharing interface.
4. Upload that screenshot into Canva.
This will be the background of your design.
For an Instagram carousel, use 1080 × 1350 px (4:5).
If you're recreating the full-screen Reel version, use 1080 × 1920 px (9:16).
Next, upload a screenshot of your iPhone's photo-sharing screen.
How to get the screenshot:
1. Open your iPhone's Photos app.
2. Select a photo and tap the Share icon.
3. Take a screenshot of the sharing interface.
4. Upload that screenshot into Canva.
This will be the background of your design.
TOP TIP
Use your own screenshot so the interface looks realistic. You can also use Canva shapes and text to customise the design.
STEP 2
CHOOSE YOUR PHOTO 📸
Now for the fun part!
Choose a photo of yourself in a pose that looks like you're interacting with the edge of a frame.
Some poses that work especially well:
- Sitting with one leg extended towards the camera.
- Hanging from something with your arms raised.
- Leaning forward as though you're stepping out.
- Reaching your hand towards the viewer.
- Standing with one foot extended.
The secret? Choose a photo where part of your body can overlap the bottom or sides of the photo frame.
This creates the 3D illusion!
Choose a photo of yourself in a pose that looks like you're interacting with the edge of a frame.
Some poses that work especially well:
- Sitting with one leg extended towards the camera.
- Hanging from something with your arms raised.
- Leaning forward as though you're stepping out.
- Reaching your hand towards the viewer.
- Standing with one foot extended.
The secret? Choose a photo where part of your body can overlap the bottom or sides of the photo frame.
This creates the 3D illusion!
STEP 3
CREATE YOUR PHOTO FRAME
In Canva, go to Elements → Frames.
Search for a rounded rectangle frame.
Place it in the middle of your design, just above the AirDrop, Messages and Mail icons on your screenshot.
Resize it to match the proportions of the photo you want to feature.
Now drag your chosen photo into the frame.
Adjust the crop until you're happy with the composition.
Search for a rounded rectangle frame.
Place it in the middle of your design, just above the AirDrop, Messages and Mail icons on your screenshot.
Resize it to match the proportions of the photo you want to feature.
Now drag your chosen photo into the frame.
Adjust the crop until you're happy with the composition.
STEP 4
REMOVE THE BACKGROUND ✂️
Here's where the magic happens!
Upload the SAME photo into Canva again.
Select the duplicated photo and go to:
Edit Photo → BG Remover
This will remove the background and leave you with a cut-out of yourself.
If necessary, use the erase and restore brushes to tidy up the edges.
You should now have two versions of the same photo:
1. Your original photo inside the frame.
2. A background-free cut-out of yourself.
Upload the SAME photo into Canva again.
Select the duplicated photo and go to:
Edit Photo → BG Remover
This will remove the background and leave you with a cut-out of yourself.
If necessary, use the erase and restore brushes to tidy up the edges.
You should now have two versions of the same photo:
1. Your original photo inside the frame.
2. A background-free cut-out of yourself.
STEP 5
CREATE THE 3D POP-OUT EFFECT 👀
Place your background-free cut-out directly over the original framed photo.
Line up your body so both images match perfectly.
Now make sure your cut-out layer sits IN FRONT of the frame.
Go to Position → Layers and move the cut-out above the framed photo.
Because the background has been removed, parts of your body can now extend beyond the edges of the frame.
For example:
- Your foot can hang over the bottom edge.
- Your arm can reach beyond the top.
- Your head can overlap the frame.
And just like that… you've created the illusion that you're stepping OUT of your photo!
Line up your body so both images match perfectly.
Now make sure your cut-out layer sits IN FRONT of the frame.
Go to Position → Layers and move the cut-out above the framed photo.
Because the background has been removed, parts of your body can now extend beyond the edges of the frame.
For example:
- Your foot can hang over the bottom edge.
- Your arm can reach beyond the top.
- Your head can overlap the frame.
And just like that… you've created the illusion that you're stepping OUT of your photo!
STEP 6
MAKE IT LOOK REALISTIC ✨
The small details make ALL the difference.
To give your design a more realistic 3D effect:
Add a shadow.
Select your cut-out image and explore the shadow options under Edit Photo. Use a subtle shadow to help separate your body from the background.
Match the layers perfectly.
Make sure the cut-out aligns with the photo underneath. Any misalignment will break the illusion.
Keep the overlap intentional.
You don't need your entire body outside the frame. One leg, hand or shoulder is often enough to make the effect convincing.
To give your design a more realistic 3D effect:
Add a shadow.
Select your cut-out image and explore the shadow options under Edit Photo. Use a subtle shadow to help separate your body from the background.
Match the layers perfectly.
Make sure the cut-out aligns with the photo underneath. Any misalignment will break the illusion.
Keep the overlap intentional.
You don't need your entire body outside the frame. One leg, hand or shoulder is often enough to make the effect convincing.
TOP TIP
For the strongest result, use a photo with a dramatic pose and a body part extending towards the camera.
STEP 7
ADD THE FINISHING TOUCHES 💗
To make your design look even closer to the trend:
- Keep the iPhone sharing interface visible underneath your photo.
- Make sure your cut-out overlaps the interface naturally.
- Add a subtle white border around your photo frame.
- Experiment with multiple photos in a horizontal gallery layout.
- Keep the overall design clean so the pop-out effect remains the focus.
You can even create a carousel showing different poses or locations!
- Keep the iPhone sharing interface visible underneath your photo.
- Make sure your cut-out overlaps the interface naturally.
- Add a subtle white border around your photo frame.
- Experiment with multiple photos in a horizontal gallery layout.
- Keep the overall design clean so the pop-out effect remains the focus.
You can even create a carousel showing different poses or locations!
STEP 8
EXPORT & SHARE 🚀
Once you're happy with your design:
1. Click Share → Download.
2. Select PNG for the best image quality.
3. Save your design.
4. Upload it to Instagram as a post or carousel.
And that's it!
You've officially recreated the viral 3D photo pop-out effect using Canva. 🎉
1. Click Share → Download.
2. Select PNG for the best image quality.
3. Save your design.
4. Upload it to Instagram as a post or carousel.
And that's it!
You've officially recreated the viral 3D photo pop-out effect using Canva. 🎉
BONUS: MAKE YOUR POP-OUT EVEN MORE SCROLL-STOPPING
- A hand reaching towards the camera.
- A coffee cup extending beyond the photo.
- A foot stepping onto the iPhone sharing icons.
- Multiple photos with different parts of your body popping out.
- A travel carousel where you appear to jump between destinations.
“The more creative your pose, the more convincing the illusion!”
Free Training
From Content To Customers: How To Grow An Instagram Account That Actually Pays You
A stacked 60-minute masterclass revealing how I grew from 0 to 101K followers in 9 months and built 10 income streams from Instagram — without spending hours engaging or dancing in Reels.
In this training you'll learn:
1️⃣ Why starting a new account from 0 was my biggest advantage (and how to train the algorithm to work for you)
2️⃣ The 3 content types you're probably missing (and the AI system I use to post 2–3 times a day)
3️⃣ My "Micro-Monetisation Method" — how to start generating income with only a few hundred followers
