What It Does

The Shapes Tool simplifies drawing shapes and enhances diagramming capabilities.

Features include a shape library for creating diagrams and flowcharts, connectors that link shapes together, and the ability to add text within shapes to label and explain diagram elements.

Basic Shape Types for Diagramming:

• Elbow Connectors — Structured lines that make 90-degree turns, perfect for organized flowcharts and diagrams where clean, geometric connections are needed
• Curved Connectors — Flexible, organic lines that follow a smooth path between shapes, ideal for mind maps and less rigid diagrams
• Ovals/Circles — Create perfect circles or ovals for depicting cycles and processes
• Rectangles/Squares/Diamonds — Make basic geometric shapes for flowcharts and diagrams
• Triangles/Polygons — Add directional indicators and structural elements

Shapes Tooll

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For simple shapes, you can also use the Draw Shape Tool from the Writing Tools:

Draw Shape Tool

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How to Use It

Insert a shape

1. Choose the Shapes Tool in the toolbar.

2. Choose a desired shape, e.g. rectangle.

   

3. (Optional) Customize the stroke and color of the shape you’ll insert.

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   All pre-defined shapes are drawn with a subtle corner radius by default. Rounding applies to newly created shapes only; existing diagrams keep their original corner radius.

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   Customize the shape stroke

   

   • Set the style: Choose Solid, Dashed, or Dotted.

   • Set the thickness: Adjust the thickness slider.

   • Restore stroke:

     • Apple: Tap the More Settings icon in the top-left corner > Restore Stroke.

       

     • Android, Windows, and Web: Tap the icon in the top-right corner.

       

   • Set rounded corners: Toggle Rounded on or off to control corner rounding for newly created pre-defined shapes.

   • Set styles of arrow heads: This setting applies to elbow/curve connectors only.

   Customize the shape color

   

   1. Adjust settings:

      • Fill Color: Enable to fill a new closed shape with the selected color.
      • Opacity: Adjust the opacity of the color fill.

   2. Choose a color for the slot:

      Apple

      • Select a color from the Presets or History tab.

      • For a custom color, choose the Custom tab:

        

        1. Create a color by choosing one from the palette or the color wheel, entering a color code in the HEX field, or tapping the Eyedropper (Color Picker) in the top-right corner to select a precise color pixel on the screen.
        2. Tap Add to Presets or **the Back button.

      Android, Windows, and Web

      • Select a color from the palette.

      • For a custom color, choose the color wheel:

        

        1. Create a color by entering a color code in the HEX field, or tapping the Eyedropper (Color Picker) in the top-right corner to select a precise color pixel on the screen.

           

        2. Tap the Add to Presets icon (next to the HEX field).

4. Drag on the page to create a shape.

   • Line or curve connector: Draw as you would on paper to connect existing shapes.

   • Other shapes: Drag diagonally.

     

     Dragging to create a shape

5. Adjust, move, or edit your newly drawn shape.