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Use shapes for classroom labels, signs, accents, and decorative strips. Start with a silhouette from the Shapes Library, then give it a fill, an outline, and optional shadow effects.
About 7 minutesBeginner friendlyShapes and classroom labels
1. Find a shape in the library
Open the tools panel on the left and select Shapes. The Shapes Library contains ready-made silhouettes, including labels, shields, banners, and decorative border pieces. The black library previews show the shape's form; you can change its appearance after adding it.
Search by name. Enter a term in Search shapes and press Enter to run the search.
Narrow the results. Open Filters to choose a category or change Access from All to Free. Search and filters work together.
Browse more. Scroll through the results and use Load More when it appears.
A crown marks premium artwork. If your plan includes the asset, you can add it normally. Otherwise, selecting it opens the upgrade prompt. Use the Free filter when you want to browse free shapes only.
2. Add, resize, and position the shape
Click a shape card to add it near the board's center, or drag an available card onto the canvas. The new shape becomes selected. Clicking another card adds another element; it does not replace the selected shape.
Drag the selected shape to move it. Use its resize handles to adjust its size and the rotation handle to turn it. For measured adjustments, open the inspector's Properties tab and use Basics.
Control | What it changes |
|---|---|
Width (in) / Height (in) | The shape's displayed dimensions. Type a value and press Enter or click outside the field. |
Keep ratio | Keeps the proportions linked while resizing. Turn it off to change width and height independently. |
X (in) / Y (in) | The shape's center position across and down the board. |
Rotate (°) | The shape's rotation in degrees. |
Opacity | The transparency of the whole element, including its fill and effects. |
The layout tools at the top of Properties can flip a shape horizontally or vertically, snap it to board edges or centers, and change its stacking order. Use Fit to screen to check the full board after positioning it.
3. Apply a solid color
With the shape selected, click the solid-color circle in the selection toolbar. This opens Appearance with Color selected under Fill mode.
Choose a swatch under Fill color, use the color picker, or type a hex color such as #77D9CF. The shape updates on the canvas, so you can compare it with the board background immediately.
4. Blend two colors with a gradient
Click the gradient circle in the selection toolbar, or choose Gradient under Fill mode. Select linear for a directional blend or radial for a blend spreading from the center.
Choose Start and End colors. Use their swatches, pickers, or hex fields.
Adjust the direction. For a linear gradient, change Angle.
Adjust the spread. Change Scale and judge the result on the canvas.
In the example, the READ label blends #D4F3EF into #77D9CF with a linear angle of 90°.
5. Fill the shape with a repeating pattern
Click the striped pattern circle in the selection toolbar, or choose Pattern under Fill mode. Open the repeat-pattern library and select an asset to apply it inside the shape.
The picker includes Patterns, Clipart, Name Tags, and My Uploads. Search or use Free to narrow the choices. Choosing a fill image changes the selected shape's fill; it does not add a separate picture to the board.
After choosing a pattern, use the controls back in Appearance:
Pattern color and Background color: change the motif and its background when the selected pattern supports recoloring. Full-color artwork keeps its own colors.
Scale: make the repeated artwork larger or smaller. A larger value produces larger motifs.
Offset X and Offset Y: shift the repeat within the shape without moving the shape itself.
Rotation: turn the pattern inside the shape.
Opacity: adjust the pattern's opacity. This is separate from the whole element's opacity in Basics.
Open the library again to replace the pattern, or use Remove current pattern to clear it. Choose Color or Gradient when you want to switch fill modes.
6. Add an outline with Stroke
In Appearance, turn Stroke on using its switch. Click the section name or chevron to expand its settings; expanding the section and enabling the effect are separate actions.
Set Stroke color. Choose a color that separates the shape from its surroundings.
Set Stroke width. Use the slider or numeric field to make the outline thinner or thicker.
Choose Stroke position. Use Inside to place it within the silhouette, or Outside to grow it around the edge.
An outside stroke extends the visible edge, so leave room around neighboring elements and the board edge. Turn the Stroke switch off to remove the outline while keeping its settings available.
7. Add depth with shadows
Under Effects, shapes from the current Shapes Library support Outer Shadow and Inner Shadow. Turn the effect on, then expand its section to adjust it.
Outer Shadow adds a shadow around the shape. Inner Shadow shades the inside edge. Both offer Color, Opacity, Angle, Distance, and Glow size. Angle controls direction, Distance controls the offset, and Glow size controls softness.
Start with one subtle effect. The example uses an outer shadow with 35% opacity, 45° angle, Distance 8, and Glow size 12. Turn an effect off to compare the design with and without it.
8. Arrange shapes and add text
Use Duplicate in the selection toolbar to make a copy with the same styling. Move the copy into place, then change its fill. This keeps repeated classroom labels consistent.
For a sign or label, add text through the Text tool and position it over the shape. Text and shape remain separate elements. If the shape covers the words, select the shape and use Send backward or Send to back in Properties, or select the text and use Bring to front.
Open Layers to select a covered element and check the stacking order. Keep lettering comfortably inside the shape, with strong contrast against the fill. You can lock the finished shape from its selection toolbar to prevent accidental movement while editing text.
For font-based headings, see Add and Style Decorative Text. For longer explanations and lists, use Add and Format Regular Text. Find more selection and arrangement controls in Select, Arrange, and Manage Elements.
9. Reuse the shape and finish your board
Select a shape and open More selection actions when the creation commands are tucked into the toolbar menu. Depending on the available space, the commands may appear directly in the toolbar.
Create Banner: use the shape as a repeating banner piece. See Create and Edit Repeating Banners.
Create Border: use it in a custom repeating border. See Create a Custom Repeating Border.
Create Name Tag: use the shape as the base for one name or a class list. See Create Name Tags for One Student or Your Whole Class.
