Adding shapes to your Google Docs can help visually organize information, create diagrams and flowcharts, and make your documents more visually appealing. Google Docs has a built-in drawing tool that allows you to easily insert shapes, arrows, lines, and other graphics into your documents.
Access the Drawing Tool
To access the drawing tool:
- Open the Google Docs document you want to add a shape to.
- Click Insert > Drawing > New. This will open up a drawing canvas where you can create shapes.
Select a Shape
The drawing tool offers a variety of shape options to choose from:
- Click the Shape icon to select from common shapes like rectangles, circles, arrows, stars, and more.
- Click the Line icon to select from diagonal lines, straight lines, curved lines, elbow connectors, and more.
- Click the Basic Shapes icon to access simple shapes like squares, triangles, diamonds, and ovals.
Once you select a shape, your cursor will change. Click and drag your mouse on the document to draw the shape to the size you want.
Customize the Shape
You can customize the shape in a few ways after inserting:
- Resize – Click and drag the round handles on the edges and corners of the shape to resize it.
- Recolor – Click the shape, then open the Color menu to choose a new fill or outline color.
- Add text – Double click inside the shape to add text. Format it like regular text.
Organize Shapes
To better organize multiple shapes:
- Group – Select multiple shapes and right-click to group them so they move together.
- Order – Right-click a shape and choose Order to send it forward or backward.
- Align – Select multiple shapes, right-click, and choose Align to line them up.
Create a Flowchart
The drawing tool is perfect for flowcharts and diagrams. For example:
- Select the Shape icon and choose a rectangle.
- Draw the first step of the flowchart.
- Double click in the shape and type the text.
- Click the Line icon and choose the elbow connector.
- Hover between two shapes to connect them with the line.
- Repeat adding shapes and connector lines as needed.
Insert Other Graphics
In addition to shapes, you can insert other graphics:
- Word art – Stylized text formatted as a graphic.
- Images – Upload or link to images to insert them.
- Charts – Create charts using Google Sheets data.
- Equations – Use LaTeX to insert mathematical equations.
Tips
- Use shapes in presentations, posters, invitations, brochures, and more.
- Hold Shift while drawing a shape to keep the proportions.
- Right-click a shape and cut/copy/paste to duplicate it.
- Anchor a shape to a paragraph so it moves with the text.
With the built-in drawing tool, adding and customizing shapes in Google Docs is quick and easy. Use shapes and other graphics to enhance your documents!
