Hint: You can use shapes to improve the graphic appearance of the activity. Save time by customizing the shape’s attributes.
Prerequisites #
A flipchart-based activity started
How to use the shapes with a flipchart #
To use shapes, click on the „Shape” icon in the toolbar on the left of the screen. A secondary panel will emerge to the right.
![Add shapes from the toolbar](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/shapes-in-the-toolbar.png)
You can customize the shape from the start by editing the visual options found in the secondary panel. The last step is to choose the shape from the series of 6 (at the top of the panel).
Stroke width #
![Select stroke width](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/select-stroke-width-shapes.png)
Stroke dash style #
![Select the shape's stroke style](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/select-stroke-style.png)
This is how different types of the stroke look like:
![Circle shapes with different stroke styles](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/circles-with-different-stroke-styles.png)
Effects #
You can use the shape as is or apply one of the 5fiveeffects that create artistic visuals, quite different from the classic geometrical shapes.
![Apply effects to shapes](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/apply-effects-to-shapes.png)
See the result of various effects applied to shape
![Shape stroke effects applied](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/shape-stroke-effects-applied.png)
Modify an existing shape #
- Stroke colour: choose a colour from the chart by clicking on it
- Fill colour: you can select the same colour or a different one to fill the shape
- Fill opacity: set the opacity you need for example to allow you to overlay the shape on top of another object
![Overlapping objects on a flipchart](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/flipchart-objects-shapes-opacity.png)
You can also click directly on the shape you need and edit it later on while on the flipchart page, using the object toolbar (see details below).
To add a shape to the flipchart click on it in the secondary panel or use Drag & Drop to place it in a specific part of the page.
While on the flipchart, you can edit the shape using the object toolbar that appears on top of the shape.
![A circle-shaped object on the flipchart](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/circle-on-the-flipchart.png)
You can do the following:
- Duplicate element
- Delete element
- Change the background colour
![Shape toolbar options](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/shape-toolbar-options.png)
Change stroke options like…
#
![](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-options-stroke.png)
Change the colour #
![Change Colour](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-colour-shape-1.png)
Width
#
![Change the stroke's width](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-stroke-width.png)
Dash style #
![Change dash style](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-dash-style.png)
Opacity
#
![Change opacity](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-opacity.png)
Shape effects #
![Change shape's effects](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/shape-effects.png)
Layers #
Send the shape to front/back or opt for a fixed position
![Send to back - Bring to front](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/change-layer.png)
Element behaviours #
(see „Object behaviours” section)
![Shape's behaviours](https://docs.colltrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/shape-behaviour.png)
Resize #
You can also resize the shape by pulling from any corner. It can go really big, covering the entire flipchart.
Task for you: start an activity and experiment with shapes to create different visual structures that complement the text input.