Create shapes and lines

With the  Shape Tool, you can create different types of shapes and lines that you can later edit on the fly.

Shape Tool basics

  • You can move around, scale, and rotate shapes with the  Hand Tool.
  • You can change shapes' proportions, border width, and colors by selecting them once with the  Hand Tool.
  • When recording, the animation of inserting the shape will be present in the final video.

Add a shape to the canvas

  1. While in a project, select  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select the shape icon to display available shapes.
  3. Pick a desired shape. The default one is a square.
  4. Drag your finger or stylus across the canvas to start adding the selected shape.
  5. Hold on to the shape to set its size and proportions.
  6. When you're ready, release the shape to add it to the canvas.

Tip: After creating a shape, your tool will switch to the  Hand Tool by default so you can move the shape around immediately. You can change that behavior by selecting  Shape Tool from the toolbar > Shape Options > Switch to Hand Tool after shape creation. Alternatively, you can select  More Menu in the top right-hand corner of your screen > Settings > Editing > Switch to Hand Tool after shape creation.

  1. While in a project, select  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select the shape icon to display available shapes.
  3. Pick a desired shape. The default one is a square.
  4. Drag your finger, stylus, or cursor across the canvas to start adding the selected shape.
  5. Hold on to the shape to set its size and proportions.
  6. When you're ready, release the shape to add it to the canvas.

Tip: After creating a shape, your tool will switch to the  Hand Tool by default so you can move the shape around immediately. You can change that behavior by selecting  Shape Tool from the toolbar > Shape Options > Switch to Hand Tool after shape creation. Alternatively, you can select  More Menu in the top right-hand corner of your screen > Settings > Editing > Switch to Hand Tool after shape creation.

  1. While in a project, select  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select the  Square Shape icon to display available shapes.
  3. Pick a desired shape. The default one is a square.
  4. Drag your cursor across the canvas to start adding the selected shape.
  5. Hold on to the shape to set its size and proportions.
  6. When you're ready, release the shape to add it to the canvas.

Tip: After creating a shape, your tool will switch to the  Hand Tool by default so you can move the shape around immediately. You can change that behavior by selecting  Shape Tool from the toolbar > Shape Options > Switch to Hand Tool after shape creation.

Change the border width of a shape

  1. Select  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the Context Menu, select the Border control (second icon).
  4. In the Border width section, drag the slider to adjust the border width.
  1. Select  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the Context Menu, select the Border control (second icon).
  4. In the Border width section, drag the slider to adjust the border width.
  1. Select  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the Context Menu, select the Border control (second icon).
  4. In the Border width section, drag the slider to adjust the border width.

Tip: You can set the border width of your shape also before adding it to the canvas.

Add or remove shadow on a shape

  1. Select  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the Context Menu, select the  Special effects tab.
  4. Select Drop shadow.
  1. Select  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the Context Menu, select the  Special effects tab.
  4. Select Drop shadow.

Note: Currently on the web version, you can only set Shadow for new shapes added to the canvas.

  1. Select  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select Shape Options.
  3. In the Shape shadow section, use the toggle to set the shape's shadow.

Change the size and position of a shape

  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once — resize handles will appear around the shape.
  3. Drag the handles to readjust the size and proportions of the shape. You are also able to move the shape around, scale, and rotate it as if you were using the Hand Tool.

Tip: You can select the Rotate handle on the shape to straighten it.

  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once — resize handles will appear around the shape.
  3. Drag the handles to readjust the size and proportions of the shape. You are also able to move the shape around, scale, and rotate it as if you were using the Hand Tool.

Tip: You can select the Rotate handle on the shape to straighten it.

  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once — resize handles will appear around the shape.
  3. Drag the handles to readjust the size and proportions of the shape. You are also able to move the shape around, scale, and rotate it as if you were using the Hand Tool.

Tip: You can double-select the Rotate handle on the shape to straighten it.

Change the color of a shape

  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the shape Context Menu, select either fill or border color control (first and second icon).
  4. Select a color to apply it to the shape. For more granular control, you can customize the colors.
  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the shape Context Menu, select either fill or border color control (first and second icon).
  4. Select a color to apply it to the shape. For more granular control, you can customize the colors.
  1. Select the  Hand Tool from the toolbar.
  2. Select the shape on the canvas once.
  3. From the shape Context Menu, select either fill or border color control (first and second icon).
  4. Select a color to apply it to the shape. For more granular control, you can customize the colors.

Tip: You can define the desired color of your shape also before adding it to your canvas.

Use shape matching to add shapes

  1. While in a project, select the  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select  Shape Matching.
  3. Draw a shape of your choice on the canvas.
  4. After a brief moment Explain Everything will add a shape to the canvas that most closely matches the one you drew.
  1. While in a project, select the  Shape Tool from the toolbar.
  2. From the shape dock, select  Shape Matching.
  3. Draw a shape of your choice on the canvas.
  4. After a brief moment Explain Everything will add a shape to the canvas that most closely matches the one you drew.

This feature is currently not available in the web version of Explain Everything.

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