# Shapes, icons and images

> Find shapes in the PlexiiDiagrams library: 430 shapes in 16 categories, a search, Favourites, 3,892 icons, and your own images.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-shapes-and-library
Section: Office > Diagrams
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-21

The shape library is the panel on the left of PlexiiDiagrams. It has three tabs: **Shapes**, **Icons** and **Images**. Anything in it can be clicked to place it in the middle of your view, or dragged onto the canvas to place it exactly.

## Before you start

- The shape library is on every plan.
- If the library is hidden, click the left of the two panel buttons at the right end of the menu bar, or choose **View** > **Shape library**.

## Shapes

The **Shapes** tab holds 430 shapes in 16 categories. **Flowchart** is open when you start. Click a category's name to open or close it; the number beside it is how many shapes it holds.

| Category | Category | Category | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | Flowchart | Arrows | Containers |
| Callouts | Sticky notes | Tables | UML |
| ERD | BPMN | Network | Cloud |
| Org chart | Mind map | Wireframe | Plexii |

Hover a shape to see its name.

### Search for a shape

Type in **Search 430 shapes** at the top of the tab. The search looks in every category, including the closed ones, and shows how many shapes match. If nothing matches, try the **Icons** tab.

### Keep your favourite shapes at the top

1. Right-click a shape in the library.
2. It is added to **Favourites** at the top of the tab, and a small star marks it.

Right-click it again to take it out of **Favourites**.

### Add shapes from the menu

The **Insert** menu lists the everyday shapes first: **Process**, **Decision**, **Start / End**, **Data (I/O)**, **Database** and **Circle**. Below them is one submenu for each category, such as **Flowchart shapes** and **UML shapes**, and quick items for **Text**, **Table**, **Sticky note**, **Swimlane** and **Image…**.

## Icons

The **Icons** tab searches 3,892 icons.

1. Type in **Search 3,892 icons**, such as *cloud*, *person* or *database*.
2. Click an icon to add it, or drag it onto the canvas.

The tab shows up to 240 icons at a time. If there are more, it says so; type more of the name to narrow it down.

You can also put an icon inside a shape. Select the shape, open the inspector's **Style** tab, and type in **Icon** under **Shape**.

## Images

1. Open the **Images** tab.
2. Click **Upload images** and choose one or more pictures, or paste a link in **Or add from a link** and click **Add**.

You can also drag image files straight onto the canvas, or paste an image with `⌘` `V` on a Mac or `Ctrl` `V` on Windows. Images up to 2.5 MB are stored inside the diagram.

## Text, sticky notes and tables

- **Text:** press `T`, or click the **Text** tool in the toolbar, then click the canvas and type. You can also right-click empty canvas and choose **Add text here**.
- **Sticky note:** **Insert** > **Sticky note**, or the **Sticky notes** category.
- **Table:** **Insert** > **Table** adds a grid you can type in. Double-click a cell to type, and press `Tab` to move to the next cell. Set the number of rows and columns in the inspector's **Style** tab, under **Rows** and **Columns**.

## Change a shape after placing it

Select a shape, then use the inspector on the right:

- **Style** tab:
  - **Fill & line**: **Colour** tints the fill and outline together. **Fill**, **Line**, **Line style**, **Corners**, **Opacity** and **Drop shadow** set each part on its own. **Reset** clears the style settings you gave the shape.
  - **Shape**: **Type** turns it into another shape, keeping its text and lines. **Icon** adds an icon.
- **Text** tab: **Font**, size, text colour, bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and where the text sits in the shape. **Label** lets you edit the text in a box.

To copy one shape's look onto others, select it and choose **Edit** > **Copy style**, or press `⌥` `⌘` `C` on a Mac or `Ctrl` `Alt` `C` on Windows. Then select the others and choose **Edit** > **Paste style**, or press `⌥` `⌘` `V` or `Ctrl` `Alt` `V`. Both are also on a shape's right-click menu, and as buttons in the **Style** tab under **Fill & line**.

The toolbar has quick buttons for the selection too: **Bold**, **Italic**, **Larger text**, **Fill** and **Shape colour**.

## Common questions

**I cannot find a shape.** Search for it by name at the top of the **Shapes** tab. The search covers every category, even closed ones.

**My favourites are gone on another computer.** Favourites are kept on the computer where you set them.

**My picture was not added.** Pictures larger than 2.5 MB cannot be stored in a diagram. Make a smaller copy and add that.

**The image from a link will not add.** Use a link that starts with http:// or https:// and points at the picture itself.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiDiagrams overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-overview)
- [Draw a flowchart](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-draw-a-flowchart)
- [Edit and arrange shapes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-edit-and-arrange)
- [Pages, layers and themes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes)
- [Connect shapes and route lines](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-connections-and-routing)