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Draw shapes and build diagrams in Goodnotes

Use the Shape Tool to draw clean lines, curves, shapes, and diagrams. You can create rounded shapes, attach Connectors, adjust Connector paths, and add text.

Some options cannot appear until their phased rollout reaches your app version and platform.

Draw a line, curve, or shape

Shape Tool and AutoShape controls in the Toolbar

  1. Select the Shape Tool.
  2. Draw a line, curve, or shape.
  3. Goodnotes converts the drawing into a cleaner shape.

Draw with AutoShape

  1. Select AutoShape.
  2. Draw a shape by hand.
  3. Goodnotes corrects and smooths it.

AutoShape icon in the Shape Tool controls

Draw with Pen, Pencil, or Highlighter

  1. Select Pen, Pencil, or Highlighter.
  2. Draw the shape in one stroke and hold at the end.

    Hand-drawn shape held at the end of a stroke

  3. While holding, adjust its scale and angle.
  4. Release to finish.

Use rounded shapes

Newly created shapes have subtly rounded corners by default. Use Rounded Rectangle for labels, buttons, flowchart steps, diagram blocks, and cards.

Diagram shapes with rounded corners

Existing diagrams may keep their original appearance. Newly created shapes use the latest default styling.

Change a shape’s style

  1. Select the shape.
  2. Open its style options.
  3. Change the stroke color, thickness, fill color, corner style, or shape type.

Style controls for a selected shape

  • Mac or iPad with a keyboard: Reselect the shape frame before changing its stroke or fill because text input receives focus after creation.
  • iPad without a keyboard: The shape remains selected, so immediate style changes affect the shape.

Scale, resize, or rotate a shape

  1. Select the shape.
  2. Drag a handle: use a white corner circle to scale, a blue rectangle to resize, or the protruding white circle to rotate.
Scale, resize, and rotation handles around a shape

Connect shapes

Connectors remain attached when you move or resize connected shapes.

Choose a connection point

  1. Create or select a Connector.
  2. Attach it to a point on the edge of a shape.
  3. Choose another point when needed to improve the layout.

Connectors attached at different points around shapes

Adjust a Connector path

  1. Select the Connector.
  2. Adjust its control points to move the path or add bends.
  3. Remove control points you no longer need.

Control points adjusting a Connector path

Build a diagram with Quick Diagramming

Edge dots used to create connected shapes
  1. Select a shape.
  2. Select one of its edge dots.
  3. Create a connected shape or connect to a nearby shape.
  4. Continue from the selected shape to extend the diagram.

Add text to a shape

Add text to label a flowchart step, mind map, process diagram, button, or visual note. The text remains inside the shape.

Lock or unlock a shape

  1. Select the shape.
  2. Open the More (…) menu and select “Lock Shape”.
  3. To unlock it, open the menu and select Unlock Shape.

Keep diagrams clear

  • Use rounded rectangles for labels and grouped ideas.
  • Use Connectors instead of hand-drawn lines.
  • Move connected shapes to improve the layout.
  • Adjust Connector paths when lines overlap.
  • Use consistent colors and stroke widths.