Shapes and Diagramming: Draw perfect lines, curves, and shapes

Use the Shape Tool to draw clean lines, curves, shapes, and diagrams in Goodnotes. You can create shapes for visual notes, flowcharts, mind maps, process diagrams, and more.

Goodnotes can also help you keep diagrams neat with rounded shapes, Connectors that stay attached, and editable Connector paths.

Draw a line, curve, or shape

1. Select the Shape Tool from the Toolbar.
2. Draw a line, curve, or shape on the page.
3. Goodnotes will help turn your drawing into a cleaner shape.

You can use the Shape Tool to create visual elements such as:

• Lines
• Curves
• Rectangles
• Rounded rectangles
• Circles
• Triangles
• Diagram shapes
• Connectors

Draw a shape with AutoShape

Alternatively, you can select the AutoShape icon and draw a shape by hand. Goodnotes will automatically correct and smooth the shape for you:

Draw a shape with Pen, Pencil, or Highlighter

1. Choose the Writing Tools icon from the toolbar, then select any of these tools from the Active Tool Menu: Pen, Pencil, Highlighter.

2. Draw a shape in one stroke, holding down at the end of your stroke.

   

3. Adjust the scale and angle while still holding.
4. Release to finalize the shape.

Use rounded shapes

Shapes now have a more modern look, with subtly rounded corners by default. This helps diagrams, labels, and visual notes look cleaner without extra editing.

You can also use the Rounded Rectangle shape for:

• Labels
• Cards
• Buttons
• Flowchart steps
• Diagram blocks

Adjust shape style

After creating a shape, you can adjust its appearance. 

To adjust a shape, select it, then use the available shape or style options in the menu.

Depending on the shape, you may be able to change:

• Stroke color
• Stroke thickness
• Fill color
• Corner style
• Shape type

Scale/Rotate/Resize: 

To scale, resize, or rotate an object, select it and drag the appropriate handle:

• Scale: Drag any of the white corner circles.

• Resize: Drag any of the blue rectangles (grid snapping is active to help with alignment).

• Rotate: Drag the white protruding circle.

Connect shapes

Use Connectors to link shapes together in diagrams, flowcharts, mind maps, and process maps.

Connectors can attach to the edge of a shape instead of floating over the center. When you move or resize a connected shape, the Connector stays attached more cleanly.

This makes it easier to keep diagrams readable as you rearrange them.

Connect to different points on a shape

Connectors can attach to more points around a shape, giving you more control over where lines connect.

This is useful when you want to:

• Keep a diagram tidy.
• Avoid crossing lines.
• Connect shapes from a specific side or angle.
• Make a flowchart easier to follow.

Adjust Connector paths

For more complex diagrams, you can fine-tune Connector paths by adjusting their control points.

You can use control points to:

• Move part of a Connector path.
• Add bends to a Connector.
• Remove extra control points when you no longer need them.

This helps you create cleaner diagrams when shapes are close together or when several Connectors need to fit on the same page.

Build diagrams faster

Quick Diagramming helps you build connected diagrams faster. Select a shape, then use the edge dots to create another connected shape or connect to a nearby existing shape.

This lets you continue building a diagram without repeatedly creating each shape and Connector separately.

1. Select a shape.
2. Tap or click one of the edge dots.
3. Create a connected shape or connect to a nearby existing shape.
4. Continue from the new selected shape to keep building your diagram.

Add text to a shape

You can add text to shapes to label diagrams, flowcharts, and visual notes. Goodnotes keeps the text inside the shape so labels are easier to read and organize.

This is useful for:

• Flowchart steps
• Mind map labels
• Process diagrams
• Simple buttons or cards
• Annotated visual notes

Lock the shape

You can lock a shape in place so you don't accidentally move it while you're working.

1. Select the shape
2. Tap the (...) menu and select Lock Shape. To unlock, tap the (...) menu again and select Unlock Shape.