- Getting started with sequence diagrams 🎥
- What is Whimsical?
- Getting started with docs
- Getting to know Whimsical - video guide 🎥
- Working with Whimsical's infinite canvas - video guide 🎥
- 5 ways to create a new file
- Getting started with flowcharts
- Getting started with mind maps
- Getting started with cards
- Getting started with wireframes
- How to create a new workspace
- How to use AI-assisted mind mapping
- Getting started with Whimsical AI
- Customizing file and folder icons
- Mentions in Whimsical files
- Customizing diagram shapes
- Getting started with sequence diagrams 🎥
- Commenting in Whimsical files
- Using sections on the Whimsical canvas
- Mentions in Whimsical files
- Customizing diagram shapes
- Sketch on the canvas with freehand drawing
- Annotating files for more detail
- Text-to-object pasting options
- Adding and displaying links in Whimsical files
- Linking to sections and objects
- How to draw a line
- How to filter by selected objects
- Presenting in Whimsical
- Voting on cards and sticky notes
- Using the timer in boards
- Working with the grid and auto-alignment
- Working with connectors
- Does Whimsical have cloud architecture icons?
- Using tables in Whimsical
- Using sticky notes in boards
- Optimizing performance in larger files
- Embedding external content into Whimsical
- Using spellcheck
- Setting custom thumbnails
- How overlays work in Wireframe mode
- Hiding cursors while collaborating
- Getting started with sequence diagrams 🎥
- Customizing file and folder icons
- How to draw a line
- How to filter by selected objects
- Does Whimsical have cloud architecture icons?
- How overlays work in Wireframe mode
- Moving and copying files
- Using Whimsical on mobile
- Does Whimsical have a dark mode?
- File version history
- Why are the colors of some elements toned down?
- Does Whimsical support offline mode?
- Teams, workspaces & sections explained
- Does Whimsical work on iPad?
- Free viewers commenting in workspaces
- Syntax highlighting in code blocks
- Whimsical desktop app
- Is Whimsical available in other languages?
- Inverting the zoom direction in Whimsical so it works more like Sketch
- Troubleshooting issues and reporting bugs
- How to add emojis
- Team FAQs
- How to restore files from Trash
- Searching in your Whimsical workspace
- Organizing files in your workspace
- I've upgraded but still don't have access to the paid features
- Why can't I edit my files?
- Reporting content in Whimsical
- Does Whimsical have an affiliate or referral program?
- Collaborating with others in real time
- Sharing files and managing access permissions
- Hiding cursors while collaborating
- Prevent new workspace creation
- How to create a new workspace
- Requesting file access
- Workspace discovery settings
- Sorting files and folders
- Changing workspace members' roles
- Setting up SAML session expiry
- Adding and removing members
- Creating and managing teams
- Requesting workspace editor access
- Linking between files
- Member roles in Whimsical
- How to delete a workspace
- How to upgrade your workspace
- Guest access
- Renaming your workspace
- Offboarding users
- Embedding & integrating boards with Jira Issues
- Integrating Whimsical with Google Docs
- Embedding files in ClickUp views
- Embedding files in Asana
- Embedding Whimsical files
- Whimsical AI Diagrams for ChatGPT
- Creating Jira & Confluence Smart Links for Whimsical Files
- Embedding files in Guru
- Embedding files in Trello
- Embedding & integrating boards in Notion
- Integrating Whimsical and Front
- Integrating Whimsical and GitHub
- Embedding files in Almanac
- Embedding files in Zendesk
- Support Whimsical embeds in your app with EmbedKit
- Whimsical previews and notifications in Slack
- Embedding files in Canva
- Integrating Whimsical and Linear
- Embedding files in Nuclino
- Embedding files in Monday
- Embedding files in Medium
- Embedding files in Slab
- Embedding files in Coda
- Setting up Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
- Prevent new workspace creation
- SAML SSO in Whimsical
- SAML SSO with Okta
- Setting up SAML session expiry
- SAML SSO with Auth0
- Whitelisting Whimsical domains
- SAML SSO with OneLogin
- SCIM provisioning with Groups in Okta
- SAML SSO with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
- Setting up SCIM with Okta
- SAML SSO with Google Workspace (previously G-Suite)
- Setting up SCIM with JumpCloud
- SAML SSO with other identity providers
- Setting up SCIM with Entra ID (Azure AD)
- Signing in with your Whimsical account on multiple devices
- Contact us
Customizing diagram shapes
In Whimsical boards, there are many diagram shapes which can be customized in different ways. This article covers the different options and how to use them.
You'll find diagram shapes in the toolbar, or you can search for a specific shape by typing the slash key /:
They are:
- Rectangle (square)
- Pill
- Oval (circle)
- Diamond
- Parallelogram
- Flipped Parallelogram
- Trapezoid
- Triangle
- Hexagon
- Cylinder
- Sequence Diagram actor
- Annotation
- Line
- Bracket
- Cloud
- Star
After adding a shape to your board, you can always change it to be a different shape while preserving the customizations you've made (color/border etc):
SizeLink to this section
The first and most obvious way to customize a shape is to change its size. Just drag any of the sides or corners, and you'll see the exact width and height in pixels as you make adjustments.
Read this article to learn how auto-alignment and the grid impacts sizing shapes.
Tip: When resizing clouds or stars, the edges are regenerated for a splash of randomness 👇
If you do want multiple identical clouds or stars, resize them first before copying them.
ColorLink to this section
Change the color of any of your shapes with this option in the context bar:
After you've set the color of a specific shape (like cloud in this example) any more of the same shapes you add will be the same color. E.g. any other clouds I add to this board 👆will be pink.
The colors available in this palette come from the board's theme.
Check out this article to learn about custom themes and colors.
Border styleLink to this section
There are three outline options to choose from:
- Fill - where the entire shape is solidly colored and there is no distinct border
- Border - where the border is solidly colored and the shape's fill is a lighter version of the same color
- Dashed border - Same as above, but the border is dashed
You can also make a shape completely transparent - leaving only its outline visible:
Quick hack: If you want a shape to have a different colored border, you can place a slightly larger shape behind it and then group them for this effect:
Or, offsetting two shapes of the same size, can make for a groovy 3D block effect:
This is best used sparingly 😉
RotationLink to this section
You can rotate shapes at 90 degree increments:
Note: it's not currently possible to rotate shapes to more specific increments (e.g. 45 degrees)
