# Arrows and shapes

> Draw lines, arrows and shapes, attach arrows to shapes, and edit them in the properties panel.

Source: https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/arrows-and-shapes

Last verified: 2026-10-13 (checked against FlashBoards app build 042ae39db)

Arrows and shapes help you show relationships: camera movement, which reference led to which result, or a frame around a group of shots. They're for organizing and aren't sent to a model.

> **Note: Own boards only.** You can draw and edit arrows and shapes only on your own boards, not on shared ones. They're kept when you [publish a board](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/sharing/publish.md) or export it as a `.refboard`.

## Draw an arrow or line

### Step 1: Pick a style

Hover **Add arrow** in the left board tools to open the **Arrows** menu and choose **Line**, **Straight arrow**, **Curved arrow** or **Elbow arrow**. The button remembers your last style.

### Step 2: Drag on the canvas

Drag from the start point to the end point. The new arrow is selected.

To put the tool away without drawing, click the button again, press `Esc`, or right-click.

## Attach an arrow to an item

To connect an arrow, select it and drag an endpoint onto a shape, media item, note or drawing until it snaps. The **Arrow** panel then shows **Attached to …** for that end, for example **Attached to Star**. Drag the middle handle to curve the arrow, or the elbow handle to move an elbow.

Attached arrows follow the item when you move it. Drag an endpoint away, or click **Detach** in the panel, to free it.

> **Note: Attachment edges.** Media, notes and drawings attach at their bounding-box edge. Importing items and unsupported-content placeholders cannot receive attachments. Media being generated cannot receive a new attachment; an existing attachment can stay in place while the media regenerates.

## Arrow properties

Select an arrow to open the **Arrow** panel on the right.

| Setting                                                                               | What it does                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Color**, **Weight**, **Opacity**                                                    | Appearance                  |
| **Straight**, **Curved**, **Elbow**                                                   | Route style                 |
| **Straighten**, **Curve**, first segment (**Horizontal** or **Vertical**), **Middle** | Fine-tune the path          |
| **Start** and **End** (**None** or **Open**), **Swap**                                | Arrowheads                  |
| **Start** and **End**: **Attached to …** or **Free**, **Detach**                      | Show and remove attachments |

Drag a number field to scrub its value. In the **Light** theme, white arrows and outlines show as dark ink (see [Settings](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/account/settings.md)).

## Draw a shape

Hover **Draw rectangle** (or the last shape you used) to open the **Shapes** menu: **Rectangle**, **Ellipse**, **Triangle**, **Diamond**, **Polygon** or **Star**. Drag on the canvas to place it.

Select a shape to open **Shape properties**:

* **W**, **H** and **Rotate** for size and angle.
* **Fill**, **Stroke**, **Weight** and **Opacity**.
* **Points** for polygons and stars, plus star **Ratio**.
* **Corner radius** for rectangles. Use **Link corner radii** to set each corner separately.

[Video: Draw a curved arrow from the arrow menu, then add a star from the shape menu](https://media.yaroflasher.com/docs/media/arrows-and-shapes.h264.f158801e.mp4)

## Related

- [Notes and drawing](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/notes-and-drawing.md)
- [Arrange and align](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/arrange.md)
- [Canvas basics](https://flashboards.yaroflasher.com/docs/boards/canvas.md)