Shadows & Effects
Add depth and visual interest to your diagrams with shadows, opacity, and corner effects.
Shadows
Adding a Shadow
- Select one or more shapes
- In the Inspector, find the Shadow section
- Toggle Shadow on
- Adjust shadow properties
Shadow Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Color | Shadow color (typically dark gray or black) |
| Blur | Softness of the shadow edge (0 = sharp, higher = softer) |
| Offset X | Horizontal distance from shape |
| Offset Y | Vertical distance from shape |
| Opacity | Transparency of the shadow |
Shadow Presets
Quick shadow styles:
- Subtle: Small offset, low blur
- Medium: Balanced offset and blur
- Dramatic: Large offset, prominent shadow
- Contact: Minimal offset, higher blur (appears grounded)
Tips for Shadows
- Keep shadow direction consistent across your diagram
- Use subtle shadows for professional documents
- Avoid shadows on connectors (can reduce clarity)
- Consider your export format (shadows may render differently)
Opacity
Adjusting Transparency
Make shapes semi-transparent:
- Select the shape
- In the Inspector, find Opacity
- Drag the slider or enter a percentage
| Opacity | Effect |
|---|---|
| 100% | Fully opaque |
| 75% | Slightly transparent |
| 50% | Half transparent |
| 25% | Mostly transparent |
| 0% | Invisible |
Use Cases for Opacity
- Layering: Show overlapping areas
- Backgrounds: Watermarks or subtle fills
- Focus: Fade non-essential elements
- Annotations: Semi-transparent callouts
Fill vs Shape Opacity
- Fill Opacity: Only the fill becomes transparent (stroke remains solid)
- Shape Opacity: The entire shape, including stroke, becomes transparent
Corner Radius
Rounding Corners
- Select a rectangular shape
- In the Inspector, find Corner Radius
- Enter a value or drag the slider
| Radius | Effect |
|---|---|
| 0 | Sharp corners (rectangle) |
| Small | Slightly rounded |
| Medium | Noticeably rounded |
| Large | Very rounded |
| Maximum | Becomes a capsule/pill shape |
Per-Corner Control
For different radii on each corner:
- Click the Corners disclosure
- Adjust each corner independently
- Useful for callouts and custom shapes
Combining Effects
Create depth and visual hierarchy:
- Background shapes: Lower opacity, no shadow
- Main elements: Full opacity, subtle shadow
- Focus elements: Full opacity, prominent shadow, rounded corners
Performance Considerations
Effects may impact performance on complex diagrams:
- Shadows require additional rendering
- Many transparent shapes can slow scrolling
- Consider simplifying effects before exporting
Tips
- Less is more: Subtle effects look more professional
- Consistency: Use the same shadow settings throughout
- Test exports: Effects may appear differently in PDF vs PNG
- Accessibility: Ensure sufficient contrast when using transparency