Shape libraries in Lucidchart

Enable and use a shape library

To browse and enable standard and custom shape libraries in Lucidchart, follow these steps:

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
   • You can also press the “M” key on your keyboard.

4. In the “Shapes” tab, check the boxes next to shape libraries you want to use.

   

5. Click Use selected shapes.

You can access all enabled shape libraries from Document tools in the left panel.

For full instructions to enable and use a shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Default shape menu

By default, the following shape libraries appear in new documents:

• Shapes in use
• Standard
• Flowchart
• Containers
• Shapes

To keep your workspace consistent and easy to navigate, the "Shapes in use” shape library is permanently fixed at the top of the Document tools panel and cannot be reordered. This section automatically displays shapes currently placed on your document canvas.

For information on the default shape menu in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Organize shape libraries

You can reorder or manage your shape libraries directly from the Document tools panel on the left.

To rearrange a shape library, click and drag its title. You can also hover over the title, click the three-dot icon, and select from the following options:

• Move to top: Place the library right below "Shapes in use" (which stays pinned at the top).
• Move up: Shift the library up one position.
• Move down: Shift the library down one position.
• Move to bottom: Send the library to the bottom of the panel.
• Remove from document tools: Remove the library from the panel.

Click the dropdown icon next to the title to expand or collapse the shape library's contents. You can also select Add to canvas to add a specific shape library to the canvas as a quick tool.
 

Work with custom shape libraries

Create a shape library and add custom shapes for ease of use on your documents. Read on to learn how to create, add shapes to, remove shapes from, share, and delete a custom shape library.

Create a custom shape library

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
   • You can also press the “M” key on your keyboard.
4. Expand the “My libraries” tab to the left of the shape library manager.
5. Click the plus icon next to “My libraries”.
6. Rename the new library by clicking the title in the shape manager.
7. Check the box next to the custom shape library to enable it for use in a document.
8. Click Use Selected Shapes or click the X to close the shape library manager.

For full instructions to create a custom shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Add shapes to a custom shape library

Add a shape from the canvas

To add a shape from the canvas to a custom shape library, drag the shape from the canvas into an existing custom shape library.

If you have edit access to a custom shape library, you can also add a shape to it by following these steps:

1. Right-click the shape from the canvas.
2. Hover your cursor over “More actions”.
3. Select Add to custom shape library.
4. Choose a shape library from the list.
5. Name the shape.
6. Click Done.

For full instructions to add a shape from the canvas in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Add a shape from your device

To add an SVG or Visio stencil from your device as a shape to a custom shape library, follow these steps:

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
   • You can also press the “M” key on your keyboard.
4. In the “Shapes” tab, click the “My libraries” tab in the bottom left.
5. Select the library you want to add a shape to or create a new one.
6. Click the plus sign tile.
   • If the custom shape library doesn't have any shapes in it, click Choose file(s) or drag the file from your device into the shape library.
7. Select an SVG or Visio stencil file from your device.
8. Click the checkbox if you want to rasterize SVG imports.
9. Click Use selected shapes.

For full instructions to upload a shape from your device in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Remove a shape from a custom shape library

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
   • You can also press the “M” key on your keyboard.
4. In the “Shapes” tab, click the “My libraries” tab in the bottom left.
5. Check the box associated with the custom shape library that has a shape you want to remove.
6. Right-click the shape.
7. Click Delete.

For full instructions to remove a shape from a custom shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Share a custom shape library 

If you are on a Team or Enterprise account, you can share your custom shape libraries with other Team and Enterprise account users. Here’s how:

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
   • You can also press the “M” key on your keyboard.
4. In the “Shapes” tab, click the “My libraries” tab in the bottom left.
5. Select the custom library you want to share.
6. Click Share in the upper-right corner.
7. In the share window that appears, add collaborators by name or email address.
8. Select Invite.

For full instructions to share a custom shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Collaborators can find and enable the custom shape library you’ve shared with them in the "Shared with Me" section of their shape library manager.

Manage collaborator permissions

Once you share a custom shape library, you can see and manage collaborators at the bottom of the Share menu under “Collaborators”. 

You can choose from three tiers of sharing permissions when sharing custom shape libraries:

• Use gives collaborators access to all the shapes in the shape library.
• Edit grants collaborators the ability to access, edit, and add shapes in the shape library.
• Can edit and share means in addition to accessing, editing, and adding shapes in the shape library, collaborators can also share the library and adjust access permissions for others.

You can set different permissions for each collaborator and adjust them any time.

To adjust permissions, follow these steps:

1. From the "My libraries" dropdown of the shapes library manager, select a shape library
2. Click Share from the top-right corner.
3. Select Manage in the Collaborators section.
4. Click the sharing permissions icon for the collaborator you want to adjust sharing permissions for.
5. Select a permission option from the dropdown.

For full instructions to adjust permissions in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Export a custom shape library

To export a custom shape library, follow these steps:

1. From the “My libraries” dropdown, select a shape library.
2. Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Export.

For full instructions to export a custom shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

The custom shape library will be downloaded to your device. You can import it to another Lucid account by following the steps in the Import SVGs and Visio stencils section below.

Delete a custom shape library

1. From the “My libraries” dropdown, select a shape library.
2. Click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Delete Library.

For full instructions to delete a custom shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

Import and search for shapes and images

Lucid’s search and import tools make it easy for you to find the shapes and images you need. We integrate with third party-websites, services, or resources to give you access to third-party content, including GIFs (powered by Giphy), Images (powered by Brave), and Icons (powered by Iconfinder) (collectively, “Non-Lucid Applications”). Please review the terms of service and privacy policy of any third party site or service applicable to your use of Non-Lucid Applications.

Image search, Iconfinder, and the OneDrive integration are not available in the FedRAMP environment. To learn more, see our FedRAMP overview article.

Search for shapes, images, icons, and GIFs

To perform a keyword search in Brave, Streamline, Iconfinder, or using the Giphy integration, click the Images Panel icon from the left-hand navigation menu. Select Images, Streamline, Icons, or GIFs. Enter a keyword into the search bar, click the magnifying glass icon next to the search bar, and browse the results. Once you find an item you want to use, you can drag it directly onto your canvas.

Import images and GIFs

You can import a PDF, PNG, JPEG, or GIF file into Lucidchart by dragging or copying and pasting it directly onto your canvas. You can also add a file from your device by clicking the Import Image icon to the right of the search bar.

Import images from OneDrive

You can also import images directly from OneDrive by setting up the OneDrive integration. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open a Lucidchart document.
2. Click the Images Panel icon from the navigation menu on the left-hand side.
3. Click the Import Image icon to the right of the search bar.
4. From the dropdown, select OneDrive.
5. Sign in to your Microsoft account.
6. Grant Lucidchart authorization to access your Microsoft files.
7. Choose an image and click Select.

The image will appear on your Lucidchart canvas.

Import SVGs and Visio stencils 

If you cannot find the shape or image you are looking for, you can bring your own shapes into Lucidchart by importing SVGs and Visio stencil files (.vss, .vssx, and .vsx) to custom shape libraries.
To import an SVG or Visio stencil file, follow these steps:

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
4. Click Import shapes in the bottom-left corner of the Shapes library manager.
5. Choose to "Add to Existing Library" or "Add to New Library" to determine where your imported file will be saved.
   • If you "Add to New Library" be sure to specify a name for the library on the import page.
6. Click Choose file and select the SVG or Visio stencil file(s) you want to upload from your computer.
7. Click Upload.
   • Files larger than 1 MB can take longer than one minute.

For full instructions to import and SVG or Visio stencil file in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

To add your new library to your document's shape panel, click the checkbox next to the library's name. Your new shape library will be available in the Shapes Panel.

Insert a YouTube or Vimeo video

To insert a YouTube or Vimeo video into your diagram, follow these steps:

1. Click the search icon in the upper-left corner of the document.
2. Select Shapes from the search panel.
3. Click Browse all shapes at the bottom of the panel. 
4. Search for the "Video" standard library and check the box next to its name to add the library to document tools in the left panel.
5. Drag the video shape to the canvas. When you drop the shape, a dialog will appear asking you to enter a YouTube or Vimeo URL.
6. Add a YouTube or Vimeo link to embed your video.

For full instructions to insert a YouTube or Vimeo video in the classic Lucidchart editor, expand the dropdown below.

You can double-click on the shape to change the URL at any time. In presentation mode or in an embedded diagram, click the shape to play the video within your diagram. If you include the video shape in a PDF, clicking the shape will take you to the YouTube or Vimeo URL.

Classic Lucidchart editor: Favorite and reorder shape libraries

Favorite your most used shape libraries to make them appear by default every time you open a new Lucidchart document in the classic Lucidchart editor.

To favorite a shape library in the classic Lucidchart editor, follow these steps:

1. Select the shapes icon in the Primary Toolbar to the left of the canvas.
2. Click More shapes at the bottom of the Shape menu.
3. Select the shape library you want to favorite.
4. Click Use selected shapes.
5. Click the Favorite icon to the right of the shape library in the Shape menu. 

Manage how shape libraries appear in your document in the classic Lucidchart editor:

• To unfavorite a shape library, click   the Unfavorite icon to the right of the shape library’s title. Unfavoriting a shape library keeps it in your current document, but stops it from automatically appearing in new ones.
• To hide a shape library from the Shape menu, click the Hide icon. This also hides the shape library from collaborators.
• Click and drag the reorder icon to the left of the shape library’s title into your preferred order.

Still need help

FAQ

Resources

To learn more about this feature, explore the additional resources below. These resources are available in English only.

Blog post

• BPMN Diagram Symbols & Notation

Course

• Customizing Your Diagrams

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