How To Create Basic Shapes in Figma
Tags: design, ux
Published: 2023-11-09 06:22:12

Shapes are the basic elements of any design, every beautiful design ever created are made from series of shapes put together to create a whole design. This guide will teach you how to create shapes using Figma in order to achieve an amazing design.

THE BASIC SHAPES IN FIGMA
In Figma, there is a tool bar that contains the list of all the tools that is needed for every design and on this tool bar, you find the shape tool.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kd5e3z161z3f8f97sd2p.png)
The tool indicated with blue in the image above, is the shape tool and when you click on the drop down arrow besides it, the list of all shape tool in Figma is displayed. In total, there are six shape tools in Figma.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/haljm1owyf1ov0jwcg4w.png)
Now, we are going to go into how to use each of these tool.

**The Rectangle Tool**
The rectangle tool is used to draw rectangular or square shapes for your designs and to create this shape, you have to.
•	click on the rectangle tool on the tool bar or pressing “R” on your keyboard. 
•	After this is done, you click on a spot in the design canvas and drag to create the shape.
•	After the shape is created, a blue bounding container appears and this allows you to resize the shape as you dim fit.
•	You can also use the scale tool to adjust the size of the shape.  
To achieve a square shape with all size equal, after clicking on the shape tool or pressing “R” on your keyboard, you hold down the shift key on your keyboard while you drag to create a shape that has all its size equal.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ggjk5qxck28qb6f82324.png)
It should also be noted that the size of the shape can be changed manually by inputting a preferred width or height on the properties panel. As shown below.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/449ng047l2tm44lvjhik.png)

**The Line Tool**
This tool is used to incorporate a line into your designs. Lines have different functions in designs including demarcation and to add some sort of aesthetics to your design. To use this tool:
•	you have to click on the line tool on the shape tool
•	click on a spot on the design canvas and drag to create the line.  
To achieve a straight line, after clicking on the line tool, hold down shift on your keyboard and drag. This creates a straight line.
To adjust the stroke (i.e thickness) of the line, you can go to the properties panel and adjust it manually from there.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/iyws92qhf2h1pcvv3el5.png)

**The Arrow Tool**
This tool is similar to the line tool and there are several reasons why it is used in a design. As you continue further in your design journey, you might find the need to incorporate an arrow in your design. To create an arrow: 
•	Click on the arrow tool on the shape tool list or click on “shift + L” on your keyboard.
•	Click on a spot on the design canvas and drag to create the arrow.
To achieve a straight arrow, after clicking on the arrow tool, hold down shift on your keyboard and drag. This creates a straight line arrow.
To adjust the stroke (i.e thickness) of the line, you can go to the properties panel and adjust it manually from there. You can also adjust the start and end point of the arrow from this panel.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/vogvyzdf8g3a4j9g27z1.png)

**The Ellipse Tool**
This tool is also useful in design and to create this tool, you have to:
•	click on the ellipse tool on the tool bar or pressing “O” on your keyboard. 
•	After this is done, you click on a spot in the design canvas and drag to create the shape.
•	After the shape is created, a blue bounding container appears and this allows you to resize the shape as you dim fit.
•	To achieve a perfect circle, after clicking on the ellipse tool or pressing “O” on your keyboard, you hold down the shift key on your keyboard while you drag to create a perfect circle.

You can also use the scale tool to adjust the size of the shape. The size of the shape can be changed manually by inputting a preferred width or height on the properties panel. As shown below.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/r1cua13593jvj4xnrba2.png)

**The polygon Tool**
This tool allows you to draw a shape with different number of sides, you can manually increase or decrease the number of sides depending on the shape you want. To create this you have to:
•	click on the polygon tool on the shape tool.
•	After this is done, you click on a spot in the design canvas and drag to create the shape.
•	After the shape is created, a blue bounding container appears and this allows you to resize the shape as you dim fit.
•	To achieve a perfect shape with all sides equal, after clicking on the polygon tool, you hold down the shift key on your keyboard while you drag to create a shape with equal sides.
•	The number of sides as well as the size of the shape can be adjusted manually on the properties panel.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/s37otx12j9z9v1fc7bjg.png)

**The Star Tool**
This tool is quite similar to the polygon tool, it allows you to draw a star shape, and you can manually increase or decrease the number of sides depending on the shape you want. To create this you have to:
•	click on the star tool on the shape tool list.
•	After this is done, you click on a spot in the design canvas and drag to create the star shape.
•	After the star shape is created, a blue bounding container appears and this allows you to resize the shape as you dim fit.
•	To achieve a perfect shape with all sides equal, after clicking on the star tool, you hold down the shift key on your keyboard while you drag to create a shape with equal sides.
•	The number of sides as well as the size of the shape can be adjusted manually on the properties panel.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/o8y9lorfsos5tu4g0emz.png)

**CONCLUSION**
Shapes are the basic elements of a design, and it cannot be denied that understanding the basics brings about an amazing and beautiful outcome. While this is just the basics of shape creation, it is important to note that there are other advanced features or properties of this shape that designers use when designing. These features are things you get familiar with as you progress in design and as you continue using Figma. But before that, understanding the basics is the most important.