# Shape

Use Shape blocks for marks, backgrounds, accents, and decorative structure. Add one from the left sidebar and choose the shape when you add it.

## Common properties

Most blocks share these controls in the right sidebar. Selecting a child also shows controls for its parent layout.

| Property | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Size | Width can be fixed, percentage-based, or automatic. Height can be fixed, flexible, or constrained by minimum and maximum values. Lock the aspect ratio to preserve proportions. Size values support variables. |
| Arrange | X and Y position blocks on the canvas or inside Free Panels, using fixed values or percentage anchors. Alignment controls place blocks at common positions. Rotate, flip, lock, or change the layer order. |
| Background | Choose a solid color, a linear, radial, or conic gradient, or a pattern. Colors support variables. Gradient stops have colors and positions and are sorted by position; linear and conic gradients also have an angle. Pattern colors and size support variables, with controls varying by pattern. |
| Border | Simple mode shares color, thickness, style, and radius across all sides. Advanced mode sets each side's color, thickness, and style and each corner's radius independently. |
| Shadow | Add layers of regular shadow, inner shadow, or glow, subject to the block-specific limits below. |

Canvas and block backgrounds are separate: transparent areas reveal the parent or canvas. Patterns are based on [CSS Pattern](https://css-pattern.com/). See [Sizing and positioning](/template-editor/advanced/sizing-positioning/) for sizing modes and position anchors.

Rectangles and circles support solid, gradient, and pattern backgrounds and advanced borders. Stars and triangles support solid colors and linear or radial gradients, simple borders, and drop shadows or glow; they do not support patterns, conic gradients, inner shadows, or shadow spread.

## Shape types

*   Rectangle
*   Circle
*   Triangle
*   Star

The type cannot change after creation. Add a new Shape block when you need a different type.

## Block-specific properties

| Property | Details | Variables |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Opacity | Transparency of the whole block, including content and styling. | Yes |

## Templated content

Many properties can use [variables](/template-editor/variables/) to assign their value when each image is created. Variables can be required, ignored, or given a fallback value. Pass values in `template_values` when rendering the template.