Styling Nodes (Shapes, Colors, Borders)

Styling Nodes (Shapes, Colors, Borders)

You can customize how nodes look on the canvas by changing their shapes, colors, and border styles.

Changing Node Type Appearance

Visual styling is set on the Node Type (metamodel level), so all instances share the same look:

1. Select a Node Type in the Tree View
2. Open the Properties Panel
3. Find the Appearance section
4. Configure:
   • Color: Set the fill color for nodes of this type
   • Shape: Choose from rectangle, ellipse, diamond, hexagon, and more
   • Border: Adjust border style (solid, dashed) and width

Available Shapes

• Rectangle — default, good for most elements
• Rounded Rectangle — softer look
• Ellipse — commonly used for start/end states or actors
• Diamond — traditional choice for decisions or conditions
• Hexagon — useful for distinguishing special element types

Color Strategy

Use colors consistently to convey meaning:

• Group related types by color (e.g., all infrastructure = blue, all people = green)
• Use contrasting colors for types that are often shown on the same diagram
• Keep it readable — ensure labels are visible against the background color

Tips

• Styling changes apply to all instances of the type across all diagrams
• You can change styles at any time — existing nodes update immediately
• Consistent visual language makes diagrams easier to read at a glance