To create a drawing in Google Docs, click Insert > Drawing > New. A drawing window opens where you can add shapes, lines, arrows, text boxes and images. Click Save and close to put the drawing in your document.
Google’s drawings help page covers these tools for Google Docs on a computer.
How to Create a Drawing in Google Docs
- Open your document in Google Docs on a computer.
- Click where you want the drawing to go.
- In the top left, click Insert > Drawing > New.
- Use the toolbar to add a line, shape, text box or image.
- Click Save and close.
The drawing appears in your document as an image you can move, resize or edit. To get a picture back out of a document later, you can save an image from Google Docs.
How to Use the Drawing Tools
The toolbar at the top of the drawing window has four main tools, according to Google:
Lines and arrows
Click Select line and pick a type. For a Line, Elbow Connector, Curved Connector or Arrow, click to start and drag across the canvas. For a Curve or Polyline, click at each point where you want the line to bend, then double-click or close the shape to finish. For freehand drawing, choose Scribble and drag.
Building a presentation instead? The same line types are on the Google Slides toolbar if you need to add an arrow in Google Slides.
Shapes
Click Shape, choose a shape, then click and drag on the canvas to draw it. To put text inside an enclosed shape, double-click it and start typing.
Text
Click Insert in the drawing window. Choose Text Box to type inside a box, or Word Art to place text on the canvas as a shape. Type your text and press Enter. You can then resize it or apply styles like bold or italics.
Images
Click Image and follow the prompts to pick or upload a picture. You can move and format it like any other shape.
To point readers to a clip instead of a picture, you can add a video to Google Docs.
For a simple divider across your page, the horizontal line command in Google Docs is quicker than opening a drawing. Lines and simple drawings are common finishing touches when you make a newsletter from a Google Docs template.
How to Move, Resize and Format Shapes
Click Select on the toolbar, then click the shape, line or text box you want to change:
- Move: drag it on the canvas.
- Resize: drag the blue boxes at the corners.
- Rotate: drag the blue dot outside the shape. Hold Shift to rotate 15 degrees at a time.
- Colors and lines: use the buttons above the canvas to change the fill color, line color, line thickness or line style.
- Copy: hold Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Mac) and drag to place a copy.
How to Edit a Drawing Later
Double-click the drawing in your document. The drawing window opens again. Make your changes and click Save and close.
How to Insert a Drawing From Google Drive
If you already made a drawing in Google Drawings, you can reuse it in any document:
- Click Insert > Drawing > From Drive.
- Choose the drawing and click Select.
Google says the inserted drawing stays linked to the original. If the original changes, click the drawing in your document and click Update in the top right. To break the link, click Unlink instead.
To start a new standalone drawing in Drive, go to Google Drive and click New > More > Google Drawings. In Google Drawings, File > Page setup lets you choose a canvas size or set a custom one.
Draw or Add Arrows on an Image in Google Docs
Choose Insert > Drawing > New, use Image to add the picture, then choose Select line > Arrow or Scribble to mark it. Drag on the canvas and adjust line color or thickness. Select Save and close and check the inserted result. Double-click it to edit later. The marks are part of this drawing; your original image file stays separate. Google’s drawing tools help page covers these tools.
Examples: a Signature or a Timeline
Signature: open Insert > Drawing > New, choose Select line > Scribble, and draw your name with the mouse or trackpad. Click Save and close, then drag a corner to resize it. This is a picture of a signature, not a verified eSignature.
Timeline: draw a horizontal line or arrow, add short lines or small shapes for each event, and put a Text Box with the date above each one. Double-click the drawing later to add events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I draw freehand in Google Docs?
Yes. In the drawing window, choose Select line > Scribble and drag across the canvas.
Can I add a chart instead of a drawing?
Yes. You can insert a graph in Google Docs.
Why does my drawing look small?
After you save, click the drawing in your document and drag a corner handle to resize it on the page.
Related Guides
- How to insert a page break in Google Docs
- How to change the zoom level in Google Docs
- How to insert a picture in Google Sheets
Need rows and columns instead of shapes? You can create and edit tables in Google Docs.
Need to call out a note on the page? You can add a text box in Google Docs.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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