> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.spreo.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.spreo.io/boards/customize-your-board.md).
# Customizing Your Board
Complete freedom to build for the way your team works.
### Building a layout
You can build completely custom board layouts with Spreo, whether it's for unique retros or complex workshops. The Shape tool, Zone tool, Text tool, and Image tool give you all the basic components needed.
{% hint style="info" %}
TIP / Use Activity Frames to organise the flow and process of your meetings.
{% endhint %}
### Zones
Zones are the basic 'container' for sticky notes. Most of Spreo's templates use zones.
Zones have the option to override the color of sticky notes inside them. If you set the Zone Colour to 'none' then your sticky notes can be a mix of colours.
Setting different colours for zones allows you to quickly visualize different work/idea areas. You can further customize zones by setting different layout styles.
Use the zone layout options to set structural behaviour for sticky notes.
### The shape tool
You can use shapes to build custom layouts, graphics or for general whiteboarding.
### Text Tool
The text tool has pretty robust editing tools, easily set size, alignment, justification, wrapping behaviour and choose from a variety of Google Fonts for your board design.
Text made with the Text Tool can be formatted with rich text options. Select the text and a rich text formatting toolbar will appear with Headings (H1 to H3), Bold, Italic, bullets and numbered lists.
#### Hyperlinks / Formatted URLs
Hyperlinks can be made anywhere that rich text is allowed, by typing this format:
\[Example Link]\([https://example.com](https://example.com/))
### Add Images or Gifs
You can upload images directly from your computer, or copy & paste from anywhere. You can also link to GIFs, and search through our integrated image library (Pixabay).
Images are added one at a time. If you drop or paste several files at once, only one of them will be added, so add them one by one.
Images are containers by default: anything you place fully on top of an image becomes part of it and moves with it. For background images, logos or watermarks, select the image and switch **Container** off in the property toolbar so sticky notes stay put when the image is moved. See [Object Nesting](#object-nesting) below.
### Add Gadgets
Gadgets are a great way to bring more fun and interactivity to your meetings.
In the gadgets you will find:
* **A music player (Jukebox) -** Pick your track and play music to everyone on the board.
* **A Timer** - set the time for an exercise.
* **A Spinner** - add your options and hit spin!
* **A Counter** - the counter counts up and down.
* **A Buzzer** - pick a sound effect, then hit the buzzer to play it!
* **A Tray** - a stock of objects for participants to grab, like sticky note packs or tokens.
* **A Voter** - a quick vote on a set of options.
{% hint style="info" %}
TIP / You can customize the colour of the Jukebox, Timer, Counter and Buzzer. Select the gadget and use the colour picker.
{% endhint %}
### Express yourself with the Marker
Have some fun and keep things loose with the marker pen tool. Draw some custom visuals for your board or get your participants to have a go, it's a great ice-breaker
### Activity Frames
Activity frames are a way to organize different areas of your board. You can use the 'sheep' icon to bring all participants to you or the visible/hidden icon to keep upcoming activities hidden from participants - a great way to lead your team through a custom experience.
### Layout design tips
#### Object Snapping
Object snapping and guidelines help when you drag or move layout objects around. Perfect for obsessive board builders.
If for some reason you don't like it, you can disable Snapping from the Grid Settings in the board settings, under the board name.
Grid Settings also let you choose the grid style (Dots & Lines, Just Dots or Off) and the line size, and whether objects snap to the grid, to guides, or both. The grid is hidden while a meeting is running.
#### Object Nesting
Objects can be nested inside each other. When an object sits fully inside a *container*, it becomes part of that container: move, rotate or resize the container and everything inside it comes along. This is how zones carry their sticky notes, and it's what makes bigger layouts manageable.
**Which objects are containers?**
* **Zones and Frames** are always containers.
* **Shapes and Images** (including GIFs) are containers by default, and have a **Container** toggle so you can switch this off.
* Text, icons, tokens, cards and gadgets never act as containers.
**Turning Container on or off**
Select a shape or image and click the **Container** button (the box icon) in the property toolbar. When it's highlighted, the object is a container.
* **Container on** (the default): anything placed fully inside becomes part of the object. Drop sticky notes onto it, draw a shape around existing objects, or resize it to enclose them and they'll be captured. Switching it on also captures anything already sitting fully inside.
* **Container off**: the object acts as a backdrop. Things placed on top of it belong to whatever is behind it instead, whether that's a zone, a frame or the board itself. Moving the object leaves everything else where it is. Switching it off releases anything it was holding, without moving it.
{% hint style="info" %}
TIP / Only objects that sit *entirely* within the container's outline are captured. Something that overlaps the edge stays independent.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="info" %}
TIP / A container only captures objects that are in front of it. If a shape or image is sitting on top of your sticky notes, send it to the back (`Shift` + `[`), then switch Container off and on again to pick them up.
{% endhint %}
**When to turn Container off**
* Background images, logos and watermarks, so nobody drags the whole layout by grabbing the picture.
* Decorative shapes drawn behind a set of zones, so sticky notes belong to the zones rather than the shape.
* Any large image you want to move or swap out later without disturbing the notes on top of it.
If sticky notes keep coming along for the ride whenever you move an image or shape, this is the setting to change.
{% hint style="info" %}
TIP / `Shift` + double-click an object to select every object of the same type inside the same container.
{% endhint %}
#### Align, distribute and arrange
Select two or more objects, right-click and open the Arrange menu:
* Align the selection to the left or top, or centre it horizontally or vertically
* Distribute objects evenly across or down
* Align Columns and Align Rows tidy a loose grid of objects
You can also press `Shift` + `1` to stack the selection vertically, `Shift` + `2` to stack it horizontally, `Shift` + `3` to align columns and `Shift` + `4` to align rows.
**Flow Layout** ('Arrange & Sort', shortcut `U`) is in the same right-click menu. It lays the selection out in rows and can sort it for you.
If your selection contains different types of object, use the Filter option in the bar above it to narrow the selection down to one type.
#### Layer Order
Bring objects to front or back of each other. Right-click an object to access the context menu.
You can also use the keyboard shortcuts: `Shift` + `[` or `]`, or move one layer up/down with just `[` and `]`.
#### Rotate objects
Rotate objects by moving your cursor just outside any corner until you see the cursor change to rotation arrows, then click and drag to rotate the object around its central axis. You can also rotate multiple selected objects in the same way. You cannot rotate sticky notes, index cards, groups or tokens.
#### Undo / Redo
Use Undo & Redo if you make mistakes.
Note - you cannot undo other people's actions because each person's actions are captured separately.
#### Cloning objects
You can clone objects by selecting them, then press the `Alt` key and any `direction` key together. Alternatively, hold the `Alt` key and drag from the object - a clone will be created.
#### Copy & paste
You can copy & paste an object or multiple selected objects. The new copy is placed directly on top of the original.
Right-click a selection and open the Copy menu for more options:
* **Copy** works the same as `Ctrl` + `C`
* **Copy Json** copies the selection as JSON data
* **Copy Style** copies colours and formatting so you can paste them onto another object (`Shift` + `C` to copy a style, `Shift` + `V` to paste it)
With a single object selected, the menu can also show:
* **Copy Png** and **Copy Svg**, which copy the object as an image, for objects that support it
* **Copy Link To Object**, which gives you a link that opens the board at that object
{% hint style="info" %}
You can copy & paste content across different boards
{% endhint %}
---
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Zones
Zones are the basic 'container' for sticky notes. Most of Spreo's templates use zones.
Zones have the option to override the color of sticky notes inside them. If you set the Zone Colour to 'none' then your sticky notes can be a mix of colours.
Setting different colours for zones allows you to quickly visualize different work/idea areas. You can further customize zones by setting different layout styles.
The shape tool
You can use shapes to build custom layouts, graphics or for general whiteboarding.
Text Tool
The text tool has pretty robust editing tools, easily set size, alignment, justification, wrapping behaviour and choose from a variety of Google Fonts for your board design.
Add Images or Gifs
You can upload images directly from your computer, or copy & paste from anywhere. You can also link to GIFs, and search through our integrated image library (Pixabay).
Images are added one at a time. If you drop or paste several files at once, only one of them will be added, so add them one by one.
Add Gadgets
Gadgets are a great way to bring more fun and interactivity to your meetings.
Express yourself with the Marker
Have some fun and keep things loose with the marker pen tool. Draw some custom visuals for your board or get your participants to have a go, it's a great ice-breaker
Activity Frames
Activity frames are a way to organize different areas of your board. You can use the 'sheep' icon to bring all participants to you or the visible/hidden icon to keep upcoming activities hidden from participants - a great way to lead your team through a custom experience.
