How do I edit Biorender?

To edit in BioRender, you generally select the element you wish to modify, and a side panel with relevant properties will appear, allowing you to customize its appearance, text, or structure.

Getting Started with Editing in BioRender

BioRender is designed for intuitive scientific illustration, making editing existing diagrams straightforward. Whether you're adjusting text, manipulating shapes, or refining icons, the core process involves selecting an element and using the contextual editing tools.

Selecting and Manipulating Elements

The foundation of editing any illustration in BioRender begins with selection.

Click to Select: Simply click on any icon, shape, text box, or group of elements to select it. Once selected, a bounding box will appear around it, often with handles for resizing and rotation.
Drag to Move: Click and hold an element, then drag your mouse to reposition it on the canvas.
Resize: Click and drag the corner handles of a selected element to scale it proportionally. Use side handles for non-proportional scaling.
Rotate: Look for a rotation handle (often a small circle or arrow) near the bounding box of a selected element. Click and drag it to rotate the element.
Duplicate: With an element selected, you can often duplicate it quickly using keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+D or Cmd+D) or by using a "Duplicate" option in a right-click menu or toolbar.

For more detailed guidance on basic manipulations, refer to BioRender's official support resources.

Editing Text

Text is a critical component of most scientific illustrations, and BioRender provides robust tools for editing its content and appearance.

Select the Text Box: Click on the text box containing the text you wish to edit. This action will typically activate the side toolbar or properties panel.
Highlight Text: Double-click inside the text box or click once and then highlight the specific portion of text that you wish to modify.
Change Font, Size, and Style: In the properties side panel, you'll find options to change the font family, font size, and text styles such as bold, italic, or underline.
Adjust Text Color:
- With the text box selected and the side toolbar visible, ensure the specific text portion is highlighted.
- In the properties side panel, locate and select the "Color" option.
- Choose any color you desire by using the color picker tool or by selecting a pre-defined color from the color panel.

Practical Tip for Text

Consider using consistent fonts and sizes for labels and titles across your figures to maintain a professional and cohesive look.

Modifying Shapes and Icons

BioRender's extensive library of icons and shapes can be customized to fit your specific needs.

Change Fill Color: Select a shape or icon. The properties panel will usually display a "Fill Color" option. Click it to open a color palette and choose your desired color.
Adjust Border/Stroke: Many elements have a border (or stroke). You can typically change its color, thickness, and style (e.g., solid, dashed) from the properties panel.
Flip or Rotate Icons: Use the "Flip Horizontal" or "Flip Vertical" buttons, or the rotation handle, to reorient icons as needed.
Adjust Opacity: The transparency of an element can be modified using an "Opacity" slider in the properties panel.

Layering and Organization

Managing the order and grouping of elements is essential for complex illustrations.

Bring Forward/Send Backward: Use the "Arrange" or "Layer" options in the toolbar (often accessed via right-click) to change an element's position within the layer stack, ensuring elements overlap correctly.
Group Elements: To move or edit multiple elements together, select them all (e.g., by dragging a selection box or holding Shift and clicking each element), then use the "Group" option. This treats them as a single object.
Ungroup Elements: If you need to edit individual components of a grouped object, select the group and choose "Ungroup."

Alignment and Distribution

For a polished look, precise alignment of elements is key.

Alignment Tools: Select multiple objects and use the alignment tools (e.g., Align Left, Align Center, Align Top) available in the toolbar to position them relative to each other.
Distribution Tools: Distribute objects evenly along a horizontal or vertical axis to ensure uniform spacing between them.

Action	How to Perform	Key Panels/Tools
Select	Click on element.	Canvas, Bounding Box
Move	Click and drag selected element.	Bounding Box
Resize	Drag corner/side handles of selected element.	Bounding Box Handles
Edit Text	Double-click text box; highlight text.	Side Toolbar, Properties Panel (Font, Size)
Change Color	Select element; use color picker in properties.	Properties Panel (Color Option)
Group/Ungroup	Select multiple elements; click "Group" button.	Toolbar, Right-click Menu
Layering	Select element; use "Bring Forward/Send Backward."	Toolbar, Right-click Menu

Saving and Exporting Your Edits

Once you've finished editing, you'll want to save your work and potentially export it.

Auto-Save: BioRender typically features an auto-save function, but it's always good practice to manually save your work periodically.
Exporting: To use your illustration outside of BioRender, look for an "Export" option. You can usually choose various formats like PNG, JPG, SVG, or PDF, and often adjust resolution settings. For high-quality publications, consider exporting at 300 DPI or higher.

By understanding these fundamental editing techniques, you can effectively utilize BioRender to create and refine compelling scientific illustrations.