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FigureLoom manual

FigureLoom is a browser-based editor for scientific figures, diagrams, posters, presentations, charts, pathways, maps, and other visual research work.

You can use the editor without an account. Local projects are saved in the browser, and complete editable project backups can be downloaded as .figureloom files. Accounts add encrypted cloud projects, sharing, roles, comments, and live collaboration.

New here?

Start with Start here. It walks through creating a project, adding objects, saving a backup, and exporting the result.

Use the Visual interface guide to learn where everything is, or jump to Quick task guides when you need short instructions for one specific action.

The sidebar keeps the full manual organized by editing, scientific tools, files, sharing, tutorials, and troubleshooting.

Current interface notes

• Open project tabs keep the close control beside each project title. Closing a tab does not silently delete the project.
• The desktop Pages, Hand, zoom, Format, and Navigation bar can be moved as one complete bar and still uses its existing collapse control.
• In Phone mode, open More, then choose Help to open the Help center, manual links, visual guide, and passive interface tour.
• The passive guide has 13 steps covering Projects, Settings, main workspaces, tools, the canvas, pages and layers, the canvas control bar, the inspector, Pro Tools, Loomy, sharing, Help, and export.
• The guide remains passive. It does not open panels, move objects, change selections, or scroll the project.
• A project can be connected to a compatible external assistant from Settings → MCP & AI access. Connections are project-specific, revocable, and can be read-only or full access.
• The VM button opens the hosted FigureLoom Linux desktop for optional browser-based Linux and bioinformatics work.
• The focused runtime checks cover light and dark desktop and phone layouts, Help opening, project-tab close placement, failed local scripts, page errors, and console errors.

Find a topic

Core editing

• Visual interface guide
• Quick task guides
• Interface and navigation
• Phone and tablet use
• Projects, saving, and recovery
• Canvas, pages, and layers
• Text, shapes, arrows, and connectors
• Images, SVG, and uploads

Scientific tools

• Scientific illustrations and maps
• Data, tables, and charts
• Equations, code, and scientific notation
• Pro Tools and advanced science
• Review, references, and accessibility

Files, accounts, and sharing

• Accounts, cloud projects, and collaboration
• MCP and AI access
• Importing PowerPoint and spreadsheets
• Export, backup, and presentation
• Privacy, security, and offline use

Help

• Loomy
• Keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures
• Complete tutorials
• Supported formats and limitations
• Troubleshooting and recovery
• Self-hosting and deployment
• FAQ

A useful rule

For work you care about, keep a downloaded .figureloom backup. Browser autosave is convenient, but a separate file is the safest way to move or archive a project.

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Dedicated to Adriana M. K.