The graphical appearance of diagram elements is defined in either a diagram theme, or an element style.
A diagram theme is a set of graphic properties that are applied to a whole diagram and its elements.
An element style is a set of graphic properties that can be applied to a single element, regardless of the diagram theme.

Modelio provides built-in themes for diagrams. The theme of a diagram is indicated in the Symbol view:

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The diagram theme selector

Steps:

  1. Click in the diagram’s background

  2. The diagram theme is indicated in the symbol view

To change the graphical theme of a diagram, just click on the theme selector in the Symbol view, and choose a theme from the drop-down list:

image
Choosing a diagram theme

Steps:

  1. Click on the theme selector

  2. Choose a theme from the drop-down list

  3. The theme is applied to the diagram

Regardless of the diagram theme, an element can have its own style.
By default, the style of a diagram element is "Defined by diagram":

image
The element style selector

Steps:

  1. Click in the diagram element

  2. The element style is indicated in the symbol view

To change the graphical style of an element, just click on the style selector in the Symbol view, and choose a style from the drop-down list:

image
Choosing an element style

Steps:

  1. Click on the style selector

  2. Choose a style from the drop-down list

  3. The style is applied to the selected element  

Custom diagram themes

Modelio also offers the possibility to create custom diagram themes so you can create your own. To do so, you have to open the diagram style/theme editor:

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Opening the diagram style/theme editor

Steps:

  1. In the menu bar, click on 'Configuration'

  2. In the drop-down menu, click on 'Diagram themes…​'  

In the diagram style/theme editor, create a new theme:

image
Creating a diagram theme

Steps:

  1. Click on the 'Create a new diagram theme' button image

  2. Name your diagram theme

Customize your new theme:

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Customizing a diagram theme

Steps:

  1. Select your theme in the list

  2. Choose properties to customize

  3. Modify properties values

  4. Save your theme

  5. Close the diagram style/theme editor

Apply your new theme to a diagram:

image
Applying a new diagram theme

Steps:

  1. Click on the theme selector

  2. Choose your theme from the drop-down list

  3. The theme is applied to the diagram

Note: the same process can be used to edit and customize a built-in theme.

Importing an external theme

External themes can be imported into Modelio. Then, they can be used as is, or customized in the diagram style/theme editor.

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Applying a new diagram theme

Steps:

  1. In the diagram style/theme editor, click on the 'Choose a style/theme to import' button image

  2. Browse your disk or network to the theme you want to import

  3. Click on the 'Open' button

Element style creation

There are two ways to create a new element style, the Diagram style/theme editor, and the Symbol view of a diagram.

Creating an element style with the Diagram style/theme editor
To create a new element style with the Diagram style/theme editor, click on the 'Create a new element style' button image, and name your new style. Then, you can customize it:

image
Customizing a diagram style

Steps:

  1. Select your style in the list

  2. Choose properties to customize

  3. Modify properties values

  4. Save your style

  5. Close the Diagram style/theme editor

Your new style is available in the Symbol view and can be applied to the relevant elements:

image
New element style in element styles selector

Creating an element style with the Symbol view

When the graphic properties of an element are modified in the Symbol view, they can be saved as a new element style:

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Creating a new element style from modified graphic properties

Steps:

  1. Select an element in a diagram

  2. Modify the graphic properties in the Symbol view

  3. Click on the 'Create a new style' button image

  4. Name the new style  

Your new style is available in the Symbol view and can be applied to the relevant elements:

image
New element style in element styles selector

Note: The current diagram theme can be updated from modifications made in the Symbol view. To do so, once you have made your changes in the Symbol view, click on the 'Update theme' button:

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Updating an existing style from the Symbol view