Word cloud shapes
Pick a shape to open the generator with it ready to go — or fill the letters of a name, or upload your own silhouette.
- HeartValentine’s Day and anniversary cards
- CircleBrand values badges and stickers
- CloudWater cycle and weather units
- StarStudent of the week and award certificates
- Speech bubbleCustomer and employee survey results
- Light bulbBrainstorm and workshop summaries
- HouseHousewarming and new-home gifts
- TreeHoliday cards and class newsletters
- DiamondDiamond anniversaries and jubilees
- HexagonHoneycomb classroom and office walls
- TriangleMaslow’s hierarchy and priority pyramids
- Letters or your own imageNames, initials, logos, silhouettes
Choosing a shape that reads well
- Chunky beats spiky. Words need area. Hearts, circles and clouds hold big words; star tips and tree branches only take small ones.
- Match the shape to the message. A speech bubble says “people said this”, a light bulb says “ideas”, a heart says “thank you”.
- Few words? Fill it. With fewer than 30 words, turn on collage fill so words repeat until the outline is crisp.
- Custom shapes need contrast. Use a solid dark silhouette on a white or transparent background, not a photo.
Questions people ask
What shapes can a word cloud be?
CloudShaper has 11 ready shapes — heart, circle, cloud, star, speech bubble, light bulb, house, tree, diamond, hexagon and triangle — plus a plain rectangle. You can also fill the letters of a name or word, or upload any silhouette image as a custom shape.
How do I make a word cloud in a custom shape?
Open the word art generator, go to the Shape tab and click “Upload image”. Dark (or opaque) areas of your image become the shape. A bold black silhouette on white or a transparent PNG works best. Your image is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Which shape is best for a presentation?
A plain 16:9 rectangle fills a slide best. A speech bubble is a good choice for feedback results, and a light bulb for brainstorm summaries.