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Using some SmartArt layouts, you can add as many extra shapes as you want. Other layouts contain a fixed number of shapes. For example, the Counterbalance Arrows layout in the Relationship type is designed to represent only two opposing ideas or concepts, and so only two of the shapes can contain text

Counterbalance Arrows layout image

If you want to convey more than two ideas, switch to a layout that has more than two shapes available for text — such as the Pyramid List layout. Keep in mind that changing layouts or types for SmartArt graphics can alter the apparent meaning of your information. For example, a layout that shows arrows all pointing to the right, such as Basic Process in the Process type, has a different meaning from that of one that shows an arrow arranged in a circle, such as Continuous Cycle in the Cycle type.

Tip: For information about which SmartArt graphic to use, and how to get started using SmartArt, see Learn more about SmartArt graphics.

You can both add and delete shapes in most SmartArt graphics, and you can also change the positions of the various shapes, so you should choose a layout that provides the best visual representation of your data.

The following tables show some of the SmartArt graphics available. 

Shape, tier, and level limits for lists

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Basic Block List

Basic Block List layout image

Unlimited.

Bending Picture Accent List

Bending Picture Accent layout image

Unlimited.

Continuous Picture List

Continuous Picture List layout image

Unlimited.

Detailed Process

Detailed Process layout image

Unlimited.

Grouped List

Grouped List layout image

Unlimited.

Hierarchy List

Hierarchy List layout image

Unlimited.

Horizontal Bullet List

Horizontal Bullet List layout image

Unlimited.

Horizontal Picture List

Horizontal Picture List layout image

Unlimited.

Picture Accent List

Picture Accent List layout image

Unlimited.

Picture Caption List

Picture Caption List layout image

Unlimited.

Pyramid List

Pyramid List layout image

Unlimited.

Segmented Process

Segmented Process layout image

Unlimited.

Stacked List

Stacked List layout image

Unlimited.

Table Hierarchy

Table Hierarchy layout image

Unlimited.

Table List

Table List layout image

Only two levels: one main idea and unlimited second-level shapes.

Target List

Target List layout image

Unlimited.

Trapezoid List

Trapezoid List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Arrow List

Vertical Arrow List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Block List

Vertical Block List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Box List

Vertical Box List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Bullet List

Vertical Bullet List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Chevron List

Vertical Chevron List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Picture Accent List

Vertical Picture Accent List layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Picture List

Vertical Picture List layout image

Unlimited.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for processes

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Accent Process

Accent Process layout image

Unlimited.

Alternating Flow

Alternating Flow layout image

Unlimited.

Arrow Ribbon

Arrow Ribbon layout image

Maximum two ideas.

Basic Bending Process

Basic Bending Process layout image

Unlimited.

Basic Chevron Process

Basic Chevron Process layout image

Unlimited.

Basic Process

Basic Process layout image

Unlimited.

Basic Timeline

Basic Timeline layout image

Unlimited.

Chevron List

Chevron List layout image

Unlimited.

Circular Bending Process

Circular Bending Process layout image

Unlimited.

Closed Chevron Process

Closed Chevron Process layout image

Unlimited.

Continuous Arrow Process

Continuous Arrow Process layout image

Unlimited.

Continuous Block Process

Continuous Block Process layout image

Unlimited.

Converging Arrows

Converging Arrows layout image

Unlimited.

Diverging Arrows

Diverging Arrows layout image

Unlimited.

Equation

Equation layout image

Unlimited.

Funnel

Funnel layout image

Maximum of three ideas in the funnel and a fourth below it.

Gear

Gear layout image

One main idea and two dependent ideas. Third-level text also shows.

Opposing Arrows

Opposing Arrows layout image

Two ideas.

Picture Accent Process

Picture Accent Process layout image

Unlimited.

Process Arrows

Process Arrows layout image

Unlimited.

Process List

Process List layout image

Unlimited.

Repeating Bending Process

Repeating Bending Process layout image

Unlimited.

Staggered Process

Staggered Process layout image

Maximum of five shapes.

Upward Arrow

Upward Arrow layout image

Maximum of five shapes.

Vertical Bending Process

Vertical Bending Process layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Equation

Vertical Equation layout image

Unlimited.

Vertical Process

Vertical Process layout image

Unlimited.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for cycles

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Basic Cycle

Basic Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

Basic Pie

Basic Pie layout image

Maximum of seven segments.

Basic Radial

Basic Radial layout image

One main idea with unlimited second-level text.

Block Cycle

Block Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

Continuous Cycle

Continuous Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

Cycle Matrix

Cycle Matrix layout image

Four ideas with second-level descriptions.

Diverging Radial

Diverging Radial layout image

One main idea and unlimited second-level shapes.

Multidirectional Cycle

Multidirectional Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

Nondirectional Cycle

Nondirectional Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

Radial Cycle

Radial Cycle layout image

One main idea and unlimited second-level shapes.

Radial Venn

Radial Venn layout image

One main idea and unlimited second-level shapes.

Segmented Cycle

Segmented Cycle layout image

Maximum of seven segments.

Text Cycle

Text Cycle layout image

Unlimited.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for hierarchies

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Hierarchy

Hierarchy layout image

Unlimited.

Horizontal Hierarchy

Horizontal Hierarchy layout image

Unlimited.

Horizontal Labeled Hierarchy

Horizontal Labeled Hierarchy layout image

Unlimited.

Labeled Hierarchy

Labeled Hierarchy layout image

Unlimited.

Organization Chart

Organization Chart layout image

Unlimited.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for relationships

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Balance

Balance layout image

Unlimited.

Basic Target

Basic Target layout image

Maximum of five ideas. Unlimited second-level text, but it may overlap.

Basic Venn

Basic Venn layout image

Unlimited.

Converging Radial

Converging Radial layout image

One main idea with unlimited second-level text.

Counterbalance Arrows

Counterbalance Arrows layout image

Two ideas.

Linear Venn

Linear Venn layout image

Unlimited.

Nested Target

Nested Target layout image

Three ideas.

Radial List

Radial List layout image

One main idea and unlimited secondary ideas.

Stacked Venn

Stacked Venn layout image

Maximum of seven ideas.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for matrices

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Basic Matrix

Basic Matrix layout image

Four ideas.

Grid Matrix

Grid Matrix layout image

Four ideas.

Titled Matrix

Titled Matrix layout image

One main idea with four second-level ideas.

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Shape, tier, and level limits for pyramids

Layout name

Picture

Shape limit

Basic Pyramid

Basic Pyramid layout image

Unlimited.

Inverted Pyramid

Inverted Pyramid layout image

Unlimited.

Segmented Pyramid

Segmented Pyramid layout image

Unlimited.

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