How to copy and paste in BioRender

Need to duplicate icons, grouped objects, lines, or images in BioRender? You can easily copy and paste within one illustration or between different ones. This guide covers all the ways to do so, including keyboard shortcuts and helpful tips.

It's important to note BioRender objects can’t be directly pasted into external apps (like PowerPoint). To use objects elsewhere, export your figure.

✨ Pro tip: Did you know? With the BioRender PowerPoint Add-In (Premium), you can insert unlimited figures and updates directly into PowerPoint—no need to export manually. Explore the PowerPoint Add-In ↗

Copy and paste within BioRender

To copy and paste within a single illustration:

1. Select the object(s) you want to copy.
2. Use one of the following:
   • Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Cmd + C (Mac), then
   • Press Ctrl + V or Cmd + V to paste,
   • Or go to Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste.

Additional shortcuts:

• Alt + Drag (Windows) or Option + Drag (Mac): Creates a copy while moving the object.
• Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac): Pastes the object in the same location ("paste in place").

Copy and paste between BioRender illustrations

To duplicate objects across two illustrations:

1. Open both illustrations in separate browser windows.
2. Use the standard copy and paste method (Ctrl/Cmd + C, then Ctrl/Cmd + V) between the windows.

Copying images from other websites into BioRender

You can bring in image files like PNG, JPG, EPS, or SVG directly into BioRender from external websites.

To do this:

1. Find the image you want online.
2. Copy the image (Ctrl/Cmd + C).
3. Paste it into BioRender (Ctrl/Cmd + V).
4. Name the image for easier searching later.
5. Click Upload to finalize.
6. The image will appear directly on your canvas. 

Note: The uploaded images are saved in Uploads ⬆on the left toolbar for later use.

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.