# Getting Started with Curio

Curio is a freeform notebook for gathering notes, ideas, files, research, and tasks in one visual workspace. Start with the few basics on this page, then follow the links whenever you want to go deeper.

## Understand Curio's Building Blocks

- A **project** is the document that holds everything related to a class, client, trip, research topic, or other undertaking.
- The **Organizer** is the sidebar where you arrange your project's pages and documents.
- An **idea space** is a freeform page where you can place anything anywhere.
- A **figure** is anything on an idea space: text, an image, a file, a web link, a list, a mind map, a table, and more.

![The main Curio toolbar](images/Toolbar.jpeg){: width=1200}

## Create a Project

1. Choose File > New.
1. Choose an idea space style or template for your first idea space, or click Blank for a clean page.
1. Click Choose.

Your project opens with its first idea space selected in the Organizer. See [Projects](../projects/) and [Idea Spaces](../ideaspaces/) for all creation and customization options.

## Add Your First Notes

1. With the Select tool active, double-click anywhere on the idea space.
1. Type your note.
1. Press Escape when you're done editing.

Drag the text figure to move it. Select it to reveal its resize handles and the inspector bar, where you can change its font, color, shape, and other attributes. See [Text Figures](../figures/#text-figures) and [Figure Inspectors](../figure-inspectors/).

## Add Files, Images, and More

- **Drag in files and documents:** Drag documents, PDFs, images, and other files from the Finder directly onto an idea space. Curio embeds them in your project by default so everything stays together.
- **Paste copied material:** Paste text, images, web links, outlines, and tables. Curio can often turn organized content into editable native figures.
- **Choose a figure type:** Click the Insert toolbar button or press `i` to add shapes, lists, mind maps, tables, recordings, equations, web views, and more.
- **Build organized notes:** Use [collection figures](../collections/) for lists, mind maps, tables, index cards, albums, pinboards, stacks, and Kanban boards.

See [Inserting Figures](../figures/#inserting-figures), [Creating Asset Figures](../figures/#creating-asset-figures), and [Collection Figures](../collections/) for more options.

## Organize Your Work

Click the Add Organizer Item toolbar button to create another idea space, a document, a folder, or a section. Drag items in the Organizer to reorder them or create a hierarchy.

Use separate idea spaces for different topics or stages of your work, then group them with folders and sections as the project grows. See [The Organizer](../organizer/).

## Arrange and Style Figures

Select a figure to move, resize, rotate, align, group, or style it. The inspector bar provides frequently used controls; click the Inspector toolbar button for the complete inspector shelf.

See [Working with Figures](../figures/#working-with-figures), [Figure Inspectors](../figure-inspectors/), and [Figure Styles](../figures/#figure-styles).

## Find and Share Your Work

- Use Quick Find for a fast jump to an idea space or figure, or use the [Search shelf](../search/) for more powerful searches.
- Click the Share toolbar button to export, print, mail, or present a project, selected idea spaces, or selected figures. See [Sharing](../sharing/).

## Where to Go Next

- Learn how [projects](../projects/), [idea spaces](../ideaspaces/), and [figures](../figures/) fit together.
- Explore Curio's [collection figures](../collections/) for organized notes and brainstorming.
- Try [Markdown](../markdown/) in any text figure.
- Review the complete [feature list](../features/).