---
title: Section shapes
url: https://support.troopthemes.com/guide/emerge/section-shapes/
theme: Emerge
theme_styles: Cafe, Elements
---

# Section shapes in Emerge

Open a section in **Edit theme**, not **Theme settings**. Look for **Shape position**, **Top shape style** / **Bottom shape style**, and **Top shape color** / **Bottom shape color**.

Pick a default **Text alignment** per template and keep supporting sections on it: **left** for catalogs and long copy, **center** for heroes and short announcements, then back to your default. The section's **Mobile** → **Text alignment** setting is separate.

**Maximum container width** is on each section: contained for text-heavy blocks, **Full width** for slideshows and large photography. A useful rhythm is full-width hero → contained story → full-width collection.


Set **Maximum container width** before you pick a shape style. Full-width shapes with contained copy is a common Emerge layout.

## Position (Emerge)

- **Top**: shape on the incoming edge
- **Bottom**: shape on the outgoing edge
- **Both**: usually too much unless the section is a thin band
- **None**: a hard rectangular join

For two neighboring sections, put a shape on **one** shared edge. A bottom wave on section A plus a top wave on section B doubles the geometry.

## Style (Emerge)

Each edge can be:

- Broad wave
- Moderate wave
- Close wave
- Ripple wave
- Diagonal

Broad and moderate are the everyday choices. Close and ripple are more complex; use them on short sections. Diagonal is a single cut with a sharper, more architectural edge than wave styles.

## Color (Emerge)

Shape color can be **None**, **Light**, **Dark**, or **Accent 1–3**.

None lets the neighboring section’s background show through the cut. An accent fill makes the wave a stripe of brand color. Match the shape to the **next** section’s background when you want a seamless pour; mismatch it when the wave should be a stripe.

## Spacing and width (Emerge)

Shapes consume vertical space. Pair them with Medium [spacing](https://support.troopthemes.com/guide/emerge/spacing-and-layout/) unless the section is a hero that can afford Extra large. Full-width sections show the whole curve; a contained section clips the shape to the column.

> **One language per page**
>
> Pick one shape family per template: waves or diagonals. Mixing ripple, diagonal, and broad wave on the same homepage shows multiple shape styles without a consistent brand pattern.

Which section to add is in [Sections in Emerge](https://support.troopthemes.com/guide/emerge/section-list/).

## Ask Sidekick <img src="/_images/sidekick-icon.png" alt="" class="sidekick-icon"> (Emerge)

Open [Sidekick](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/sidekick) from the theme editor toolbar (top right, next to the device preview icon), or press `⌘.` (`Ctrl+.` on Windows). Shape choice and accent color are meant to work together, a wave that clashes with your palette appears accidental rather than intentional.

> "What shape and accent color combination fits a minimal skincare brand?"

If you're unsure which combination fits your brand, reason through the options before committing a section's **Top/Bottom shape color**.

![Opening Sidekick from the theme editor toolbar](https://support.troopthemes.com/_images/emerge/sidekick--theme-editor.png)

## Troubleshooting (Emerge)

- **A double wave / valley of empty color**: both neighboring edges have a shape. Turn one off.
- **The next section’s cards sit in the wave**: the bottom shape color is filling behind them. Set the next section’s background, or put the shape only on the section that should own that color.
- **The curve is clipped**: the section is not Full width. Set **Maximum container width** to Full width, or accept a contained cut.
- **Type collides with the wave on mobile**: lower heading **Mobile size**, or drop Extra large spacing. Do not remove the shape first.