The properties of an object control it's appearance. Properties include text font and appearance; line width, style, and color; transparency (i.e., draw background yes or no); foreground and background color; and any other settings that control the way an object is displayed. Different types of objects have different sets of properties.
The specific properties of an object are determined in two different ways. The default settings in force at the time the object is added to the canvas determine the object's initial properties. Once objects are placed onto the diagram, their properties may be set using the Properties dialog box for the object or for a group of objects.