Articulate Rise 360 is known for making course creation fast and visually appealing. Its block-based design lets you drag, drop and arrange content with ease. But what if the standard blocks don’t quite match your learning vision? That’s where custom blocks come in.
Click Preview to see how to access and use custom blocks in Articulate Rise 360.
What Are Custom Blocks in Articulate Rise 360?
Currently available as a beta feature, custom blocks give you more control over how your course looks and feels. Instead of sticking with only the default layouts, you can:
✔ Create your own block layouts from scratch.
✔ Combine existing block types in new ways.
✔ Save these designs to reuse across different courses.
This means you can move beyond “off-the-shelf” templates and build interactive experiences that feel unique and branded for your organization.
How to Access and Use Custom Blocks in Articulate Rise 360 – Step-by-Step process
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to access custom blocks and start building your own designs.
1. Insert a New Custom Block
✔ Open the block library within your Rise 360 course.
✔ Locate the Custom Block menu.
✔ Choose either.
- + Blank – to start with an empty canvas.
- A prebuilt template – select a template category and click create a Custom Block.
2. Set–up the Canvas
✔ Customize your canvas by adjusting attributes like background color, border style and overlay.
✔ You can also manually set pixel dimensions or auto-shrink the canvas to fit inserted objects.
✔ Keep in mind that custom blocks are not currently responsive, so using a slightly taller canvas helps maintain readability on mobile devices.
3. Add and Customize Objects
We’ll set up the Playback Speed Control to be hidden by default.
✔ On the left sidebar, insert:
- Text boxes, with formatting options and hyperlink support.
- Shapes, with customizable colors, borders, shadows and overlays.
- Images, via AI generation, Content Library 360, or uploads; includes crop and alt text functionality.
- Videos, with an option to preserve file quality (less compression), though forward seeking cannot be disabled.
- Audio, via AI generation, recording, or upload.
- Use drag-and-drop or precise positioning using the X/Y coordinate fields to place objects.
4. Manipulate and Arrange Objects
✔ Use alignment guides, snap-to-position, drag/drop, or right-click context menus to:
- Reorder objects (bring forward, send backward).
- Align, resize, rotate, group, duplicate, or delete objects.
✔ Keyboard shortcuts are also available.
5. Apply Formatting to Objects
✔ Access the formatting toolbar when an object or group is selected.
✔ For all object types, you can adjust:
- Opacity, position and size (with aspect ratio lock).
✔ For specific types:
- Text: Font, size, alignment, etc.
- Shapes/Images: Color, border, corner rounding, overlay, drop shadows.
- Images: cropping, alt text, reset options.
6. Final Touches and Save
✔ Select “Save” once your block is complete.
If desired, you can also create a Block Template from your custom design for reuse in future lessons or share it with your team (if you have a Teams subscription).
Why Use Custom Blocks?
Custom blocks give you:
✔ Design flexibility: Break away from standard layouts.
✔ Personalization: Add your own style and branding.
Additional Tips:
✔ Beta Feature: Custom blocks are still in beta – expect potential changes over time.
✔ Reusability: Creating block templates saves development time and ensures consistency across courses.
Looking for a Learning Management System (LMS) Solution?
We offer Learning Management System (LMS) solutions tailored to your organization’s unique training, compliance, and performance management goals.
Whether you’re a corporate organization, educational institution, or non-profit, we’re here to help you deliver engaging, scalable, and measurable learning experiences.
Summary
Rise 360’s custom block feature is still in beta, but it’s already a game-changer for e-learning designers who want more creative freedom. Whether you’re building interactive scenarios, branded layouts, or unique activities, custom blocks open the door to more personalized learning experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are custom blocks in Articulate Rise 360?
A. Custom blocks are a beta feature in Rise 360 that allow course creators to design unique block layouts by combining existing block types or using templates.
Q2. Why should I use custom blocks in Rise 360?
A. Custom blocks help you go beyond the standard block library, giving you greater design freedom, reusable layouts and the ability to create more engaging and tailored learning experiences.
Q3. Why are custom blocks important for e-learning design?
A. They allow course creators to go beyond standard templates, making courses more engaging, visually appealing and aligned with company branding or specific learning objectives.
Q4. What is the difference between a standard block and a custom block in Rise 360?
A. A standard block is a prebuilt template from the Rise library, while a custom block is one you design yourself, giving you more control over layout, branding and interactivity.
Q5. How do custom blocks affect course responsiveness on mobile?
A. Custom blocks are built within Rise 360’s responsive framework, so they adjust automatically for desktop, tablet and mobile devices, though testing is recommended for complex layouts.
