How to Create a Professional Process Flow Diagram

A Process Flow Diagram (PFD) is one of the most important documents in any engineering project. It shows the relationships between major components of a process — from raw material input to final product output. Whether you are designing a mineral processing plant, documenting an existing circuit, or preparing a presentation for stakeholders, a clear PFD is essential.

In this guide, we will walk through how to create a professional process flow diagram using PfdLabs — step by step.

What is a Process Flow Diagram?

A Process Flow Diagram is a simplified illustration that shows the major steps in a process. It uses standardized symbols to represent equipment, materials and flows. In mineral processing, a PFD typically shows the path of ore from crushing and grinding through separation and concentration to final product.

Unlike a P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram), a PFD does not show every valve or instrument — it focuses on the big picture of the process.

Step 1 — Plan Your Diagram

Before opening the editor, sketch out your process on paper. Identify:

• The main unit operations (crushing, milling, flotation, thickening etc.)
• The flow of material between units
• Key streams (feed, concentrate, tailings, overflow)
• Any recycle or bypass streams

Having a clear plan makes the drawing process much faster.

Step 2 — Open PfdLabs and Start a New Diagram

Log in to PfdLabs and click + New Diagram from your dashboard. The editor will open with a blank canvas ready for your diagram.

Give your diagram a meaningful name by clicking on "Untitled Diagram" at the top left and typing your project name.

Step 3 — Add Equipment Symbols

PfdLabs includes 35 isometric 3D industrial symbols specifically designed for mineral processing flowsheets. To add them:

1. Click Industrial Symbols in the left sidebar to expand it.
2. Filter by category — Comminution, Classification, Separation, Hydromet or Transport.
3. Click any symbol to add it to the canvas.
4. Drag it to position it where you want.

For general process steps, use the Box or Device node types from the Add Nodes panel. For start and end points, use the Pill shape from the Shapes panel.

Step 4 — Connect Equipment with Flow Lines

Flow lines show how material moves between units. To draw a connection:

1. Click the Connect tool in the toolbar.
2. Click the first equipment symbol (source).
3. Click the second symbol (destination).
4. A flow line is drawn automatically.

You can choose between four line styles — Smooth, Straight, Angle and Curved — by clicking on a line and selecting the style in the left panel.

To label a stream (e.g. "Slurry", "Concentrate", "Overflow"), double-click on the line and type the label.

Step 5 — Edit and Style Your Diagram

Click any node to select it and see its properties in the left sidebar. You can change:

• Label — the text shown on or below the node
• Fill colour — background colour of the node
• Border colour — outline colour
• Font size — size of the label text
• Width and height — dimensions of the node

Use consistent colours to distinguish different types of equipment — for example, blue for size reduction, green for separation, orange for transport.

Step 6 — Align and Organise

A well-organised diagram is easier to read. Use these tools to keep things tidy:

• Snap to grid — enable in the toolbar to align nodes automatically as you move them
• Align tools — select multiple nodes with Shift+click, then use the Align panel to line them up perfectly
• Fit view — click Fit in the toolbar to see the whole diagram at once

Step 7 — Export Your Diagram

When your diagram is complete, export it for use in reports or presentations:

• PNG — high quality image for documents and presentations
• SVG — scalable vector for web use or further editing in Illustrator
• PDF — available on the Pro plan, ideal for formal reports

All exports have a clean white background with no grid, cropped tightly to your diagram content.