Figma represented by two graphic designers discussing a project they are viewing on a laptop screen

10 Essential Figma Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Figma is an online application for designing user interfaces and altering visuals. Here are ten important Figma tips and tricks for beginners. The platform has been working to redefine cooperation in design since its introduction, and it has been successful in doing so.

In fact, it has been overtaking competing UX/UI design courses as a popular favorite very quickly. Undoubtedly, Figma will take center stage in the design industry—and for the better.

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One designer began working on graphic, UI, and visual design projects with Figma around a year ago. Here are some particularly fast and useful tips from this person, an intermediate designer, to help you get your workflow going.

1. To Size Your Creations, Use the Figma Frame Tool

Choosing the scale of your design is the first step in any design process. Fortunately, Figma makes guesswork easier by offering frames for widely used device and asset templates. In other words, you won’t grudgingly Google “square Instagram post pixel dimensions” ever again.

Frames can be easily accessed from the toolbar or by pressing the keys “F” or “A” on your keyboard. (Not too surprisingly, Figma is all about shortcuts!). Simply select your size and it will be reflected on the canvas.

2. Use Styles in Figma to Maintain Consistency

You can rapidly create and keep consistent designs across projects with the help of styles. For colors, text, effects, and layout grids, for example, you can create your own Styles.

Thereafter, all elements that have that Style applied will receive the universal application of whatever changes you make to it.

3. To Prevent Distortion, Use the Scale Tool

The Scale tool is another useful feature. It will give you all you need to adjust the size of your design without affecting the content.

Specifically, this means you can scale text items, groups, frames, and components. Just use the “K” shortcut or the toolbar (using the move tool’s drop-down icon) to access it.

4. Use the Figma Eyedropper Tool to Preview a Color

You can also choose colors from any object or image on the canvas with the Eyedropper tool. A useful magnification window that displays the color and hex code of a selected pixel is included with the device.

Choose the object you want to change first to preview a color on it. Then use the shortcut “i” to launch the Eyedropper tool. Hover your cursor over the color you want to try while holding down the left-click button.

5. Measure Item Distances Quickly

With the Figma course, you can learn to measure the lengths between frames, groups, and components to make sure everything is positioned appropriately rather than just hoping for it to happen by itself. Choose the first item on the canvas to begin measuring.

Next, depress the modifier key on your keyboard. (On Windows, this is the Alt key. It is the Option key on Mac, which has this: ⌥.) Figma will display a red line and the pixel-based distance between the two objects as you hover over the second one.

6. Place Multiple Photos at Once to Save Time

You may use your imagination to arrange images on a canvas wherever you wish with the Arrange Image tool. You can also insert photographs into pre-existing objects with Figma.

Click the Place Image tool (found on the toolbar via the drop-down arrow on the shape tool) to add photos in bulk. To fill a shape with the preview image, just click on the object.

7. Rely on Simple Layer Locking and Unlocking

Layers can be locked. Basically, this is to avoid unintentional alterations or to stop them from being moved about the canvas. A layer that has been locked can therefore not be moved or interacted with within the canvas.

When you want to change certain elements of a design without affecting the rest of it, this is really useful. The padlock is accessible through the layers panel. To lock it, click once; to unlock it, click again.

8. Use the Figma Arc Tool to Create More Intricate Shapes

Pie charts, doughnuts, and open rings are just a few of the shapes that may be made with the Ellipse tool by triggering the Arc tool. Create an ellipse on the canvas to begin.

A dot will show up on the right side of the shape when you hover over it. To adjust the sweep, click and drag the Arc handle up or down.

9. Utilize the Design Panel to Arrange Objects

With Figma, you can manipulate text, images, and shapes to create well-coordinated designs. These modifications cover rotations, dimensions, and alignment as well as placement.

These settings are located in the right sidebar at the top of the Design panel. Check this out for even more versatility.

10. Add Community Plugins to Your Toolkit to Improve It

Additionally, improve your Figma experience by using plugins created by the community. Plugins are outside programs that increase the platform’s capabilities.

Plugins allow you to personalize your experience and set up more effective design file workflows. It’s rapidly turning into a need for regular designers.

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Conclusion

Gaining proficiency with Figma can greatly improve your creative process and design workflow. Through the use of these ten crucial pointers, novices can rapidly gain proficiency in designing polished and expert user interfaces. Finally, continue to learn, practice, and explore all of Figma’s features and UX research courses to keep your design skills sharp. Have fun creating!

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