LEARN UX  |  DECEMBER 22, 2022

LEARN UX
DECEMBER 22, 2022

Here are 8 tips and tricks that will help save you a ton of time when you’re designing in Figma. The tips are ordered from basic to more advanced, so get through to the end of the page (or video) for the really good stuff. 

Here are 8 tips and tricks that will help save you a ton of time when you’re designing in Figma. The tips are ordered from basic to more advanced, so get through to the end of the page (or video) for the really good stuff. 

1. Use Components

1. Use Components

Components in Figma help bring consistency, and efficiency to your designs. What is a component? A component can be any layer, frame, or group that you want to repurpose across your Figma file, or even multiple files. A simple example of a component could be a button. If I create a button component, I can then reuse that same button across multiple screens. 

Components in Figma help bring consistency, and efficiency to your designs. What is a component? A component can be any layer, frame, or group that you want to repurpose across your Figma file, or even multiple files. A simple example of a component could be a button. If I create a button component, I can then reuse that same button across multiple screens.

And the best part is that if I make changes to that component, those changes ripple across all of the different instances where the button is used. Hence the whole automate your workflow part.

To create a component, just select an object in Figma, right click, and choose Create Component from the menu. You can also use this keyboard shortcut:

Mac: Option + Command + K
Windows: Alt + Ctrl + K

Want to learn more? Check out this tutorial on Figma Components

And the best part is that if I make changes to that component, those changes ripple across all of the different instances where the button is used. Hence the whole automate your workflow part.

To create a component, just select an object in Figma, right click, and choose Create Component from the menu. You can also use this keyboard shortcut:

Mac: Option + Command + K
Windows: Alt + Ctrl + K

Want to learn more? Check out this tutorial on Figma Components

2. Bulk image upload 

2. Bulk image upload

Here’s a tip for adding multiple images to your Figma layouts. Imagine you have a grid of cards and you want to add an image to each card. Start by using this shortcut: 

Mac: Command + Shift + K 
Windows: Control + Shift + K

Now you’ll be able to select multiple images from your desktop, and bring them into Figma. Once the images are uploaded, you’ll be able to click on the placeholders where you want those images to appear.

Here’s a tip for adding multiple images to your Figma layouts. Imagine you have a grid of cards and you want to add an image to each card. Start by using this shortcut:

Mac: Command + Shift + K
Windows: Control + Shift + K

Now you’ll be able to select multiple images from your desktop, and bring them into Figma. Once the images are uploaded, you’ll be able to click on the placeholders where you want those images to appear.

3. Easily copy layer properties

3. Easily copy layer properties 

Have you ever wanted to quickly copy and paste a text style, effect, or color from one object to another? Here’s a quick way to do that. Start by selecting the object you want to copy the properties from and use this keyboard shortcut:

Mac: Command + Option + C
Windows: Control + Alt + C

Now select the object you want to give those properties to, and use this shortcut to paste the properties: 

Mac: Command + Option + V
Windows: Control + Alt + V

Have you ever wanted to quickly copy and paste a text style, effect, or color from one object to another? Here’s a quick way to do that. Start by selecting the object you want to copy the properties from and use this keyboard shortcut:

Mac: Command + Option + C
Windows: Control + Alt + C

Now select the object you want to give those properties to, and use this shortcut to paste the properties:

Mac: Command + Option + V
Windows: Control + Alt + V

4. Spell check

4. Spell check

If you’ve spent enough hours in Figma, you’ve probably dealt with some embarrassing typos. Fortunately, Figma recently added spell check, so now you can just click on any textbox and those pesky typos will be highlighted in red.

If you’ve spent enough hours in Figma, you’ve probably dealt with some embarrassing typos. Fortunately, Figma recently added spell check, so now you can just click on any textbox and those pesky typos will be highlighted in red.

5. Smart Animate 

5. Smart Animate 

Smart Animate allows you to add seamless transitions to your Figma prototypes without using other tools like After Effects or Principle. The magic of Smart Animate, is that you really just need to set up the start and end points of your animation and Figma takes care of the inbetween. 

Check out this full tutorial on Smart Animate for a more comprehensive walkthrough.

Smart Animate allows you to add seamless transitions to your Figma prototypes without using other tools like After Effects or Principle. The magic of Smart Animate, is that you really just need to set up the start and end points of your animation and Figma takes care of the inbetween.

Check out this full tutorial on Smart Animate for a more comprehensive walkthrough.

6. Auto Layout 

6. Auto Layout 

Auto layout is that secret sauce that separates Figma from all of the other design tools out there (not a paid promotion). With autolayout you can effectively create objects that adapt dynamically to content. This one is tough to describe in writing, so check out one of my favorite tutorials on Auto Layout.

Auto layout is that secret sauce that separates Figma from all of the other design tools out there (not a paid promotion). With autolayout you can effectively create objects that adapt dynamically to content. This one is tough to describe in writing, so check out one of my favorite tutorials on Auto Layout.

7. A quicker way to share your Figma links

7. A quicker way to share your Figma links

If you’re collaborating and sharing your Figma links regularly, you’ll love this shortcut:

Mac: Command + L
Windows: Control + L

This copies the link to your Figma file to your clipboard, so that you can share via email, Slack, or wherever really.

You can also copy the link to a specific frame within your Figma file, by selecting the frame and then using that same shortcut. This is great for deeplinking into a specific screen. 

If you’re collaborating and sharing your Figma links regularly, you’ll love this shortcut:

Mac: Command + L
Windows: Control + L

This copies the link to your Figma file to your clipboard, so that you can share via email, Slack, or wherever really.

You can also copy the link to a specific frame within your Figma file, by selecting the frame and then using that same shortcut. This is great for deeplinking into a specific screen.

8. Share your designs without exporting

8. Share your designs without exporting

This is one of my favorite tips, and I use it all of the time. Ever wanted to quickly copy your designs to Google Slides, Keynote, or even Slack? Instead of having to export, and then upload, what you can do is select a frame and then use the following shortcut:

Mac: Command + Shift + C
Windows: Control + Shift + C

This effectively copies the design you selected to your clipboard, and now you can paste it as a PNG/JPEG like any other image you’ve copied. 

This is one of my favorite tips, and I use it all of the time. Ever wanted to quickly copy your designs to Google Slides, Keynote, or even Slack? Instead of having to export, and then upload, what you can do is select a frame and then use the following shortcut:

Mac: Command + Shift + C
Windows: Control + Shift + C

This effectively copies the design you selected to your clipboard, and now you can paste it as a PNG/JPEG like any other image you’ve copied.

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