Figma How-to & Tips
Figma how-to — bulk editing, exporting, Japanese setup, and UI tips.
21 articles
Figma Auto Layout — Vertical, Horizontal & Grid Flows, Wrap, Hug and Fill Explained
A practical guide to Auto Layout in Figma: adding and removing it, the direction / gap / padding / alignment basics, Hug contents vs Fill container vs Fixed, min and max width, wrap for multi-row layouts, the grid flow added in 2025, Ignore auto layout (formerly absolute position), and fixes for the most common problems.
Layout Grids in Figma (Now "Layout Guides") — Columns, Rows & the Auto Layout Difference
How to use layout grids in Figma — renamed "layout guides" in 2025. Set up Grid / Columns / Rows, understand Type-dependent column settings, toggle and save grids as styles, tell layout grids apart from Auto Layout and Constraints, and re-create them on files migrated from XD.
How to Detach a Component in Figma — Unlinking Instances vs. Deleting
How to detach a component instance in Figma using the native Detach instance feature. Unlink an instance from its main component with a right-click or shortcut, understand the difference between detaching and deleting, swap instances or replace images without detaching, and re-componentize afterwards. Useful for tidying up components migrated from Adobe XD.
How to Vectorize an Image in Figma — Auto-Trace, PNG to SVG & Why You Need a Plugin
A practical guide to vectorizing an image in Figma, organized by what you actually want: turn a photo or logo PNG into editable vector paths (auto-trace), export an existing Figma shape as SVG, or convert a PNG to SVG. It explains why auto-tracing a raster image isn't possible with Figma's built-in tools and needs a plugin or external app, and how to keep vectors and paths intact when your file comes from an Adobe XD migration.
How to Mask in Figma — Clipping Masks, Image Masks & Mask Types
A practical guide to masking in Figma, organized by what you want to do. Covers the basic shape mask for cropping images, the three mask types (alpha, vector, luminance) and when to use each, masking with text and groups, releasing and editing masks, troubleshooting, and what to do when masks break after migrating from Adobe XD or Illustrator.
How to Bulk Rename Layers in Figma — Numbering, Find & Replace, and Regex
How to bulk rename layers and frames in Figma with the built-in Rename Layers feature: rename multiple layers at once, find and replace within names (Match / Replace), add ascending or descending numbers, and reorder names with regular expressions. Plus tidying up auto-generated names from an Adobe XD migration.
How to Edit Text in Figma — Editing, Find & Replace, and Bulk Changes
How to edit text in Figma: enter edit mode, change font, size, and color, use the built-in Find and replace, change multiple text layers at once, and control text wrapping. Plus what to watch for in text migrated from Adobe XD.
Free Transform in Figma — How to Skew, Distort & Transform Shapes
How to transform shapes in Figma: resize and scale (Scale tool), rotate, and flip with built-in features — plus how to add free transform, skew, and perspective (which Figma doesn't have natively) with a plugin. Includes tips for designers migrating from Illustrator or Adobe XD.
How to Crop an Image in Figma — Crop Tool, Masks & Clipping
A practical guide to cropping and trimming images in Figma, organized by what you actually want to do: Crop mode for a simple rectangular crop, masks for circles and custom shapes, Clip content to hide overflow, and why removing a background to transparency needs a plugin. Plus how to release and edit masks, and what to watch for when image masks come from an Adobe XD migration.
How to Remove a Background in Figma — Transparency, Plugins & PNGs
A practical guide to removing a background in Figma, organized by what you actually want: use a transparent PNG, make an image semi-transparent with Opacity, or keep the subject and erase the rest. It explains why removing a background along a subject's outline isn't possible with Figma's built-in tools and needs a plugin, and what to watch for when image transparency and masks come from an Adobe XD migration.
How to Add Fonts to Figma — Install, Import & Change Font Size
A complete guide to adding fonts to Figma: using Google Fonts with no setup, installing local fonts for the desktop app and the browser version, importing Adobe Fonts, uploading custom fonts on Organization plans, and changing font size efficiently — plus what to watch for when fonts come from an Adobe XD migration.
Chinese, Japanese & Korean Fonts in Figma — Fix Tofu Boxes & Pick the Right Font
Why CJK text turns into tofu (□) or the wrong glyph in Figma — and how to fix it. Pick the right Noto Sans CJK subfamily, handle fallbacks, and migrate Chinese, Japanese & Korean designs from Adobe XD.
How to Export Images from Figma — Batch Export & PNG/SVG/PDF Settings
How to export images from Figma — one or many at once. The Export settings panel, batch export, fixing blurry exports, choosing PNG/SVG/PDF/JPG, and gotchas for files migrated from XD.
There's No "Artboard" in Figma — A Frame Guide for Adobe XD Users (Create, Resize, Export)
Looking for how to make an artboard in Figma after coming from Adobe XD or Illustrator? Figma calls it a Frame. This guide covers creating frames (the F key), adding, resizing, and exporting them, the difference between frames, sections, and groups, and how Figma frames differ from XD artboards — clearing up the terminology gap that trips up XD-to-Figma migrants.
Hide the Sidebar, Panels & UI in Figma — Mac & Windows Shortcuts
How to hide the sidebars, side panels, and entire UI in Figma — with the exact Show/Hide shortcuts for Mac and Windows. Covers the right and left sidebar, Minimize UI, full-screen presentation, and how to get the UI back when it disappears.
How to Bulk-Edit Text Styles in Figma — Update Many Layers at Once (2026)
Bulk-edit text styles in Figma without touching each layer. Native Text Styles editing (Edit style, Select all using this style), when to use a plugin, and how it differs from font- or color-only changes.
How to Bulk-Change Colors in Figma — Replace Many at Once (2026)
Need to replace many colors at once in Figma? Native Selection colors and Color styles, when a plugin helps, gradients and images, light/dark mode, and the color sprawl after XD migration.
How to Change Multiple Fonts at Once in Figma (Bulk Replace, 2026)
Need to swap dozens of fonts in Figma in one go? Learn the fastest path: what the native tools (Select all with same font, Text styles) can do, when to switch to a plugin, and how to fix the font sprawl you get after an Adobe XD migration.
Why Figma fonts aren't showing — 5 causes and how to fix them
Practical guide to fixing fonts that won't show in Figma. Desktop vs web app differences, Font Installer setup, font name mismatches after XD migration, and shared-project workflows. Five common causes with a 5-minute troubleshooting flow.
Using Japanese Fonts in Figma — A Practical Guide to Adding Fonts, Troubleshooting, and Migrating from XD
A practical guide to using Japanese fonts in Figma. Covers the three ways to add fonts (local / Google Fonts / Adobe Fonts), troubleshooting when fonts don't show up, and notes for designers migrating from Adobe XD — based on Figma's official documentation.
Using Figma in Japanese — A Complete Guide to Language Settings, Menu Localization, and UI Coverage
How to set Figma's UI to Japanese — the language settings flow, what's localized vs what stays in English, and common pitfalls. A practical guide for designers who want to work in Japanese, or teams coming from a localized XD environment.