Video Overview of This Article

Note: I am utilizing Mac shortcuts. If you are using a PC, please refer to the equivalent shortcuts below. While these tips generally apply across platforms, there may be specific exceptions.

1. Quick File Link Copy (cmd+L)

While in your file, simply hit <code>cmd</code> + <code>L</code> to copy the link to your file. This allows you to share and paste the link wherever you need.

2. Effortlessly Embed Elements and Prototypes

Use the shortcut <code>cmd</code> + <code>L</code> to copy the link to a specific page or frame for easy embedding outside of Figma. You can share the entire canvas or just a specific frame, which is incredibly useful for documentation, design systems, and style guides. For instance, I embedded the images below right here in Medium, so feel free to try it out:

Now for the best part: Embedding prototypes. This feature works seamlessly for prototypes, and it updates automatically!

3. Nudge Text, Colors, and Values

Select a colored shape, open the colors menu, and hold down the shift key while moving up and down to see the color “nudge” in action. Using the mouse wheel allows you to adjust the hue, and holding alt while zooming will alter the opacity as well. You can also nudge other fields like line-height.

Tip: Use nudging in increments of 4 or 8pt for typography and line-height to maintain your type scale rhythm! The default nudge value is 10; you can change it by pressing <code>cmd</code> + <code>/</code> and entering "nudge". Remember to hold <code>alt</code> while nudging to visualize the distances.

4. Scrubbing Fields

When you hover over certain property fields in Figma, a scrub arrow appears. Simply press the mouse button and move the arrow left or right. Holding shift will increase the scrub speed, and this applies to any value field that displays the scrub arrow.

5. Copy as PNG Without Exporting

Press <code>cmd</code> + <code>shift</code> + <code>C</code> (or access this via the right-click menu) to copy the frame as a PNG to your clipboard. You can paste it anywhere, making it perfect for quick presentations, Slack messages, or emails without the need for exporting.

6. Left-Right Grid Honor

This feature has been around for a while, but it's invaluable. When you set constraints on a frame with a grid applied, non-nested items will align with the columns of the parent container. Set your elements to left-right for perfect grid alignment.

This works well for text, groups, or other frames but will not function with the auto-layout setting. A clever workaround is to group your auto layout settings within a group that allows you to set constraints.

7. Component Naming with Pages and Frames

You may already be familiar with the “/” naming convention for components. Adding a master component to a frame organizes it similarly to using a “/”. Additionally, you can create meta categories using pages.

This allows you to detach organization from naming, making it easy to reorganize components simply by dragging them to a new frame while keeping component names concise.

In this example, I created one page for mobile and another for general use. Within each page, I placed my frames containing components, whether they are single components or sets with variants.

Tip: If importing from Sketch or an old Figma library, you can set up pages and frames and then use the batch rename feature to remove prefixes via regular expressions.

8. Screenshot Directly into Figma

To keep your desktop clutter-free, press <code>shift</code> + <code>ctrl</code> + <code>cmd</code> + <code>4</code> to take a screenshot (use <code>spacebar</code> to capture an entire window). This saves the screenshot to your clipboard rather than your desktop, allowing you to paste it directly into Figma with <code>cmd</code> + <code>V</code>. Windows users can try <code>alt</code> + <code>print screen</code>.

You can then utilize Figma's tidy-up feature to arrange your research items. It's so convenient!

Tip: Double-click while holding alt to crop the image directly.

9. Copy Editable SVG from the Browser

Instead of downloading and re-importing SVGs into Figma, copy SVGs directly from a webpage's code. Right-click the SVG image, select inspect mode, then click the image source again. In the image view, right-click on the SVG element and choose “copy element.” You can then paste it into your Figma file, retaining its scalability and editability.

10. Deep Detach Multiple Instances

To detach an item with multiple nested instances, open your quick search menu with <code>cmd</code> + <code>/</code>, search for <code>Instances</code>, and choose to detach all instances or just the nested ones. They will keep their settings such as frames and auto-layout.

11. Object Hierarchy Tree

Right-click and select “Select layer” to gain a full overview of the current selection, including its group and surrounding layers. This makes navigation much easier without needing to sift through the layers panel.

12. Add Properties to Unions

When creating a union, you can now apply properties such as radius to smooth edges. You can still manipulate individual elements within a union, and you can also incorporate your components into unions, which will follow the designated color and property styles.

13. Bulk Sort and Move Styles

I used to spend a lot of time naming styles using the “/” convention, which could be quite frustrating. Discovering the ability to group styles in the properties panel was a game-changer.

Select the styles, press <code>cmd</code> + <code>G</code> to group them, and you can now sort and move styles easily within and between folders.

14. Add _ for Private Styles

If you want to keep a style private and prevent accidental updates, simply add an underscore (_) to the name, e.g., “_highlight,” and it will remain yours.

15. Use Descriptions for Styles

When naming your styles, utilize the description field below. This description will appear in the tooltip when someone selects the style, providing additional context about its purpose. This feature is also applicable to components, making it easy to locate them using search terms.

16. Images Can Be Styles Too

You can save images in the same way as color styles (just keep in mind that resolution matters). This allows you to fill shapes, including text, with saved images.

17. Using Color Names

Did you know you can simply type a color name in the color field? While this might not be ideal for your polished UI design, it's handy for quick testing or debugging. All W3 CSS color names are supported (though I typically stick to basic colors like green, blue, and yellow).

18. Bypass Auto-Layout

Note: The new “absolute positioning” feature has addressed this issue; check my free article for more details on this and the updated auto layout feature.

While I appreciate auto-layout, it can be frustrating when you want to add or test an element quickly. A simple trick I learned is to hold the spacebar while dragging to position it above the auto layout.

19. Quick Auto-Width Text

Need a text box to automatically adjust its width? Just double-click on the text box and you're all set!

20. Toggle Between Design and Prototype (shift+E)

Another handy shortcut is using <code>shift</code> + <code>E</code> to toggle between design and prototype modes. This can save you a significant amount of time.

21. Set Any Frame as a Thumbnail

Previously, you had to set the top page of your design as a thumbnail. Now, you can simply select any frame and designate it as a thumbnail. Just right-click and choose “set as thumbnail.”

22. Hide Other Users' Cursors

If you prefer not to see all your colleagues' cursors while working in a shared file, you can hide them via Menu > View > Multiple cursors or by pressing <code>alt</code> + <code>cmd</code> + /.

23. Use % for Line-Height

In Figma, line-height is typically set in px/pt, which can be frustrating. While you can't use CSS units, you can use percentages. This allows you to adjust the font size while maintaining a consistent line-height.

To calculate: for text set to 16pt, a line-height of 1.5 or 150% is the equivalent of 16 * 150% = 24px. Note: In inspect mode, this will still display as px!

If you found this article helpful, visit me at moonlearning.io where I offer video tutorials on UX/UI design, or check out my new YouTube channel. Don't forget to follow me here on Medium for more insights!