For the past three years, I’ve dedicated significant time and effort to mastering Figma, not only by using the most important features like auto layout, components, and component properties but also from many reading articles and teaching private lessons.

In this article, I want to share some small but precious tricks and tips to help boost your design workflow with Figma.

By right-clicking with the Option key, you can select a specific layer

Working on a frame with multiple layers and selecting a layer behind another layer can sometimes be uncomfortable. If the layer you want to select is locked, it can be even more difficult.

To overcome it, you can right-click with the Option key(alt for Windows) on the layer you want to select, and a menu will open so you can choose the element you wish.

Mark a zone for a comment

You can add a comment if you press the C key on the keyboard. However, if you hold the CMD, click the left mouse button, and move the mouse, you can make a zone for the comment, so the other person will see the zone you marked.

For example, you can use this tip to leave a comment to the developers on more than one design element during a design handoff process.

To open the file browser, click on the circle on the header

By clicking on the circle with the user icon in the center of the header, a new tab will open with the file browser, so you can open a new Figma design file (or do another action in the Figma file browser).

Switch account

Having more than one Figma account logged in at a time (like in Gmail) is possible so that you can switch between your personal Figma account and your work Figma account.

You can add an account by clicking on the avatar > switch account > add a new account, and then you can change it from the switch account menu.

Closed captions

This great feature is available only in the desktop app of Figma in beta. With the feature, you can talk with people in Figma, and it will add captions so you will be able to understand them better.

It can help if the other person talks from a noisy place or if you talk with a person with a heavy accent.

How to turn the beta ON: Open the Figma desktop app > setting> new features > turn on the beta to use it.

Save a specific version history

Our work is auto-saved by Figma, but if you want to save a specific version, you can save it and give it a name. This is great when you test something and want to return to an earlier saved version.

How to do it: Menu > file > save to version history.

Download Figma files

Although Figma works well on the cloud, if you want to be extra safe, you can download the file to your computer.

How to do it: Menu > file > save local copy

Scale tool

Do you need to scale an object? Click the scale tool (shortcut k) from the top bar and scale the object. Using the inputs on the right menu will allow you to be as precise as you like.

Add a file as a favorite

Do you work on a new file and want to add it as a favorite?

On the header, click the chevron and select “Favorite this file.”

That way, you can select the file directly from the top of the file list from the file browser. For example, marking the UI kit as a favorite can be helpful if you are working on the design system.

Write the color name in the color input

If you want to add a quick note on Figma and don’t want to open the color palette menu, you can directly type the color name in the input.

Pixel preview

It is possible to toggle the pixel view on and off and work on it in double size.
You can do this by clicking on the percentage on the right top header, then clicking on the pixel preview.

Read release notes

While reading release notes may seem strange, it is a great way to learn what’s new in Figma. In this way, you will always be up to date whenever a new feature is added to the app.

Click on the menu> help and account > release notes.

To summary

In this post, I shared 12 Figma tips to help you work better on the app. You can use these tricks to design any high-fidelity or wireframes screens. Here is the summary of all the tips:

1. By right-clicking with the Option key, you can select a specific layer.
2. Mark a zone for a comment.
3. To open the file browser, click on the circle on the header.
4. Switch account.
5. Closed captions.
6. Save a specific version history.
7. Download Figma files.
8. Scale tool.
9. Add a file as a favorite.
10. Write the color name in the color input.
11. Pixel preview.
12. Read release notes.