Every designer is always looking for a new skill or technique to help them work more efficiently. Figma connects you with plugins that can make your workflow smoother and faster. Plugins transform Figma into a one-stop shop for all your workflow needs. You can use them to select from a full range of fonts in seconds or generate full decorative details with extraordinary ease. You can even copy a design and paste it into Figma while keeping all the correct layers.
How to use plugins in Figma on PC
Most Figma plugins are developed to work in a PC environment. PCs make it easy to customize keystrokes and commands to create shortcuts for commonly used functions, such as “copy and paste” or “save and close.” Both are essential shortcuts in design applications like Figma. Windows also supports photo editing software (Paint) and vector illustration software (Inkscape), both of which can be very useful when creating images in Figma or creating custom icon fonts as part of your project design process.
If you are running Figma on a PC, you can run a plugin from several places:
a) The quick actions bar
The Quick Actions search bar helps you locate items without touching the mouse. All you need is your keyboard.
To start a plugin from the quick actions bar:
- Press Ctrl+/
- Type the name of the plugin in the pop-up window. If the plugin is already installed, it will appear on your screen immediately. If there are multiple plugins with very similar names, Figma will display them all to let you choose the one you want to run. In this case, you can use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the list.
- Once you find the plugin, press Enter to start running it. At this point, the plugin should be open and ready to use.
b) The File menu
The File menu is located in the upper left corner of the Figma Editor. It allows you to execute a large number of commands, including opening new files, editing existing jobs, drawing vectors, and writing text. You can also run plugins from the File menu. That is how:
- Click on the 3 horizontal lines in the upper left corner. You should see a list of commands on the pop-up screen.
- Hover over “plugins.” This should open a list of all the plugins you have installed in Figma.
- Click the plugin you want to run.
c) The context menu
Thanks to the context menu, the process of starting and running plugins does not have to be complicated:
- With the cursor positioned anywhere on the canvas, press the right mouse button.
- Hover your mouse over “plugins” to open a list of all the plugins you have installed in Figma.
- Click on the plugin you want to use. Some plugins may present you with some on-screen prompts before running them.
- At this point, the plugin will execute the intended action on the currently active object, layer, or file.
If you have used a plugin recently, you can run it again by pressing the right mouse button and then selecting “Run Last Plugin” from the pop-up menu.
How to add and use plugins in Figma on a Mac
Figma plugins are a popular way to add features that the interface doesn’t offer out of the box. The ability to seamlessly switch between reviewing the codebase and making changes in real time means you’ll never waste time switching contexts as you move through your workflow.
Mac computers are compatible with Figma, which means you can use plugins that will help you increase your efficiency while working on your project.
Here’s how you can use plugins in Figma on a Mac:
- Press Control + /
- Type the name of the plugin in the pop-up window. Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the list.
- Once you find the plugin, press Enter to start running it.
Alternatively, you can launch and run plugin commands via the context menu. All you have to do is right-click anywhere on the canvas and then select the plugin you want to use from the “plugins” button.
To rerun the last used plugin, press Option + Command + P
Plugins in Figma Mobile Apps
Figma comes with mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. However, these apps are still in beta and therefore have not been optimized for use with plugins. You can only use them to mirror the desktop app and view scaled versions of your designs. Any frame or file selected in the desktop app will also be displayed in the mobile app.
It’s also important to note that you can only use the mobile app if you are logged into the web or desktop app simultaneously.
Most Added Figma Plugins
Although there are tons of Figma addons, some handy ones are very popular among Figma enthusiasts. Here are the 5 most added Figma plugins:
1. Uninstall
As a designer, it is important to choose a high-quality background to display your work. Unsplash can be the perfect solution because it includes free, royalty-free images that can be downloaded for personal or commercial use. Photos on Unsplash are typically very high quality, and the site offers free photos for virtually any design need.
2. Iconize
Isn’t it frustrating to spend hours trying to create multiple icons on the same page only to realize that they don’t fit their native size and look pixelated? Enter Iconify. This is a plugin used by front-end developers to combine icon sets and create beautiful, rich and modern user interfaces. Iconify is designed to make it easy to add custom icons or badges directly from your browser without the need for an external editor.
3. Material Design Icons
Material Design Icons has all your icon needs. With over 27,000 icons available, you’re almost guaranteed to find an icon that’s perfect for your interface.
Material Design Icon Suite comes with vector graphics and font files used to represent different styles of icons. Whether you want simple black and white shapes or complex multi-color compositions with gradients, drop shadows, or inset shadows, this plugin has you covered. Shapes come in layered SVG files or layered PNG formats for your convenience.
4. Lorem Ipsum
Lorem Ipsum is a type of dummy text used in design, typography, and printing. Its plugin allows designers to insert sections of dummy content to mimic the look of real copy. With this tool, you can easily calculate details such as proximity and location, words per line, letter spacing, and kerning. You don’t have to waste time trying to develop blocks of filler content that may not even match your typographic design.
5. Content Reel
This is your plugin when you need to incorporate icons, avatars, and text strings into your design. It comes with a simple toolbar that allows you to select the layer in your design that needs content and then helps you select the type of content you prefer from the palette menu. The plugin also allows you to organize your text strings in ascending or descending order, depending on your project needs.
Save time with Figma plugins
By introducing features not included in the original software, Figma plugins have struck a chord with designers eager to work more efficiently. They can help you reduce the amount of time spent recreating the same things repeatedly. They present an opportunity to explore more possibilities without having to change your primary design tool. However, any add-on should be carefully considered based on inpidual requirements.
