Text and Typography in Figma

Understanding text and typography in Figma is crucial for creating visually appealing and readable designs. This section will cover key concepts such as text layers, text styles, and typography settings.

Key Concepts

1. Text Layers

Text layers in Figma are the basic elements where you input and format text. To create a text layer, select the "T" tool from the toolbar and click anywhere on the canvas. You can then type your text directly into the layer. Text layers can be resized, moved, and styled just like any other shape in Figma.

2. Text Styles

Text styles in Figma allow you to apply consistent formatting to multiple text layers. By creating a text style, you can define properties such as font family, size, color, and line height. Once a text style is applied, any changes made to the style will automatically update all instances of that style across your design.

3. Typography Settings

Typography settings in Figma include various options to control the appearance of your text. These settings can be accessed through the properties panel when a text layer is selected. Key settings include:

• Font Family: The typeface used for the text.
• Font Size: The size of the text.
• Line Height: The vertical spacing between lines of text.
• Letter Spacing: The horizontal spacing between characters.
• Text Alignment: Options to align text to the left, center, right, or justify.

Examples and Analogies

Text Layers

Think of text layers as sticky notes on a whiteboard. You can write on them, move them around, and change their size and color to suit your needs.

Text Styles

Text styles are like templates for your sticky notes. Once you create a template with a specific font and color, you can apply it to multiple notes, ensuring consistency. If you decide to change the template, all the notes that use that template will update automatically.

Typography Settings

Typography settings are the tools you use to fine-tune your sticky notes. You can choose the font, adjust the size, and control the spacing to make the text look just right.

By mastering these concepts, you'll be able to create well-organized and visually cohesive designs in Figma.