Before you start
Who can use this feature
Users will need can edit access to use every tool in the toolbar. Users with can view access can use some functions in the toolbar.
The toolbar contains a variety of tools and functions. What appears in the toolbar depends on what you have selected on the canvas.
Access the toolbar at the top of your screen in Figma.
Menu
Click the menu icon to access the main menu. The menu contains Figma's search feature and various other functions organized in the menu.
Search by name, or browse by general section (e.g. file, Edit, View, etc). If there is a keyboard shortcut for the function you're trying to perform, Figma will list it next to the setting.
- Back to Files: Open the file Browser in the current location.
- File: Perform file-level permissions, including importing and exporting.
- Edit: Access undo/redo, copy/paste, and advanced selection functions.
- View: Control view settings for layout grids and rulers, perform zoom functions, and navigate within a file.
- Object: Apply object-level functions like grouping, framing, rotating, and more.
- Text: Format text with bolds or italics, and set size, height, and spacing.
- Arrange: Tidy up objects with alignment and distribution functions.
- Plugins: View, manage, and run any plugins you have installed.
- Integrations: View, manage, and use any applications you have connected.
- Preferences: Adjust your preferences.
- Libraries: Open the Library modal.
Tools
Move and Scale tools
When you open files in the Editor, Figma will select the Move Tool V by default .
The Move tool allows you to select and reorder layers in the Layers Panel, or move objects around on the canvas.
Click the arrow to the right of the Move Tool to access the Scale tool K. This allows you to resize entire objects or layers.
Frame and Slice tools
If you've used design tools before, you'll be familiar with Artboards. Like Artboards, frames allow you to choose an area of the canvas to create your designs in.
Use the keyboard shortcuts A or F to select the frame tool. Create a frame with your own dimensions in the canvas, or select a frame size from Figma's presets in the right-hand panel.
Click the arrow next to the frame tool to access the Slice tool. The Slice tool allows you to specify a region of the screen you want to export.
Use the keyboard shortcut S to select the Slice tool.
Shape tools
In addition to drawing your own shapes using the Pen Tool, there are a number of default shapes you can use in Figma. Click the drop down menu to choose from:
- Rectangle R
- Line L
- Arrow Shift L
- Ellipse O
- Polygon
- Star
- Place Image ⌥ Option ⌘ Command K
Pen and Pencil tools
The Pen tool P allows you create custom shapes and icons. Build complex Vector Networks using vector paths, anchor points, and bezier curves.
The Pencil tool allows you to add freehand drawings or annotations to your design files.
Figma will apply some basic smoothing to any paths you create with the Pencil tool. Press the Enter / Return key to edit the path and any anchor points in Vector Edit mode.
MacOS: ⌥ Option P
Windows: Shift P
Text tool
Text is one of the crucial components of interface design. Everything from the placement and arrangement of text, to the choice of font, has a part to play.
Select the Text tool from the Toolbar, or press the T key to add text layers to your file.
- Click once in the canvas to add a text layer that grows horizontally
- Click and drag to create a text layer that is fixed in size
Learn more about creating text layers.
Hand tool
The Hand Tool allows you to click around within a file without accidentally activating hover outlines, making selections, or moving objects.
If you're using Figma on a device with a touch screen, the Hand Tool allows you to pan around a file using your fingers.
Tip! Press and hold the Space bar to activate the Hand Tool.
Comment tool
The Comment tool allows you to quickly exchange ideas with collaborators. Use comments to respond to feedback, tweak your designs and iterate faster - all from the original design file.
Comments are accessible to anyone with view or edit permissions to the file.
Resources modal
The Resources modal allows you browse components from enabled libraries and browse, try, and install plugins and widgets. You can also access the Figma Community from the Resources modal. Learn more about widgets and plugins in the Figma Community →
Contextual tools
When you have a layer or object selected, you will see the Contextual tools in the center of the toolbar. Which tools you see here will depend on your specific selection.
Edit Object
Click the Edit Object icon to enter Vector Edit mode. This allows you to add, remove, or adjust the individual anchor points within a vector path.
This option will only be available when you select a single vector path. Learn more about working with Vector Networks.
Or, click the Enter / Return key to enter Vector Edit mode.
Reset Instance
You will see this option when your selection includes a Component Instance with overrides. Click the Reset instance icon to reset any Overrides and restore the main Component.
Create Components
Components are elements that you can reuse across your designs. They help to create and manage consistent designs across projects. Click the Create component icon to create a Component out of your selection.
If you select more than one layer or frames, use the arrow next to the icon to choose how to create Components:
- Create Component: Create a single Component from your selection.
- Create Multiple Components: Create a Component for each layer or frame in your selection.
MacOS: Control Commmand K
Windows: Ctrl Alt K
Use as Mask
Masks let you show or hide specific portions of a layer or object. Click the Mask icon to create a mask out of the current selection.
When you create a mask, Figma will place every layer within that selection inside a Mask group. Figma will use the outline of the current layer to determine what you can see of any layers underneath.
MacOS: Control Commmand M
Windows: Ctrl Alt M
Boolean Operations and Flatten Selection
Combine shape layers using Boolean operations, or by flattening the selection:
-
Union Selection: Combine overlapping vector paths into a single path.
-
Subtract Selection: Remove any overlapping paths from the base layer.
-
Intersect Selection: Create a single path from any overlapping paths.
-
Exclude Selection: Create a single path from the part of the layers that don't overlap.
-
Flatten selection: Create a single layer from the selection.
MacOS: Commmand E
Windows: Ctrl E
Note: This option is only available when you have more than one layer selected.
When you have no layers selected, Figma will show the project and the file name in the middle of the toolbar. This lets you access the following file-level actions:
Share and view settings
Multiplayer and observation mode
See who else is active on the file. This includes anyone who is currently viewing or editing the file.
Click on a users' avatar to enter observation mode and view their actions in real-time. This is great for presentations and design critiques.
Share
Click the Share button to open the share modal. This lets you manage who has access to your file. From the share modal you can:
Present
Click the Present icon to open the file in Presentation View. This lets you preview your designs and interact with any prototypes you've created.
View Settings
Adjust your view settings on your file, including:
- Zoom Settings
- Pixel Preview
- Pixel Grid
- Layout Grids
- Multiplayer Cursors
When you update these settings, they will only apply to your view of the current file.
