To edit the text in Figma, select the text layer you want to adjust and find the Text Editor section in the toolbar on the right side of the screen. Here you can find all the text properties and change the text size and color, add some spacing, or apply effects.
Hi! My name is Yana, and I’ve been creating graphic content for the last few years, using both Canva and Figma. When it comes to working with text, Canva has some limitations, while Figma is much more advanced. That’s why I prefer to use Figma when I need to work with text more precisely.
In this article, I will show you what text properties can be found in Figma and how to edit the text using this design tool. I’ll also explain what a text style is in Figma and why it’s beneficial to use.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Some of the text properties in Figma include changing the font style, weight, size, spacing, alignments, and color, and adding stroke or shadow effects.
- Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your design process. For example, press Command/Ctrl+B to bold your text or Command/Ctrl+D to duplicate the text layer.
- To make changes to multiple text layers at once, click the Figma icon in the top left corner, navigate to the Edit button, and then click on the Select All With the Same Properties button.
How to Change Text Properties in Figma: Step-by-step Guide
Despite being an advanced tool for professional designers, Figma is very user-friendly. If you’ve ever used any design editor, there’s always a learning curve but you will get better with more practice.
By now, I imagine you might have some text layers in your design. If not, simply press the T key on your keyboard to add some text. Let’s take a closer look at each text property.
1. Changing the Font
Any text you add in Figma will be in the Inter font by default. Here’s how to change it.
First, select the text layer and find the Text properties on the right side of the screen. Click on the arrow next to the font name to open a drop-down menu with the fonts available and choose the one that fits your needs.
If you know the font name, type it in the search bar to find it. If you want to upload new fonts to Figma, you will need to download fonts to your computer first. Check out this guide to learn how to add fonts to Figma.
2. Changing the Font Style and Weight
You can make your text regular, bold, or italic. This feature can be found in the side toolbar, positioned right under the font name.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to save some time. Highlight the text and press Command + B (Mac) or Ctrl + B (Windows) to make it bold, or Command/Ctrl + I to apply the italic style.
Keep in mind that not all fonts will allow you to change the text styling.
3. Changing the Text Size
There are two ways to change the size of the text layer. You can do it by using the scale mode or the text properties.
For the first method, you need to enter the scale mode by pressing the K key on your keyboard or choosing it from the menu at the top of the screen. Click on the Cursor icon button from the top menu and then select Scale.
Now you can resize the text box by dragging one of its corners. However, I wouldn’t recommend this method when you need a precise design.
The second method is more precise. Select the text layer and find the size tab in the Text properties. You can choose a number from the dropdown menu or simply type the desired text size you need in the input field.
4. Changing the Spacing and Line Height
The next text properties are paragraph, letter spacing, and line height. If you’re a beginner, it’s not necessary to change these values. However, let’s take a look at each of them.
Line height: This property is located right under the font-weight field. It’s especially useful when working with paragraphs of text. By default, Figma provides an Auto height option, but once you select it, Figma will suggest a recommended value based on your text content.
Letter spacing: This feature is located right next to the Line height icon. You can type in a value or click on the field and drag the cursor from side to side to change the value.
Paragraph spacing: You can increase or decrease the space between paragraphs. Just input the number manually or click and drag the cursor from side to side, to change the spacing value.
5. Adding Alignments
The alignment options allow you to align the text to the right, left, top, bottom, or center. Click on each icon to see how the text portion will change accordingly. To undo the changes, hit the Command + Z (Mac) or Ctrl + Z (Windows) keyboard shortcut.
6. Changing the Type Settings
Next to the alignment icons, you can click on the three dots to open more text properties. It will show you the entire list of text properties available.
You can underline or strikethrough your text with the Decoration section, create a numbered or bulleted list in the List style section, and change the letter case to uppercase or lowercase.
Overall, these are the most common type settings you will need to use. The properties in the Details and Variable tabs are geared towards more advanced designers and they may not be necessary for most users’ day-to-day practice.
7. Changing the Text Color
In the Fill section, you can change the text color, and transparency, or add a gradient. Click on the color square to change the settings.
You can manually choose a color, use a color code or select a specific color by using the color picker tool. To add transparency to your text, change the percentage to 30–50%, depending on how much you want the background to be seen through the text.
If you want to add a gradient, select the Solid button in the dropdown menu at the top of the window. Additionally, you can upload an image or video to fill the text.
8. Adding Stroke Effect
The next property that you can find in the toolbar is the stroke effect. Working with strokes can be a bit tricky, so I wouldn’t recommend adding it to your text unless you know how to use it properly.
To add a stroke, click on the Stroke button to add it to the text. Now, you have the option to change the stroke color, choose the weight of the line, or add transparency.
You can change the stroke position to be outside, inside, or in the center.
Under the More icon, you can find the advanced stroke settings where you can change the stroke style to make it dashed or to change the angle shape.
If you want to remove the fill color and only leave the stroke, find the Fill section and click on the Minus button.
To undo the stroke, click the Minus button in the Stroke section.
9. Adding Shadow and Blur Effects
In the Effects section, you can add a shadow or blur your text. First, select the effect from the dropdown menu and choose the inner shadow, drop shadow, or blur options.
To adjust the effect, click the Effect Settings button with the sun icon. Here you can change the intensity of the effect’s position, spread, color, and transparency. Experiment with these effects to achieve your desired results.
How to Make the Text Style
Once you’ve put in the effort to edit your text, it’s only natural to want to save it for future use.
While you can certainly use the standard copy and paste shortcuts (Command/Ctrl + Shift + C to copy text properties, and Command/Ctrl + Shift + V to paste), Figma offers a more efficient solution for reusing text styles: the Style feature.
With this feature, you can save the text style as a preset and apply it to the other text elements in your design.
Select the edited text layer you want to save and click on the button with the four dots in the Text properties.
Next, click on the Plus icon to create a new style, give it a new name and save it. There you have it! Now you can reuse this text style to maintain consistency throughout your project.
To find your text styles and add them to other text layers, just click the same button with the four dots in the Text properties to find the Text style library.
FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about editing text in Figma.
How Do I Change All Text in a Figma File?
Hold the Shift key to select multiple text layers manually and change the properties. If your design file is large, click the Figma icon in the top left corner, choose Edit, and then Select All With the Same Properties. All the text sharing the same settings will be selected and you can edit them.
How Do I Auto Adjust Text in Figma?
To adjust text automatically, you will need to use the Auto Layout feature. You can add it by pressing the Shift + A key combination or by right-clicking the text layer and choosing the Add Auto Layout option.
Final Thoughts
Figma proves to be a powerful tool for text editing, offering a wide range of features to enhance your design projects. Figma also allows you to create and save text styles as presets, which I think is an amazing option. This way you can save time and keep your design project organized.
Which Figma text feature excites you the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
