Web Design » Figma » How Do I Save a Figma Prototype as a GIF?

How Do I Save a Figma Prototype as a GIF?

Last updated on January 29, 2023 @ 7:33 pm

Figma is a great design tool for creating high-fidelity prototypes, but did you know that you can also save your prototypes as GIFs? This can be really useful for sharing your designs with others or for creating marketing materials. Here’s how to do it:

First, open your Figma prototype in the editor.

Then select the layer that you want to apply motion in the GIF that you will make.

From there, go to the “Resources” tab at the top menu bar and search for the “Motion” plugin and run it.

In the running Motion plugin, make sure that the layer you selected is reflected in the Layers section. Once done, add a keyframe by clicking on the diamond icon.

Then, go to the Keyframe section on the right to adjust the x-axis position of the layer at a specific time. In this case, the position would be at the “o” x-axis. Once done, press “Enter” on your keyboard, and you can see a preview of its effect on your layer’s position in the canvas.

NOTE: This will depend on the current position of your layer in your Figma canvas and the way you want your layer to move. You can use the ruler guides available in Figma surrounding your canvas. Adjust accordingly.

Next is to drag on the pink handle to its next position.

Then, click on the diamond icon to add the second keyframe and go to the Keyframe section to adjust the position.

Once you have adjusted the position, press the “Enter” key and check its effect on your canvas.

From there, drag the pink handle to its third position on the timeline.

Then, click on the diamond icon to add your third keyframe.

Adjust the position of your layer for the third keyframe and see the preview on your canvas.

 

PRO TIP: If you are planning to save a Figma prototype as a GIF, please be aware that there are some potential issues that could occur. First and foremost, please be aware that GIFs have a limited color palette, so your prototype may not look exactly as you intended. Additionally, GIFs can also be quite large in file size, so please make sure that you have enough storage space before exporting your prototype. Finally, please note that Figma currently only supports exporting prototypes as GIFs on the desktop app; the web app does not currently have this feature.

Once done, check the preview of your design by clicking on the play button in the top menu.

NOTE: Higher frame rates will also result in larger file sizes, so it’s a good idea to experiment with different settings to find the perfect balance for your needs.

Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can now export this as a GIF file. To do this, in the Motion plugin, go to Main menu > File > Export.

Then select the GIF file type from the options.

Finally, select the “Repeat” option so that the motion applied will repeat by itself in the GIF, then click on the “Export” button.

So there you have it! Now you know how to save your Figma prototypes as GIFs. Give it a try and see how it can help you in your workflows.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.