How To Cut And Paste In Figma

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Figma has become a popular choice for UI/UX designers due to its easy-to-use interface and dynamic features as a cloud-based design tool. As with any other digital design tool, mastering the basic task of cutting and pasting elements is essential in Figma. This blog post will provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to cut and paste in Figma.

Step 1: Select the Element You Want to Cut

The first thing you need to do is select the element you want to cut. You can do this by clicking on the element. This is a straightforward process if the layer is visible and not locked. If the layer is hidden or locked, you might need to do a bit of detective work in the layers panel. Once the object is selected, a bounding box should appear around it.

Step 2: Cut the Element

After you’ve selected the element, you can cut it. To do this, you have two options:

  • Use the shortcut Ctrl + X (or Command + X if you’re on a Mac).
  • Go to the Edit menu and select Cut.

Step 3: Paste the Element

To paste the cut element, you similarly have two options:

  • Use the shortcut Ctrl + V (or Command + V if you’re on a Mac).
  • Go to the Edit menu and select Paste.

This will paste the cut element, placing it in the center of your current view. If you want to paste it in a specific location, just click where you want to position it before pasting.

Step 4: Move and Adjust the Pasted Element

After pasting, you can move and adjust the element as required. Just click and drag the element to reposition it, or use the bounding box handles to resize it.

Notes:

Remember that Figma allows you to cut and paste more than just individual items. You can select and cut multiple layers, groups, frames, and even components. This makes it a very flexible tool for quickly rearranging and reusing elements across your designs.

Also, keep in mind that when you cut an element, Figma removes it from its original location. If you want to duplicate an element instead, use the Copy (Ctrl/Cmd+C) and Paste (Ctrl/Cmd+V) commands instead.

Conclusion

The cut and paste feature is a fundamental part of any design tool and mastering it in Figma can help save time and improve your workflow. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful in learning how to cut and paste in Figma. Keep practicing and experimenting with these basic commands as you navigate your way in using Figma.