As a designer, you’ve likely come across Figma, an interface design application that runs in the browser. It’s an excellent platform for team collaborations, allowing you to brainstorm and create together in real-time. But did you know you can also create GIFs in Figma? This post will guide you through the steps to make your own animated images using this versatile tool.
Step 1: Create Your Design
Firstly, you need to start by creating the design you want to animate. This can be anything from a simple shape to a complex arrangement of layers. Remember, the more layers you have, the more intricate your animation can be.
Step 2: Create a Frame for Each Stage of the Animation
Once your design is ready, you need to create a frame for each stage of your animation. Think of each frame as a snapshot of movement. For example, if you’re creating a bouncing ball animation, you will need a frame for each position the ball will be in throughout its bounce.
Step 3: Articulating the Animation
Now, it’s time to animate. For each frame, duplicate your original design and make the necessary adjustments to portray movement. Repeat this process for each stage of your animation. Remember, the more frames you have, the smoother your animation will look.
Step 4: Export Each Frame as a PNG
After your frames are ready, you have to export each one as a PNG file. To do this, select the frame you want to export, go to the ‘share’ tab in the right panel, and choose ‘Export As…’ Pick PNG as your format.
Step 5: Convert PNGs into a GIF
After exporting all the frames, you need to convert these PNGs into a GIF. There are many online tools available for this like ezgif.com. Here, you can upload your PNGs and create a GIF by clicking on ‘Animation’ and then ‘Make a GIF’. Adjust the delay time to control the speed of the animation.
Step 6: Save and Use Your GIF
Once you’re happy with your animation, simply save the GIF and use it anywhere you need.
Conclusion
Creating animated GIFs in Figma may seem complex initially, but once you understand the process, it’s actually quite simple and opens up a world of possibilities for your designs. All you need to do is create your design, break it down into frames, and animate it. So why not give it a try and add a new skill to your design repertoire?
