Boolean Operations in Figma

Key Concepts

Boolean operations in Figma allow designers to manipulate shapes by combining, subtracting, or intersecting them. The three primary Boolean operations are:

• Union
• Subtract
• Intersect

Union

The Union operation combines two or more shapes into a single shape, merging their overlapping areas. This is useful for creating complex shapes by combining simpler ones.

For example, imagine you have two overlapping circles. Applying the Union operation will merge these circles into a single shape, with the overlapping area included in the final result.

Subtract

The Subtract operation removes the area of one shape from another. This is particularly useful for creating cut-out effects or removing parts of a shape.

Consider a rectangle with a circular cut-out. By applying the Subtract operation, you can remove the circular area from the rectangle, leaving a rectangular shape with a hole in the middle.

Intersect

The Intersect operation retains only the overlapping area of two or more shapes, discarding the non-overlapping parts. This is helpful for isolating specific sections of complex shapes.

Imagine two overlapping rectangles. Applying the Intersect operation will result in a new shape that is the area where the two rectangles overlap, effectively cutting out the non-overlapping parts.

Examples and Analogies

Think of Boolean operations as different ways to combine and manipulate puzzle pieces. The Union operation is like putting two puzzle pieces together to form a larger picture. The Subtract operation is like cutting out a piece from a puzzle to create a hole. The Intersect operation is like finding the common area where two puzzle pieces overlap and focusing on that part.

For instance, in a design for a logo, you might use the Union operation to combine a circle and a square to create a unique symbol. For a button design, you could use the Subtract operation to create a cut-out effect in the shape. In a complex illustration, the Intersect operation can help you isolate and highlight specific areas of interest.