Advanced Typography in Figma

Key Concepts

• Text Styles
• Character and Paragraph Styles
• Baseline Grids
• Kerning and Tracking
• Text on a Path

Text Styles

Text Styles in Figma allow designers to apply consistent formatting to text elements across a design. By creating a Text Style, you can define properties such as font family, size, color, and weight. This ensures that all instances of a particular style remain consistent, making it easier to update and maintain a cohesive design.

For example, if you have a heading style that is used throughout your design, creating a Text Style for it ensures that all headings will have the same appearance. If you need to change the font size or color, updating the Text Style will automatically apply the changes to all instances.

Think of Text Styles as templates for text formatting. Just as a template ensures consistency in a document, Text Styles ensure consistency in your design, saving time and effort in the long run.

Character and Paragraph Styles

Character and Paragraph Styles in Figma allow for more granular control over text formatting. Character Styles apply specific formatting to individual characters or words, such as changing the font, color, or adding effects like bold or italic. Paragraph Styles, on the other hand, apply formatting to entire paragraphs, including line height, alignment, and spacing.

For instance, you might use a Character Style to highlight a specific word in a paragraph by changing its color or making it bold. A Paragraph Style could be used to set the line height and alignment for all paragraphs in a blog post, ensuring readability and consistency.

Consider Character and Paragraph Styles as the tools for fine-tuning text. Just as an artist uses different brushes for detailed work, these styles allow designers to fine-tune text elements for maximum impact.

Baseline Grids

Baseline Grids in Figma help align text elements vertically, ensuring a consistent and harmonious layout. By enabling a Baseline Grid, you can align text to a specific grid, which helps maintain consistent spacing between lines of text and other elements on the page.

For example, when designing a magazine layout, using a Baseline Grid ensures that all text elements align perfectly, creating a clean and professional look. This is particularly useful for multi-column layouts where alignment is crucial for readability.

Think of Baseline Grids as the invisible lines on a sheet of music. Just as these lines help musicians align notes, Baseline Grids help designers align text, ensuring a harmonious and visually pleasing layout.

Kerning and Tracking

Kerning and Tracking in Figma allow designers to adjust the spacing between characters in text. Kerning refers to the space between specific pairs of characters, while Tracking adjusts the space between all characters in a text block. These adjustments can improve the readability and aesthetics of text.

For example, kerning can be used to tighten the space between letters in a logo to make it look more balanced. Tracking can be adjusted to create a more spacious or condensed look for body text, depending on the design requirements.

Consider Kerning and Tracking as the tools for fine-tuning the rhythm of text. Just as a musician adjusts the timing of notes to create a smooth melody, designers use these tools to create a balanced and harmonious text layout.

Text on a Path

Text on a Path in Figma allows designers to place text along a curved or straight path, creating unique and dynamic typography. This feature is useful for designing logos, headings, and other text elements that require a non-linear layout.

For example, you might use Text on a Path to create a circular logo with text wrapped around it, or to place text along the edge of a shape. This technique adds a creative twist to typography, making it more engaging and visually interesting.

Think of Text on a Path as the ability to write in cursive. Just as cursive writing follows a flowing line, Text on a Path allows designers to create text that follows a custom path, adding a touch of creativity and flair to their designs.