Basic Navigation and Tools in Figma

1. The Canvas

The canvas in Figma is your workspace where you create and arrange all your design elements. Think of it as a digital sheet of paper where you can draw, move, and resize objects. The canvas is infinite in all directions, allowing you to design without boundaries.

2. Selection Tool (V)

The Selection Tool is your primary tool for interacting with objects on the canvas. It allows you to select, move, resize, and rotate elements. When you click on an object, you can see its bounding box with handles that let you adjust its size. This tool is essential for any editing or positioning tasks.

3. Frame Tool (F)

The Frame Tool is used to create frames, which are containers for your design elements. Think of a frame as a digital picture frame that holds your design. You can create frames for different screen sizes, such as mobile, tablet, or desktop, and then design within those frames. This tool is crucial for responsive design.

4. Text Tool (T)

The Text Tool allows you to add and edit text within your designs. Clicking on the canvas with this tool will create a text box where you can type. You can adjust the font, size, color, and alignment of the text. This tool is vital for adding captions, headings, and other textual elements to your social media posts.

5. Rectangle Tool (R)

The Rectangle Tool is used to create rectangular shapes. Click and drag on the canvas to draw a rectangle. You can adjust the size, color, and corner radius of the rectangle. This tool is useful for creating backgrounds, buttons, and other rectangular elements in your design.

6. Ellipse Tool (O)

The Ellipse Tool is similar to the Rectangle Tool but for creating circles and ellipses. Click and drag to draw a circle or an oval. You can customize the size and color of the shape. This tool is handy for adding logos, icons, or decorative elements to your designs.

7. Pen Tool (P)

The Pen Tool is used for creating custom vector paths and shapes. Click on the canvas to create anchor points, and Figma will draw lines between them. This tool is more advanced and allows for precise control over complex shapes. It’s like drawing with a digital pen, giving you the freedom to create unique designs.

8. Hand Tool (H)

The Hand Tool allows you to pan around the canvas without selecting any elements. Click and drag to move the canvas view. This tool is useful when you need to see different parts of your design without affecting any elements. It’s like grabbing the canvas and moving it around to get a better view.

9. Zoom Tool (Z)

The Zoom Tool lets you zoom in and out of your design. Click on the canvas to zoom in, or hold the Alt (Option) key and click to zoom out. This tool helps you get a closer look at details or see the entire design at once. It’s like using a magnifying glass to inspect your work.

10. Layers Panel

The Layers Panel is where you can see and manage all the elements in your design. Each element you create on the canvas appears here, organized in a hierarchical structure. You can rename, reorder, and group elements in the Layers Panel. Think of it as the table of contents for your design, helping you keep everything organized.