How To Import From Figma To Framer (Tutorial & 5 Best Practices)

Learn how to simplify and import from Figma to Framer with our tips. Avoid rework and create stunning, interactive prototypes.

How To Import From Figma To Framer (Tutorial & 5 Best Practices)

Have you ever spent hours designing in Figma, only to face a tedious rework process when bringing your designs to Framer? No matter where you stand in your journey from Figma to Framer, there’s a good chance you've encountered some frustrating hiccups. This article will help you avoid some of those cumbersome processes by offering valuable insights into importing from Figma to Framer.

Alerty's Framer design can help you achieve your goals, such as learning about importing from Figma to Framer. With Framer, you can easily transition your Figma files into a tool built for design and prototyping. With Alerty’s help, your pages can be fully functional, interactive, and ready for the real world. 

What Is Framer?

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

Framer is a popular no-code platform for designing and prototyping. This tool is hyped for its easy-to-use:

  • Function
  • Clean interface

With Framer, designers can easily create reciprocal interfaces for:

  • Websites
  • Mobile apps
  • Other digital products

You want to make high-fidelity prototypes, and this tool makes it very easy. These prototypes can simulate the look and feel of the final product so users can get a hint of it in advance.

This advanced tool also has many cool features. It has become popular among designers of user experience (UX) and interface (UI). 

Tool for Prototyping and Collaboration

Use Framer’s robust prototyping features to simulate user interactions and obtain lifelike previews of your end products. Framer supports team collaboration, version control, and hassle-free sharing of prototypes with clients. 

No-Code Solution for Website Creation

You can use Framer AI to simplify the substantial task of website designing, building, and hosting without coding skills. It successfully caters to businesses and individuals who yearn to create professional websites without the hassle of coding.

Framer's Reputation as a Leading Tool for Web Design and Development

Users and designers review Framer as one of the best tools for designing and shipping websites faster, especially with the introduction of AI design capabilities, which several designers love.

Related Reading

Why Use Framer For Your Design Projects

man working on a computer - Figma To Framer

The Intuitive User Interface of Framer Helps Designers Get to Work Fast

Framer's simple, clean interface makes it easy for designers to start. You can jump right in and begin designing without a cumbersome learning curve. The UI works similarly to Figma, Sketch, and AdobeXD, so you won’t feel lost as you navigate. 

Framer also offers more advanced tools and features that help you create high-quality prototypes that look and feel like the real thing.

Framer Empowers Your Creativity

With Framer, you can go beyond simple, static web designs. The platform’s advanced animation capabilities and interactive components help you create engaging, dynamic user experiences that stand out. As a designer, you have the flexibility and control to build prototypes that genuinely reflect your vision.

Seamless Collaboration with Framer

Though Framer offers you all the tools to create outstanding websites independently, everything is better together. Framer helps you make:

  • Feedback loops shorter
  • Comments instantaneous
  • Team align products to your vision

Flexibility and Control

Every designer works differently. That’s why Framer always gives you options from working with Frames or Stacks to starting from a blank canvas or with a template to boost your workflow. With Framer’s code injection, they still allow you to have granular control of your product when you need it. 

In these ways, Framer does more than streamline the web design process; it elevates it. Framer allows you to make your most ambitious design ideas a reality. 

Design Services

NUMI is a framer web design agency that world-class framer developers and product designers power. Backed by Y Combinator, NUMI handles all of your startup's sourcing/vetting/hiring needs for design. Our fabuolous design team ensures all your design work is done well.

NUMI helps with:

  • Product design
  • Web design
  • Framer development
  • Webflow development
  • Mobile design
  • Prototyping
  • UX design
  • All of your startup's design needs

Join Designers

Subscribe to a guild of world-class designers ready to embed on your team today. Schedule a call with us today to learn more!

Preparing Your Figma Design For Import

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

In Framer, layer names become the names of elements. Meaningful layer names in Figma will make your Framer project easier to manage. Instead of having to guess what Group 5 means in your new Framer project, you can assign this element its true name, Hero Background. 

Descriptive naming structures help keep your Framer project organized. This will save you time and reduce frustration as you build out functionality for your website or app prototype.

Leverage Components for Figma to Framer Success

When transitioning from Figma to Framer, Figma components and Auto Layout features are your friends. These elements map well to Framer's structure, saving you time rebuilding elements from scratch. Use components to organize similar elements, such as buttons or cards, and create variations for different states:

  • Hover
  • Pressed
  • Disabled

By doing so, you will ensure a much smoother import process. When you open your Framer project, your elements will be already organized and ready for use.

Match Frame Sizes for Accurate Imports

Match your Figma frame sizes to your intended screen dimensions in Framer for a more accurate import. If you're designing a desktop website, find the desktop frame in Figma and use that to design your site. 

Then, when you import to Framer, you will open the same screen size, and your elements will translate seamlessly. This practice also works for responsive designs. Start with your breakpoints in Figma to ensure a smooth import process to Framer.

Design Consistency Preserves Aesthetic Accuracy

Design consistency is essential for a seamless transition from Figma to Framer. Before importing your Figma design into Framer, consistently use fonts, colors, and styles throughout your file. 

This practice will make your Framer project more organized and preserve your design's aesthetic accuracy when imported.

Importing Figma To Framer Using The Figma To Framer Plugin

man workng on a laptop - Figma To Framer

The Figma to Framer Plugin provides an efficient way to transfer designs from Figma to Framer. The plugin allows you to take existing layouts from your Figma file effortlessly, copy them with it, and then simply paste with Ctrl + V in your Framer canvas, allowing you to recreate layouts in seconds.

How It Works: Copying Layouts

Copying layouts using the Figma to Framer Plugin is simple and intuitive. 

  • Install the plugin.
  • Open Figma and go to the Community tab.
  • Search for the Framer plugin and click Install. 
  • You'll prepare your design by organizing your layers and components. 

Grouping related elements will make it easier to copy the necessary parts. Now you're ready to use the plugin. Select the frames or elements you plan to export in Figma. Right-click and go to "Plugins" > "Framer." The plugin will open and show your selected elements.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Figma to Framer Plugin

Exporting designs from Figma to Framer is straightforward. 

  • Begin by selecting the layer or group of layers you want to export in your Figma design. This can range from a small section to a whole frame, but it's best to export smaller sections, such as one landing page section at a time for optimal performance. 
  • Run the plugin by navigating the Figma menu and choosing Plugins > Figma to HTML in Framer. Once selected, you'll see a notification that the layers have been copied. 
  • Open an existing or new project in Framer, and simply paste the copied layers into the canvas. 

Your Figma design has now been transferred to Framer as a working HTML layout. However, the plugin only transfers the layout structure, so additional steps are required to make your website fully functional and responsive.

Related Reading

Refining Your Design In Framer

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

When you import your design from Figma to Framer, you want the transition to go smoothly. One way to ensure this is by using Auto Layout in Figma. This feature is a game changer for responsive design. It allows your components to adapt based on the frame size. 

If your design has multiple breakpoints, they will adjust automatically to fit the viewport size in Framer. This minimizes the need for adjustments after importing and helps your design transition more seamlessly.

Optimizing Responsiveness: Adjusting Breakpoints in Framer

Once your design is in Framer, make sure to adjust breakpoints. Rather than importing separate layouts for different breakpoints (like tablet or mobile), which can slow down load times, stick to Framer's properties to adjust the layout. 

This will optimize your site's performance and responsiveness, keeping load time minimal by avoiding unnecessary hidden elements.

5 Best Practices For Using Figma To HTML With Framer Plugin

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

1. Layer Structuring

The Key to Successful Figma to Framer Transitions  

Framer imports the exact layout from your Figma design. Still, how you structure your layers significantly affects the result. For instance, when possible, the auto layout in Figma will yield a more flexible Framer export.  

2. Check Layer Settings for Responsiveness Before Pasting

Before you paste your Figma layers into Framer, check all copied layers' width and height settings. Make sure they are set up correctly and can be responsive.

3. Know the Limitations of the Figma to Framer Plugin

The Framer plugin can be used to copy and paste all graphical elements:

  • Frames
  • Groups
  • Text
  • Images
  • Vectors

Suppose you have a video element planned in your Figma design. In that case, you’ll have to insert the Video component from Framer instead of copying over the layout, and you’ll have to adjust it manually.

4. Import in Small Batches to Avoid Bugs and Errors

When using the Figma to Framer plugin, try to import small parts of the project, one at a time, and assemble the design in Framer. You cannot take the full design and paste it in because it creates many potential bugs and errors.

5. Use the Plugin for a Head Start on Your Framer Project

The Figma to Framer plugin gives you a great starting point for your Framer project and saves time when setting up fonts and basic layouts.

Publishing Your Framer Website

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

Before you publish a Framer website, ensure your design is complete. Review your design to confirm it has all the desired:

  • Interactions
  • Animations
  • Content

Test the responsiveness across different simulated devices to catch any issues.

Publishing Your Site

Publishing your Framer website is simple. Look for the Publish button in the top right corner of the Framer editor. Click that button to make your website accessible on the web.

Choosing Your Domain

Your site will default be hosted on a Framer subdomain (e.g., my site.framer.app). Alternatively, you can connect your custom domain.

Going Live

Once you click Publish, your website will go live in seconds. Any future updates made in Framer can be instantly pushed live with the Update button. Framer's hosting infrastructure is designed for simplicity, performance, and reliability, utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver:

  • Fast
  • Secure
  • Highly available websites

Publishing with Framer allows you to easily take your designs from concept to reality with minimal effort.

FAQs On Figma To Framer

man working on a laptop - Figma To Framer

You can convert Figma designs to Framer using the Figma to HTML with the Framer plugin. This plugin allows you to copy layers from Figma and paste them directly onto the Framer canvas. To do this:

  • Select the elements you want to import in Figma
  • Run the plugin
  • Paste them into your Framer project

This process simplifies the transition from design to prototype, enabling you to recreate layouts quickly and efficiently.

Figma to Framer: Which Is Better, Figma or Framer?

The choice between Figma and Framer depends on your specific needs. Figma is primarily a design tool that excels in collaborative design and prototyping. It allows for real-time collaboration and is widely used for creating user interfaces and mockups. On the other hand, Framer is focused on prototyping and building interactive experiences. 

It provides advanced prototyping capabilities, including animations and interactions, making it ideal for developers and designers looking to create high-fidelity prototypes. Figma is better for design and collaboration, while Framer is superior for prototyping and building interactive applications.

Figma to Framer: Do Figma Animations Work in Framer?

Figma animations do not directly transfer to Framer. While you can import the design elements, any animations or interactions defined in Figma need to be recreated in Framer. 

This means you’ll have to manually add animations and interactions after importing your Figma designs to utilize Framer’s capabilities fully.

Figma to Framer: How To Import Figma Prototype in Framer

To import a Figma prototype into Framer, follow these steps: 

  • Install the Figma to HTML with Framer plugin from the Figma community. 
  • Select the elements you want to import in Figma. 
  • Go to the Figma menu, select Plugins, and then choose Figma to HTML with Framer.
  • Open your Framer project (new or existing) and paste the copied elements onto the canvas. 
  • After pasting, you may need to adjust the layout and styles in Framer, as some features from Figma may not be supported or require manual adjustments.

Subscribe To A Guild of World Class Framer Developers with Our Framer Web Design Agency Today

NUMI is a framer design agency specializing in creating stunning websites and apps with Framer. Our expert team uses Framer to build fast, interactive prototypes that look like the final product. 

This process helps teams get buy-in early, before development starts. It also makes development easier because Framer is a developer-friendly tool that outputs clean code.

Related Reading

Tap into the most driven engineers and designers on the planet

Hire Designer 　
© NUMI
All Rights Reserved