Advanced Animation Techniques in Figma

Introduction

Hey designers! Welcome to another exciting design tutorial with UX Mate. In this tutorial, we will dive into advanced animation techniques in Figma. If you haven’t checked out my previous video on Figma animations, I highly recommend watching that first, as it covers the basics of animations using frames and components. Today, we will take it a step further and explore more complex animation techniques. So, let’s jump right in!

Setting Up the Animation

Creating the Base Shape

1. Open Figma and create a new frame.
2. Draw a shape—let’s use a leaf for this tutorial.
3. Frame the selection to center align it for better positioning.

If you are new to Figma’s shape tools, check out my video on shape creation for a quick primer.

Converting the Shape into a Component

1. Select the shape and convert it into a component.
2. Name the component (e.g., Leaf_01).
3. Create a variant of the component.
4. In Variant 2, rotate the leaf slightly (e.g., 45 degrees).

Configuring the Animation Settings

1. Open the Prototype tab.
2. Change the interaction setting from On Click to After Delay (1ms).
3. Select Smart Animate and choose a Linear transition.
4. Set the animation duration to 600ms.
5. Drag the component into the frame and play the prototype.

At this stage, you should see the leaf rotating around its center point.

Adjusting the Pivot Point for Realistic Animation

By default, Figma rotates objects around their center. However, a leaf naturally pivots from its stem. To fix this:

1. Since Figma doesn’t support changing pivot points directly, we’ll use a workaround.
2. Add a small reference circle at the desired pivot point.
3. Use rulers and guides to align the pivot point precisely.
4. Select both objects and adjust the rotation to align with the new pivot.

Now, when you play the animation, the leaf will rotate from the correct point.

Refining the Animation with Easing

A linear motion looks mechanical, but natural animations have acceleration and deceleration.

Applying Easing

1. Open the Prototype tab.
2. Change the animation type to Ease In & Ease Out.
3. Increase the duration to 1000ms to better visualize the effect.
4. Observe how the leaf now starts slowly, speeds up, and slows down again.

Customizing the Animation Curve

For more control:

1. Open the Custom Curve Editor in the animation settings.
2. Adjust the curve to exaggerate easing.
3. Test different settings until you achieve a smooth, natural effect.

Conclusion

We have successfully created an advanced animation in Figma by:

• Setting up a base shape.
• Creating and animating components.
• Adjusting pivot points for realistic movement.
• Refining animations with easing techniques.

This technique can be used for a variety of animations, making your Figma prototypes feel more polished and professional. Experiment with different easing curves and pivot points to create stunning animations.

Happy designing!