Unlocking Figma’s Hidden Gem: Mastering Outline Mode
As Figma documents grow in complexity, navigating through layers and components can become a daunting task. Fortunately, Figma’s outline mode, introduced over a year ago, has revolutionized the way designers interact with their documents. This powerful feature makes it easy to pinpoint specific components, differentiate between them, and streamline your design process.
What is Outline Mode?
Outline mode is a lesser-known feature in Figma that forces layers to display only their outlines, even if they’re clipped or invisible. This allows you to see where multiple layers intersect when using Boolean operations and reveals the intrinsic bounds of layers with strokes.
Activating Outline Mode
There are two ways to activate outline mode: via the keyboard shortcut (Shift + O) or through the horizontal toolbar (Main menu > View > Outlines > Show outlines).
Unleashing the Power of Outline Mode
Selecting Hidden Layers
One of the most frustrating aspects of Figma is selecting layers that are hidden behind others. With outline mode, this issue disappears. You can now see and select layers that were previously inaccessible.
Revealing Boolean Operations
Boolean operations combine shapes without merging them, but it’s difficult to see the original shapes unless you select them. Outline mode solves this problem by displaying the outlines of the original shapes, making it easy to understand how they intersect.
Uncovering Intrinsic Bounds
When adding a stroke to a shape, it can be challenging to determine the type of stroke being used or where the intrinsic bounds are. Outline mode reveals the stroke outlines and intrinsic bounds, giving you a deeper understanding of your design.
Exposing Clipped Layers
Layers with the Clip content option checked or artboards that clip by default will be fully visible when outline mode is active, allowing you to see the entire layer without clipping.
Locating Hidden Layers
Outline mode reveals hidden layers, making it easy to delete unused layers, locate missing layers, or keep your Figma documents organized.
Customizing Outline Mode
You can tailor outline mode to your needs by navigating to Main menu > View > Outlines and adjusting the Include hidden layers and Include object bounds options.
Unlocking the Full Potential of Figma
Figma’s outline mode is a game-changer for designers. By mastering this feature, you’ll be able to work more efficiently, streamline your design process, and unlock the full potential of Figma.