How to Duplicate in Figma: Master Design Like a Pro
Duplicate frames and files like a pro with our step-by-step guide on how to duplicate in Figma. Boost your productivity and become a Figma design master.
Duplicating elements is a crucial skill for any Figma user, as it helps to save time and increase productivity. Whether working on a complex design project or a simple task, duplicating elements, frames, files, or shapes can make your work much easier. This article will discuss how to duplicate in Figma, from simple shapes to complex frames. With our step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to duplicate with ease and become a Figma design master. So, let's get started!
- Table of Contents
- Why Is Duplicating So Helpful In Figma?
- How to Duplicate/Copy A File In Figma?
- How to Duplicate a Shape/Frame in Figma?
- How to Duplicate Text in Figma?
- What to Do If You Want to Duplicate Multiple Items in Figma?
- Additional Tools for a Better and More Varied Design
Why Is Duplicating So Helpful In Figma?
Duplicating is a powerful tool in Figma that can help you a lot. Let’s look at some of the major benefits of duplicating in Figma.
1. Save Time and Effort
Duplicating in Figma allows you to quickly create new components without starting from scratch every time. This can help you save a lot of time and effort, especially when working on complex design projects.
2. Maintain Design Uniformity
By duplicating elements, you can ensure that your designs remain consistent throughout the project. For example, duplicating the initial design can help you maintain uniformity and consistency across all pages if you create multiple pages with the same layout.
3. Try New Designs
Duplicating also enables you to experiment with different design ideas and variations without affecting the original design. You can duplicate the element or frame and modify it to create a new design variation, allowing you to explore different options and choose the best one.
4. Simplify Teamwork
Duplicating elements can also simplify collaboration within a team. For example, if you are working with a team member who needs to modify a design, duplicating the element or frame can allow them to work on their version without affecting the original design.
5. Save And Reuse Design Assets
Duplicating is also helpful when creating design assets that must be reused across different projects. By duplicating and saving design assets, you can easily access them in the future and reuse them in other projects, saving a lot of time and effort in the long run.
How to Duplicate/Copy A File In Figma?
Let’s understand how to duplicate files in Figma.
> Open Figma and go to the file that you want to duplicate.
> Click on the file name in the top-left corner of the screen to open the file menu.
> Click on "Duplicate" from the file menu. This will create a new copy of the file.
> Rename the duplicated file by clicking on the file name and typing in a new name.
> Click "Create" to save the duplicated file with the new name.
Alternatively, you can also duplicate a file using the right-click menu. Here are the steps:
> Open Figma and go to the file that you want to duplicate.
> Right-click on the file name in the left-hand panel.
> Select "Duplicate" from the right-click menu. This will create a new copy of the file.
> Rename the duplicated file by clicking on the file name and typing in a new name.
> Click "Create" to save the duplicated file with the new name.
You must also remember a few things when duplicating a file in Figma.
1. Copy Will Not Include Comments Or Version History
When you duplicate a Figma file, the new copy will not include any comments or version history from the original file. If you have commented on specific design elements or versions in the original file, those comments will not be carried over to the duplicated file.
2. Duplicated File Is Independent Of The Original File
When you duplicate a Figma file, the new copy is independent of the original file. Any changes you make to the duplicated file will not affect the original file and vice versa. The two files will be completely separate entities.
3. Copying Will Not Include Components Library Or Shared Styles
When you duplicate a Figma file, the new copy will not include any components library or shared styles from the original file. If you have created a library of reusable design elements or shared styles in the original file, those will not be carried over to the duplicated file.
How to Duplicate a Shape/Frame in Figma?
Duplicating a shape or frame in Figma is a simple process. Here are the steps you can follow:
> Open the Figma file that contains the shape or frame you want to duplicate.
> Select the shape or frame by clicking on it. You will know it's selected when you see a blue outline around it.
> With the shape or frame selected, either right-click and select "Duplicate" or use the keyboard shortcut "Cmd/Ctrl + D." This will create a new copy of the selected shape or frame within the same file.
> The duplicated shape or frame will be placed directly on top of the original shape or frame. You can move it to a different location by clicking and dragging it to the desired position.
> If you want to change the duplicated shape or frame, you can do so without affecting the original shape or frame. Simply select the duplicated shape or frame and make your desired changes.
Following these steps, you can easily duplicate a shape or frame in Figma and make iterative design changes or create multiple versions of your designs. However, you must remember a few points when duplicating a shape in Figma.
1. Duplicated Shapes/Frames Are Independent
Just like when duplicating a file, duplicating a shape or frame creates an independent copy of that element. Any changes you make to the duplicated shape or frame will not affect the original and vice versa.
2. Duplicated Shapes/Frames Will Be Placed On The Top
When you duplicate a shape or frame, the new copy will be placed directly on top of the original. You must move it to a new location to work on it separately.
3. Naming Conventions
When working with multiple shapes or frames, it can be helpful to establish a naming convention so that you can easily distinguish between them. Consider using a system of numbering or labeling to help keep things organized.
How to Duplicate Text in Figma?
Duplicating text in Figma is a simple process. Here are the steps you can follow:
> Open the Figma file that contains the text you want to duplicate.
> Select the text by clicking on it. You will know it's selected when you see a blue outline around it.
> With the text selected, either right-click and select "Duplicate" or use the keyboard shortcut "Cmd/Ctrl + D." This will create a new copy of the selected text within the same file.
> The duplicated text will be placed directly on top of the original text. You can move it to a different location by clicking and dragging it to the desired position.
> If you want to change the duplicated text, you can do so without affecting the original text. Simply select the duplicated text and make your desired changes.
By following these steps, you can easily duplicate text in Figma and make iterative design changes or create multiple versions of your designs.
What to Do If You Want to Duplicate Multiple Items in Figma?
If you’re wondering how to duplicate multiple items in Figma, you can group or select them while holding down the "Shift" key. Once you have selected the items, you can duplicate them using the "Duplicate" command or keyboard shortcut. The duplicated items will be placed on top of the original items, and you can move them to a new location if needed. It's important to note that any components or shared styles associated with the duplicated items will not be duplicated, so you must do so separately if necessary.
Additional Tools for a Better and More Varied Design
In addition to Figma's powerful design tools, several third-party design tools can help you create more varied and dynamic designs. One such tool is MioCreate, a powerful design platform that can integrate seamlessly with Figma.
MioCreate offers a range of features that can help take your Figma designs to the next level. Some of the key features of MioCreate include the following:
1. Extensive Design Library
MioCreate offers a vast library of design assets easily integrated into your Figma designs, including icons, illustrations, and templates.
2. Customizable Templates
With MioCreate, you can customize pre-designed templates to fit your specific design needs. This can save you time and effort when working on complex design projects.
3. Collaboration Tools
MioCreate offers a range of collaboration tools that make it easy to work with other designers, clients, or stakeholders. You can share your designs with others, gather feedback, and make real-time changes.
4. Responsive Design
MioCreate's features allow you to create great designs on various devices and screen sizes.
Integrating MioCreate with Figma allows you to use these features and create more varied, dynamic, and responsive designs. Whether you're working on a website, app, or another digital project, MioCreate can help streamline your design workflow and make your designs stand out. It also eases the process of duplicating files in Figma.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of duplicating in Figma is a fundamental skill that can help you streamline your design workflow, save time, and produce more consistent designs. Whether you're duplicating files, shapes, frames, or text, the process is simple and can be accomplished with just a few clicks or keyboard shortcuts. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily duplicate your design elements and make iterative changes to your designs, ultimately helping you create more polished and professional designs.
