Figma Fonts: How To Change & Customize Text

Hey guys! Ever wondered how to change the font in Figma? You're in the right place! Figma is an amazing tool for UI/UX design, and knowing how to tweak your fonts is super important for creating awesome designs. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about changing fonts in Figma, from the basics to more advanced tips and tricks. Let's dive in!

Understanding Fonts in Figma

Before we jump into the how-to, let's get a grip on fonts in Figma. Typography plays a huge role in design, setting the tone and readability of your project. Understanding the basics will help you make informed decisions.

Font Basics

Fonts come in various styles like serif, sans-serif, script, and display. Each style brings a different vibe to your design.

• Serif Fonts: These have small decorative strokes (serifs) at the end of letters. Think Times New Roman. They often convey a sense of tradition and authority.
• Sans-Serif Fonts: These lack serifs, giving them a cleaner, more modern look. Arial and Helvetica are popular examples. They're generally considered more readable on screens.
• Script Fonts: These resemble handwriting and can add a touch of elegance or personality. However, use them sparingly, as they can be harder to read in large blocks of text.
• Display Fonts: These are designed for headlines and titles. They're often more decorative and attention-grabbing.

Figma's Font System

Figma uses the fonts installed on your computer, as well as fonts from Google Fonts. This gives you a wide range of options to choose from. Plus, Figma's font system is pretty intuitive, making it easy to find and apply the fonts you need.

To really nail your design, it's key to get familiar with these font categories and Figma's font system. Knowing the difference between them will dramatically improve your design process and outcomes. For instance, if you're aiming for a modern and clean look for a tech startup's website, you might lean towards sans-serif fonts like Open Sans or Roboto. These fonts provide excellent readability and a contemporary feel that aligns well with the brand's image. Conversely, a high-end fashion magazine might opt for serif fonts like Garamond or display fonts to evoke a sense of luxury and sophistication in their headings and titles. Understanding these nuances allows you to make informed decisions that enhance the overall aesthetic and effectiveness of your designs. Moreover, consider how the fonts will render across different devices and screen sizes. A font that looks great on a desktop might not be as legible on a mobile device. Testing your designs on various platforms ensures that your typography remains consistent and user-friendly, regardless of the viewing environment. By mastering these fundamental aspects of fonts and Figma's font system, you'll be well-equipped to create visually stunning and impactful designs that resonate with your target audience.

How to Change Fonts in Figma: A Step-by-Step Guide

Okay, let's get to the fun part – actually changing fonts in Figma! Here's how you do it, step by step.

Step 1: Select the Text Layer

First, you need to select the text layer you want to change. You can do this by clicking on the text directly on the canvas or by selecting the layer in the Layers panel on the left side of your screen.

Step 2: Open the Text Properties

Once you've selected the text layer, look over to the right sidebar. This is where you'll find all the properties for your selected layer. Click on the Text section to expand it.

Step 3: Choose Your Font

In the Text properties, you'll see a dropdown menu labeled Font. Click on this menu to see a list of available fonts. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar to find a specific font.

Figma organizes fonts in a way that makes it easy to find what you are looking for. The dropdown menu shows recently used fonts at the top, followed by fonts that are installed on your computer, and then Google Fonts. This hierarchical structure helps in quickly accessing your favorite or frequently used fonts without having to scroll through the entire list. Moreover, Figma provides a preview of each font as you scroll through the menu, allowing you to visually assess how the font will look in your design before you even apply it. This feature is incredibly useful for designers who want to experiment with different typography options and see how they impact the overall aesthetic of their project. Additionally, Figma supports font styles, such as bold, italic, and regular, which can be easily toggled from the same Text properties panel. This allows you to fine-tune the appearance of your text and create a visually appealing hierarchy within your design. By leveraging these features, you can efficiently manage and customize fonts in Figma, ensuring that your typography aligns perfectly with your design vision.

Step 4: Adjust Font Styles and Sizes

After selecting your font, you can adjust other properties like font size, weight (e.g., bold, regular), and style (e.g., italic). These options are also available in the Text properties panel.

Step 5: Fine-Tune Your Text

Finally, you can adjust other text properties like line height, letter spacing, and paragraph spacing to get your text looking just right. These settings are crucial for ensuring readability and visual appeal.

Importing and Using Custom Fonts

Want to use a font that's not available in Figma's default selection? No problem! You can import custom fonts, but there's a catch. You need to install the Figma Font Helper on your computer.

Installing the Figma Font Helper

The Figma Font Helper is a small application that allows Figma to access the fonts installed on your computer. Here's how to install it:

1. Download the Font Helper: Go to Figma's website and download the Font Helper for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
2. Install the Font Helper: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Restart Figma: Once the Font Helper is installed, restart Figma. This will allow Figma to recognize the fonts installed on your computer.

Using Custom Fonts

After installing the Font Helper, any fonts you have installed on your computer will be available in Figma's font selection menu. Just select the text layer, open the Text properties, and choose your custom font from the list.

Once you have installed the Figma Font Helper, managing and using custom fonts becomes seamless. The Font Helper acts as a bridge between your computer's font library and Figma, enabling you to access a wide range of typography options beyond the standard Google Fonts. This is particularly useful for branding projects that require specific, non-standard fonts to maintain brand consistency. When selecting custom fonts, it's essential to consider their licensing terms to ensure you have the right to use them in your designs, especially for commercial purposes. Additionally, keep in mind that not all fonts are created equal; some may render better on screens than others. It's a good practice to test your chosen custom fonts on various devices and browsers to ensure optimal readability and visual appeal. Figma's ability to integrate custom fonts through the Font Helper significantly expands your creative possibilities, allowing you to bring your unique typographic vision to life. Furthermore, organizing your fonts in a systematic manner on your computer can make it easier to locate and use them within Figma. Consider creating a dedicated folder for your custom fonts and naming them clearly. By taking these steps, you can streamline your workflow and ensure that your designs are visually consistent and professional.

Tips and Tricks for Working with Fonts in Figma

Here are some extra tips to help you level up your font game in Figma:

Use Styles

Figma's Styles feature lets you save font settings (like font family, size, and weight) as a reusable style. This is super handy for maintaining consistency across your designs. To create a style, select a text layer, open the Text properties, and click the Style icon (it looks like four squares). Then, click Create new style and give your style a name.

Font Pairing

Choosing the right font pairing can make a big difference in your design. A good rule of thumb is to pair a serif font with a sans-serif font. For example, you could use a serif font for headings and a sans-serif font for body text. Websites like FontPair can help you find great font combinations.

Consider Readability

Readability is key! Make sure your font size and line height are appropriate for the amount of text you're using. Avoid using overly decorative fonts for large blocks of text, as they can be difficult to read.

Test on Different Devices

Always test your designs on different devices to make sure your fonts look good on different screen sizes and resolutions. Figma's Preview feature is great for this.

Leveraging Figma's Styles feature is a game-changer for maintaining consistency and efficiency in your design workflow. By saving font settings as reusable styles, you can ensure that your typography remains uniform across all elements of your project, from headings and subheadings to body text and captions. This not only enhances the visual coherence of your designs but also saves you a significant amount of time and effort. To make the most of Styles, organize them logically and name them descriptively. For example, you might create styles named "Heading 1," "Heading 2," "Body Text," and "Caption." This makes it easy to identify and apply the correct style to each text element. Additionally, when you update a style, all instances of that style are automatically updated throughout your design, allowing you to make global changes with just a few clicks. This is particularly useful when iterating on your designs or making adjustments based on feedback. Furthermore, explore Figma's advanced style options, such as nested styles and component-based styles, to create even more sophisticated and flexible design systems. By mastering the Styles feature, you can streamline your workflow, improve the consistency of your designs, and focus on the more creative aspects of your projects.

Troubleshooting Common Font Issues

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are some common font issues you might encounter in Figma and how to fix them:

Font Not Showing Up

If a font isn't showing up in Figma, make sure it's installed on your computer and that the Figma Font Helper is running. Sometimes, restarting Figma or your computer can also help.

Font Rendering Incorrectly

If a font is rendering incorrectly (e.g., looking pixelated or distorted), try clearing Figma's cache. You can do this by going to Figma's settings and clicking Clear cache.

Missing Fonts in Collaboration

When collaborating with others, make sure everyone has the necessary fonts installed on their computers. Otherwise, Figma will substitute the missing fonts with default fonts, which can mess up your design.

Addressing font rendering issues effectively requires a systematic approach to identify and resolve the underlying causes. One common reason for fonts rendering incorrectly in Figma is the lack of proper font hinting. Font hinting is a technique used to optimize the appearance of fonts at small sizes, ensuring that they remain crisp and legible. If a font lacks adequate hinting, it may appear pixelated or blurry, especially on low-resolution screens. To mitigate this issue, consider using fonts that are specifically designed for screen use and have been optimized for hinting. Another potential cause of font rendering problems is the use of outdated or corrupted font files. Ensure that you are using the latest versions of your fonts and that the font files are not damaged. You can try reinstalling the fonts or downloading them from a reputable source. Additionally, Figma's rendering engine may sometimes struggle with complex font designs, particularly those with intricate details or unusual shapes. In such cases, simplifying the font or using a more standard typeface may improve rendering performance. Furthermore, check your Figma settings to ensure that hardware acceleration is enabled, as this can significantly improve the rendering speed and quality of fonts. By systematically troubleshooting these potential issues, you can ensure that your fonts render correctly in Figma and maintain their visual integrity across different devices and screen resolutions.

Conclusion

Changing fonts in Figma is a breeze once you get the hang of it. By understanding the basics of typography, installing the Figma Font Helper, and using styles, you can create beautiful and consistent designs. Happy designing!