Layout Grids

Layout grids help you organize and align content in your designs. Think of them like invisible lines that guide where text, images, and other elements should go, ensuring everything looks neat and orderly. By using these grids, you can ensure your work is consistent, meaning that all parts of the design match and look good together.

Layout grids go beyond the constraints of the pixel grid, meaning they are not tied to a specific resolution or dimensions. This is particularly useful when creating apps and websites that need to function on various devices and screen sizes, whether it's a phone, tablet, or computer.

You can only apply layout grids to frames in Figma, whether it's a top-level frame or a frame nested within another.

To apply a layout grid, start by selecting the frame you want to work on. You can do this directly on the canvas or by finding the frame in the Layers panel on the left. After selecting the frame, look for the Layout guide section in the Design panel and click the + icon next to it. This action will automatically apply a 10pt uniform square grid to the selected frame.

To customize this grid, click on the Layout grid settings icon that appears. A small window will open up where you can adjust its properties to fit your needs. Figma offers 3 types of layout grids:

• Uniform square grids (the default option)
• Column grids
• Row grids

You can choose one of these options or combine them to create more complex layouts according to your design requirements.

Uniform grids are great for situations requiring precision, like designing symbols or icons. When you use the default uniform grid in Figma, it creates 10x10px squares. If you want to change the size of these squares, click on the Layout grid settings icon. In there, you'll see a field named Size. This is where you can type in how big you want each square to be.

If you change it from 10pt to 20pt, each square will grow bigger to adjust to your new setting. After you've set it to the size you like, just click X to close the window and see your changes on the canvas. A grid with larger squares can aid in broad layout structures, while a grid with smaller squares is perfect for minute and intricate adjustments.

Column and row grids in Figma are great for making designs that look good on different screen sizes, like websites and mobile apps. They give you more control over how your design adjusts. To create a row or column grid, create a default grid and click on the Layout guide settings icon. Next, select Rows or Columns from the dropdown menu that appears on top of the window.

Once you apply a row or column grid, you will see options to modify the:

• Count: How many columns or rows you want
• Gutter: This is the space between each column or row
• Margin: For grids that stretch, this is how far from the edge your columns or rows start
• Offset: This determines where your columns or rows begin from the top or left side. It's used when rows are aligned to the top and columns to the left.

To change the color of a layout grid in Figma, which is set to red with 10% opacity by default, follow these steps:

1. Click the Layout guide settings icon next to the layout grid in the Design panel.
2. Click on the color swatch that appears in the settings window.
3. This opens the color picker, where you can choose a new color for your grid.
4. You can also adjust how see-through your grid is by changing the opacity.

This lets you customize the look of your grid to improve visibility against different backgrounds, enhancing your design workflow and accuracy.

A stretchy grid in Figma is a type of layout grid that automatically adjusts its size to fit the screen or frame it's applied to. This is really helpful when you're designing things like websites or apps that need to look good on different devices, from phones to big computer screens.

To use a stretchy grid:

1. Select the frame you want to work on.
2. Go to the Design panel and click the + next to Layout guide.
3. By clicking on the Layout guide settings icon, choose either Columns or Rows, depending on what you need for your design.
4. In the settings that pop up, you can make your grid stretchy by choosing the Stretch option under the Type dropdown.

This makes your columns or rows fill the entire width or height of your frame, adjusting automatically as the frame size changes.

A fixed grid in Figma is a layout grid where you set specific widths for columns or heights for rows, along with the number of columns or rows. This is especially useful for creating detailed designs where precise alignment of elements is crucial.

To apply a fixed grid:

1. Select your frame, then click the + next to Layout guide in the Design panel.
2. Choose between Column or Rows by clicking on the Layout guide settings icon.
3. Set your desired width or height and the number of columns or rows using the settings window that pops up.
4. You can fix rows to the top, bottom, or center of the frame, and columns to the left, right, or center under the Type dropdown.

This provides a structured, consistent layout that enhances usability and aesthetics in complex interfaces.

Combining layout grids in Figma lets you make complex designs easily. For instance, using both column and row grids together gives you more control over how things line up both up and down and side to side.

Here’s how to do it:

1. First, pick the frame you want to add grids to.
2. Then, click the + next to Layout guide in the Design panel.
3. Choose the type of grid you want by clicking on the Layout guide settings icon.
4. Set any other properties you need for your grid.
5. If you want to add more grids, just repeat these steps to add them.

This way, you can line up your design elements perfectly, making your project look neat and professional.

The 8-point grid is a system used in Figma to help designers create consistent and well-organized designs. It works by ensuring that all elements (like text, buttons, and icons) are spaced and sized in multiples of 8 (e.g., 8, 16, 24). This system is especially useful when designing for fixed constraints, such as a mobile app, but it also shines in creating responsive layouts that adapt well across different screen sizes. To apply it in Figma, there are two methods:

• Hard grid: Apply a uniform grid to your frame with each square set to 8pt in size. This method places objects directly on the grid, promoting consistency in element spacing and alignment.
• Soft grid: Use row or column layout grids with spacing (gutter and margin) and size (width or height) divisible by 8. This approach offers flexibility, allowing objects to be positioned at distances from each other that are multiples of 8, without strictly sticking to the grid squares.

To show or hide layout grids in Figma, you can easily toggle their visibility. This is helpful when you want a clearer view without deleting your grids.

To toggle all grids in your file:

1. Click the Zoom percentage at the top-right to open the View Settings menu.
2. If the Layout guide setting has no check, click it to show the grids. If it's checked, clicking will hide them.
3. Alternatively, press Control G (Mac) or Ctrl Shift 4 (Windows) to toggle grids on or off quickly.

To toggle just one grid:

1. Select the frame you're working on.
2. In the Design panel, under the Layout guide settings, click the eye icon next to the grid of your choice to turn it on or off.

This way, you can control which grids are visible at any time, helping you focus on your design.