Figma’s August Updates

Tatiana -

Figma receives new updates for illustration tools and image editing

Draw with New Illustration Tools

Figma now lets users sketch and paint directly within design files using the Pencil and Brush tools. The Pencil tool is ideal for quick doodles, annotations, and clean line work, while the Brush tool helps add color, shading, and texture for a hand-drawn look. Both tools are available from the toolbar in Figma Draw, and brush styles can also be customized through the Advanced Stroke panel.

Unlike the Pen tool, where users place vector points manually, the Pencil and Brush automatically generate vector points along strokes. The number of points depends on how complex or long the line is. Users can always refine these points later in vector edit mode.

How to start drawing:

  1. Open Figma Draw from the toolbar.
  2. Select either the Pencil or Brush tool.
  3. Use the secondary toolbar to adjust stroke color, thickness, and style.
  4. Click and drag to draw. Hold Shift to create straight lines.

Users can even apply brush styles to existing strokes in their designs for added flexibility.

Image: Figma

Build Your Own Brush Styles

Figma now allows users to create fully custom brushes, offering a more personalized design toolkit. A custom brush can be made from any single vector layer—whether it’s a shape, a custom path, or converted text.

However, only closed vector paths can be used to create brushes. If the path is open (like one drawn with the Pencil or Brush), users should use Outline Stroke to close it first.

To create a custom brush:

  1. Right-click on a vector layer.
  2. Hover over Create Brush, then choose one of two types:
    • Stretch Brush — stretches the design across the stroke.
    • Scatter Brush — repeats the design along the stroke’s path.
  3. Once saved, the brush will appear in the Brush Styles menu or under Advanced Stroke settings.

By default, custom brushes are file-specific. To reuse them in another file, users need to copy a layer with the brush applied into the new project—Figma will automatically add the style to the brush library there.

Easier Navigation for Styles and Variables

If a variable or style name gets cut off in the selection menu, users can now hover their cursor over it to see the full name without guessing.

Smarter AI-Powered Image Editing

Figma has expanded its AI image editing capabilities:

  • Batch editing — remove backgrounds or enhance resolution for up to 25 images at once, saving time on repetitive work.
  • New model options — in the Edit Image menu, users can now choose between Gemini 2.0 Flash and GPT Image 1 for results that better match their prompts.