1. How to Create Reaction Text in Figma

2025-01-19

how to

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Attention, Figma enthusiasts! Discover the art of crafting captivating reaction texts that will elevate your designs and engage your audience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the secrets of creating dynamic and interactive reaction texts that will add a touch of flair to your Figma projects. Embark on this journey of visual storytelling and enhance your designs with the power of text that reacts to user actions.

Figma, the collaborative design platform, empowers designers with a plethora of tools and features. Among its many capabilities is the ability to add reaction texts, which transform static text elements into interactive components. These texts respond to user interactions, such as hovers, clicks, and drags, adding a layer of engagement and responsiveness to your designs. By incorporating reaction texts, you can create captivating prototypes, interactive dashboards, and engaging user interfaces that captivate your users.

Unleashing the potential of reaction texts in Figma requires a combination of technical know-how and design finesse. In this guide, we’ll delve into the step-by-step process of creating reaction texts, exploring the various settings and options available. We’ll provide practical examples and share best practices to help you master this technique. Whether you’re a seasoned Figma expert or just starting to explore its capabilities, this guide will empower you to create stunning reaction texts that will elevate your designs to new heights.

Create a New Text Box

To create a new text box in Figma, follow these steps:

Click on the “Text” tool from the toolbar on the left side of the Figma interface.
If the “Text” tool is not visible, click on the “Show More Tools” button at the bottom of the toolbar, and then select the “Text” tool.
Click and drag on the canvas to create a text box.
You can also adjust the size and position of the text box by dragging its edges or corners.
Start typing your text into the text box.
You can format your text using the text formatting options in the toolbar at the top of the Figma interface.

Type Your Reaction Text

Choose which expression you want to use and begin typing into the text box. Figma will automatically create a basic text shape with your text in it. You can then customize the text’s font, color, and size to match your design.

Customize Styles

Once you are satisfied with your text, you can begin customizing its style. You can change the font, color, and size of your text, as well as add effects such as bold, italic, and underline. You can also choose to align your text to the left, center, or right.

Apply Text Effects

In addition to customizing the style of your text, you can also apply effects to it. Effects can make your text look more interesting or eye-catching. Some of the effects that you can apply include drop shadows, glows, and outlines.

Effect	Description
Drop Shadow	Adds a shadow behind your text, making it appear to float off the page.
Glow	Adds a glow around your text, making it appear to shine.
Outline	Adds an outline around your text, making it stand out from the background.

Select the “Reaction” Fill Type

To create reaction text in Figma, follow these steps:

Select the text layer you want to apply the reaction effect to.
In the “Fill” section of the right-hand panel, select the “Reaction” fill type under the “Advanced” tab.

Customize the reaction settings:

Setting	Description
Reaction	Select the type of reaction effect you want to apply, such as “Spring”, “Wiggle”, “Pulse”, or “Shake”.
Duration	Set the length of time the reaction effect will last, measured in seconds.
Delay	Define the delay before the reaction effect begins, measured in seconds.
Easing	Control the smoothness of the reaction effect’s animation by choosing from different easing functions.

Once you have adjusted the reaction settings to your liking, the text layer will animate according to the selected reaction effect. By experimenting with different combinations of settings, you can create unique and engaging reactions for your designs.

Choose a Fill Color

The first step in creating a reaction text element is to choose a fill color. This will determine the color of the text that appears when the user hovers over the element. To choose a fill color, select the element in the Figma interface and click on the “Fill” color picker in the “Properties” panel. From here, you can choose a solid color or a gradient from the available options.

If you want to use a custom color, you can click on the “Custom” tab and enter the hex value or RGB values for the desired color. You can also use the eyedropper tool to sample a color from another element in your design.

Solid Colors

Solid colors are a simple and effective way to add a splash of color to your reaction text. You can choose from a wide range of colors, including primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors. When choosing a solid color, it’s important to consider the overall color scheme of your design and the context in which the reaction text will be used.

Gradients

Gradients can add a bit of visual interest to your reaction text. Gradients are created by blending two or more colors together. You can choose from a variety of pre-made gradients in Figma or create your own custom gradients. When creating a custom gradient, you can control the colors, the direction of the gradient, and the opacity of each color.

Transparency

Transparency can be used to create a more subtle effect with your reaction text. By adjusting the opacity of the fill color, you can control how transparent the text appears. This can be useful for creating overlays or for adding a bit of depth to your design.

Fill Type	Description
Solid Color	A single, uniform color.
Gradient	A blend of two or more colors.
Transparency	Allows you to control the opacity of the fill color.

Add a Stroke (Optional)

Adding a stroke to your reaction text can help it stand out even more from the background and draw attention to it. To add a stroke:

Select the text layer in the Layers panel.
Click on the “Stroke” tab in the Properties panel.
Set the “Width” to the desired thickness of the stroke.
Choose the color of the stroke from the “Color” picker.
Adjust the “Opacity” of the stroke to your liking.

Additional Stroke Options:

Join: Choose how the corners of the stroke should be joined. Options include “Miter,” “Bevel,” and “Round.”
Cap: Select how the ends of the stroke should be capped. Options include “Butt,” “Round,” and “Square.”
Dashes: Create a dashed stroke by setting the “Dash Length” and “Gap Length.”
Pattern: Choose a pattern to apply to the stroke from the “Pattern” menu.
Align to Shape: Adjust the position of the stroke relative to the shape of the text. Options include “Inside,” “Center,” and “Outside.”

Option	Description
Join	How the corners of the stroke are joined
Cap	How the ends of the stroke are capped
Dashes	Creates a dashed stroke
Pattern	Applies a pattern to the stroke
Align to Shape	Adjusts the position of the stroke relative to the shape of the text

With these additional stroke options, you can customize the appearance of your reaction text even further, making it unique and eye-catching.

Choose a Background Color

The background color of your reaction text is an important design element that can set the tone for your message. Here are some things to consider when choosing a background color:

Color Psychology

Different colors evoke different emotions and associations. For example, blue is often associated with calmness and trust, while red is associated with excitement and passion. Consider the emotions you want to convey with your reaction text and choose a background color accordingly.

Contrast

The background color of your reaction text should provide sufficient contrast with the text color to ensure readability. Avoid using light text on a light background or dark text on a dark background, as this can make the text difficult to read.

Brand Identity

If you’re creating reaction text for your brand, consider using colors that are consistent with your brand identity. This will help to create a cohesive and recognizable experience for your audience.

Context

The context in which your reaction text will be used can also influence your choice of background color. For example, if your reaction text will appear on a website with a white background, you’ll want to choose a darker background color to make the text stand out.

Accessibility

When choosing a background color, it’s important to consider accessibility for people with visual impairments. Avoid using colors that are too similar or that create a high contrast that can be difficult to read for people with certain types of color blindness.

Contrast Ratio	Description
1:1	Very low contrast, difficult to read
3:1	Low contrast, may be difficult to read for some people
7:1	Medium contrast, generally acceptable for most people
15:1	High contrast, easy to read for most people, including those with color blindness

Preview the Reaction Text

To view the reaction text, follow these simple steps:

Select the component in the Design panel.
Click on the “Preview” button in the Inspector panel.
Hover over the component to see the reaction text displayed.

Additional Details:

The reaction text will only be visible when you hover over the component in Preview mode. 2. The reaction text can be customized by editing the component’s properties in the Inspector panel. 3. You can add multiple reaction texts to a single component, which will be displayed sequentially when you hover over the component.

Property	Description
Text	The text that will be displayed when the component is hovered over.
Delay	The time delay in milliseconds before the reaction text is displayed.
Duration	The duration in milliseconds for which the reaction text will be displayed.
4. The reaction text can be used to provide additional information about the component, such as its purpose or usage. 5. It can also be used to provide feedback to users, such as error messages or status updates. 6. By default, the reaction text is displayed in the bottom-left corner of the component. However, you can customize the position using the “Position” property in the Inspector panel. 7. The reaction text can also be used to trigger animations or other interactions when the component is hovered over. 8. To learn more about using reaction text in Figma, refer to the Figma Help Center. 9. Experiment with different properties and settings to create customized and engaging reaction texts that enhance the user experience of your designs.

Export the Image

Once you’re satisfied with your reaction text, it’s time to export it as an image. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Select the text layer you want to export.
Go to “Export” in the top menu bar
In the “Export” panel, choose your desired image format (e.g., PNG, JPG).
Set the height and width of the image. You can choose specific dimensions or use the default settings.
Select the color space (e.g., sRGB, CMYK).
Choose the resolution (e.g., 72dpi, 300dpi).
Select the destination folder for the exported image.
Click on the “Export” button.
Figma will export the image and save it in the specified folder.
You can now use the exported image in social media, messaging apps, or any other platform that supports image sharing.

How to Make Reaction Text in Figma

Reaction text is a great way to add personality and interactivity to your Figma designs. It can be used to create animations, tooltips, or even just to add some fun to your prototypes. Here’s how to do it:

Start by adding a text layer to your Figma document. This will be the text that will change when the user interacts with your design.
Select the text layer and then click on the “Effects” tab in the right-hand panel.
Under the “Effects” tab, click on the “Add Effect” button.
In the “Add Effect” dialog box, select the “Reaction Text” effect.
The “Reaction Text” effect has a number of settings that you can use to customize the appearance of the text. These settings include:
- Trigger: This determines what action will cause the text to change. You can choose from “On Hover,” “On Click,” or “On Drag.”
- Text: This is the text that will be displayed when the trigger is activated.
- Font: This is the font that will be used for the text.
- Color: This is the color of the text.
- Size: This is the size of the text.
- Opacity: This is the opacity of the text.
Once you’ve set the desired settings, click on the “OK” button to apply the effect to the text layer.

That’s it! You’ve now created reaction text in Figma. You can now use it to add interactivity and personality to your designs.