How to do scroll animation in Figma?

Creating scroll animations in Figma typically involves using Smart Animate between different states of your design to simulate scrolling.

To create a scroll animation in Figma, especially involving a scrollbar according to the reference, you will generally:

1. Duplicate your initial frame. This first frame represents the starting position of your scrollable content.
2. Scroll the content within the duplicated frame. In the second frame, move the content layer(s) vertically (or horizontally for horizontal scrolling) until you reach the desired end point, such as the last item in a list.
3. Select the scrollbar thumb (if applicable) in the duplicated frame. This is crucial for potentially linking or animating the scrollbar itself alongside the content movement.
4. Set up prototyping connections. Link the initial frame to the duplicated frame (and often vice-versa) using an interaction trigger like "On Drag" on the content area or the scrollbar thumb, and choose "Smart Animate" for the animation type.

Understanding Scroll Animation in Figma

Figma's prototyping features, particularly Smart Animate, allow designers to create realistic and engaging scroll effects. Unlike simple instant transitions, Smart Animate interpolates properties like position, size, opacity, and rotation between layers with the same name across different frames, creating a smooth animation.

Key Steps for Basic Scroll Animation

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the common workflow:

1. Prepare Your Content: Ensure your content is organized within layers or groups inside a frame. For content that extends beyond the frame's boundaries, ensure the frame has "Clip content" enabled.
2. Create Initial Frame: Design the starting view of your scrollable area.
3. Duplicate the Frame: Right-click the frame and select "Duplicate", or use Cmd + D (Mac) / Ctrl + D (Windows).
4. Position Content in Duplicated Frame: In the new frame, select the content layers (or the container holding the content) and move them to their final scrolled position.
5. Add Scrollbar (Optional but Recommended): Design a scrollbar with a thumb if your design requires one. Position it in both frames. In the duplicated frame, move the scrollbar thumb to correspond with the new content position. The reference specifically mentions selecting the thumb in the duplicated frame, which is necessary if you want the thumb itself to animate along with the content.
6. Set Up Prototyping:
   • Switch to the Prototype tab.
   • Select the original frame or a specific element within it (like the content area or the scrollbar thumb).
   • Drag a connection handle to the duplicated frame.
   • In the Interaction details panel, set the trigger (e.g., On Drag).
   • Set the animation type to Smart Animate.
   • Configure direction and easing as needed.
   • Often, you'll also link the duplicated frame back to the original frame with a similar "On Drag" interaction to allow scrolling both ways.

Incorporating the Reference Steps

The reference highlights a specific method focusing on duplicating the frame, scrolling the content to the last item, and selecting the scrollbar thumb. This points to creating an animation from the initial state to a fully scrolled state.

Step	Action	Purpose
Duplicate Frame	Create a copy of your starting screen/frame.	To define the end state of your animation.
Scroll Content	Move content layers within the duplicated frame to the end position.	To simulate the content being scrolled.
Select Scrollbar Thumb	Click on the scrollbar thumb layer in the duplicated frame.	To ensure the thumb is linked/animated if interacting with the scrollbar.

By implementing these steps and connecting the frames with Smart Animate, you can achieve a smooth scroll effect in your prototype.

Practical Tips for Scroll Animations

• Layer Naming: Ensure layers you want to animate have the exact same name in both frames for Smart Animate to work correctly.
• Structure: Group related content logically to make moving and managing it easier.
• Triggers: Use On Drag for intuitive scrolling or On Click / On Tap for scrollTo animations triggered by buttons.
• Easing: Experiment with different easing options (e.g., Ease Out) for a more natural feel.

Using these techniques, you can effectively demonstrate how your design will behave when a user scrolls through content.