Editing video directly within Figma primarily involves manipulating video content applied to layers using Figma's standard design tools. While Figma isn't a dedicated video editing suite like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, it offers specific capabilities to integrate and modify video elements within your designs and prototypes.
In Figma, you can edit video by applying it to a layer and then using Figma's layer properties to scale, rotate, crop, adjust dimensions, change fill modes, apply blend modes, and use masks.
Let's break down the key ways you can work with and 'edit' video content once it's placed onto a layer in your Figma design:
Working with Video on Layers
When you add a video to a Figma layer (e.g., a shape, frame, or image layer acting as a container), it becomes a fill property, similar to an image fill or solid color. You can then manipulate this layer and its video fill using Figma's standard tools.
1. Scale, Rotate, and Adjust Dimensions
Just like any other layer content, you have full control over the size and orientation of the video layer itself.
- Scaling: Resize the layer (holding Shift usually maintains aspect ratio) to make the video larger or smaller within your design.
- Rotation: Rotate the layer to change the video's orientation.
- Adjust Dimensions: Directly input precise width and height values for the layer.
These transformations affect the container the video is in, and the video fill will respond based on its Fill mode settings (explained below).
2. Crop and Re-position Video
Within the fill properties panel, you can directly control how the video appears inside its container.
- Cropping: Use the "Crop" fill mode. This allows you to define a specific area of the video that will be visible within the layer's boundaries. You can drag the edges of the video frame within the layer to select the part you want to show.
- Re-positioning: While in "Crop" mode or other fill modes like "Fit" or "Fill", you can often drag the video content within the layer's boundaries to position which part of the video is centered or visible.
3. Adjust Video Options (Fill Mode, Rotation, Blend Modes)
Figma provides specific options within the Fill panel when a video is applied.
- Fill Mode: Control how the video scales to fit its container. Common options include:
- Fill: Stretches or zooms the video to cover the entire layer, potentially cutting off parts of the video.
- Fit: Scales the video down until the entire video is visible within the layer, potentially leaving empty space.
- Crop: Allows manual selection of the visible area of the video.
- Tile: Repeats the video across the layer.
- Rotation: You can rotate the video fill independently of the layer's rotation within the Fill panel. This is useful if the video source is incorrectly oriented.
- Blend Modes: Apply blend modes (like Multiply, Screen, Overlay, etc.) to the video fill to control how it interacts visually with layers beneath it.
4. Apply Masks to Show Only a Part
Using Figma's masking features provides another powerful way to control the visible area of your video.
- How it works: Place the video layer and another shape layer (or text, or group of layers) above it. Select both layers and use the "Use as mask" function (often via the icon in the toolbar or right-click menu).
- Result: The shape (the mask) determines which parts of the video layer are visible. The video will only show through the areas where the mask shape exists. This is great for creating videos within custom shapes or text outlines.
Summary of Video Editing Capabilities in Figma:
| Editing Action | Description | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Scale/Rotate/Dims | Change the size, rotation, or exact dimensions of the video layer. | Layer properties panel |
| Crop/Re-position | Select a specific area of the video to display within the layer. | Fill panel (Crop mode) |
| Adjust Options | Control fill mode, video rotation within the fill, and blend modes. | Fill panel |
| Apply Masks | Use another shape or layer to define the visible area of the video. | Layer panel, Toolbar |
These features allow you to effectively integrate and style video content within your Figma prototypes and designs, enabling dynamic and engaging user experiences.
