Bring your Figma prototypes to life with GIFs | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)
Figma introduced animated GIF support in prototypes, allowing designers to add motion, video elements, and subtle animations without leaving the prototyping workflow. GIFs remain static in the editor but animate when users click “Present.” The update also adds customizable cover frames, improved momentum scrolling, and touch cursors for mobile prototypes. ## Using GIFs in Figma Prototypes - Add a GIF to a Figma file using tools such as ScreenFlow, LICEcap, Principle, or After Effects. - Click **Present** to view the animation in the prototype. - GIFs appear as static images in the editor. - Designers can open the GIF properties modal and scrub to select a representative cover frame. - Custom cover frames are useful for GIFs with blank opening frames or multiple similar animations. ## Improvements for Mobile Prototypes - Mobile prototypes now include OS-aware momentum scrolling. - New touch cursors make interactions feel more like a real mobile device. ## Design Inspiration The article highlights several effective uses of animation: - **Uber:** Animated splash screens serve as both welcome moments and loading states. - **Slack:** Rotating loading quotes make waiting more engaging. - **Material Design:** Simple linear and circular progress indicators communicate activity clearly. - **Headspace:** Illustrative onboarding animations help explain the product and maintain user attention. - **Hyperlapse:** Video-based onboarding demonstrates practical product scenarios. - **Mapbox:** A looping hero animation shows the capabilities of its location technology. - **Mailchimp:** Subtle animated illustrations add texture and personality to web pages. Designers can experiment with Figma’s starter file or consult the support article for setup instructions.