Corner radius and smoothing in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

This feature lets you make the corners of shapes round or smooth. It helps your charts and visuals look softer and easier to read by adjusting the edges.

When you want to make a bar chart's bars look less sharp and more friendly.

When your dashboard shapes need a modern, smooth style for better visual appeal.

When you want to highlight a section by rounding its corners to draw attention.

When you need to soften the edges of buttons or cards in your report design.

When you want to create a consistent look by applying the same corner style across multiple visuals.

Steps

Step 1: Select the shape or frame

- Canvas or Layers panel

The shape's properties appear in the right sidebar

💡 Click directly on the shape or find it in the Layers panel for precise selection

Step 2: Locate the Corner Radius input box

- Design tab in the right sidebar under 'Corner Radius'

You see the current corner radius value for the selected shape

💡 If multiple corners have different values, it shows a mixed state

Step 3: Type a number or drag the slider to adjust the corner radius

- Corner Radius input box

The shape's corners become more or less rounded immediately

💡 Try small increments to see subtle changes

Step 4: Click the corner smoothing icon next to the radius input

- Design tab in the right sidebar

A slider appears to adjust corner smoothing

💡 Smoothing changes how rounded corners blend with edges

Step 5: Drag the smoothing slider left or right

- Corner smoothing slider

Corners change from sharp to smooth curves visually on the shape

💡 Higher smoothing creates softer, more organic corners

Before vs After

Before

Rectangle shape with sharp 90-degree corners and no smoothing

After

Rectangle shape with 20px corner radius and 50% smoothing showing soft, rounded corners

Settings Reference

Corner Radius

📍 Design tab in the right sidebar

Controls how round the corners of a shape are

Default: 0

Corner Smoothing

📍 Design tab next to Corner Radius input

Adjusts the smoothness of the rounded corners for a softer look

Default: 0%

Common Mistakes

Setting corner radius too high on small shapes

It can distort the shape or make corners overlap oddly

Use smaller radius values for small shapes to keep proportions natural

Ignoring corner smoothing after setting radius

Corners may look harsh or mechanical without smoothing

Adjust smoothing slider to soften corners for a polished look

Summary

Corner radius rounds the edges of shapes to make visuals friendlier.

Corner smoothing softens the rounded corners for a natural curve.

Use appropriate radius and smoothing values to keep shapes balanced and clear.

Practice

1. What does the corner radius setting do in Figma when designing charts?

easy

A. It adds shadows to the chart for depth.

B. It changes the color of the chart elements.

C. It rounds the edges of shapes to make them softer.

D. It adjusts the size of the chart.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of corner radius

   Corner radius is used to round the edges of shapes, making them look softer and less sharp.

2. Step 2: Relate to chart design

   In charts, applying corner radius smooths the edges of bars or shapes, improving visual appeal.

3. Final Answer:

   It rounds the edges of shapes to make them softer. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius = Rounded edges [OK]

Hint: Corner radius always softens edges by rounding them [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing corner radius with color or size changes
• Thinking it adds shadows instead of rounding edges

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a corner radius of 10 pixels in Figma's properties panel?

easy

A. Enter 10 in the corner radius input box.

B. Type radius: 10px in the code editor.

C. Select the shape and drag the smoothing slider to 10.

D. Right-click the shape and choose 'Add radius 10'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how corner radius is set in Figma

   Figma uses a corner radius input box where you enter a numeric value (without units) to set the radius in pixels.

2. Step 2: Match the correct method

   Typing '10' in the corner radius input box correctly sets the radius to 10 pixels.

3. Final Answer:

   Enter 10 in the corner radius input box. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius input = numeric value [OK]

Hint: Enter number only in corner radius box, no units needed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding 'px' units which Figma does not require
• Confusing smoothing slider with corner radius input
• Using right-click menu which doesn't set radius

3. Given a rectangle with corner radius set to 20 and smoothing set to 50%, what visual effect will you see?

medium

A. Sharp corners with no rounding.

B. Rounded corners with smooth, natural curves.

C. Corners become square and edges sharpen.

D. Corners disappear and shape becomes a circle.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand corner radius effect

   Corner radius of 20 means the corners are rounded with a radius of 20 pixels.

2. Step 2: Understand smoothing effect

   Smoothing at 50% makes the corners appear more natural and curved rather than angular or mechanical.

3. Final Answer:

   Rounded corners with smooth, natural curves. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius + smoothing = smooth rounded corners [OK]

Hint: Smoothing softens the curve shape of rounded corners [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking smoothing removes rounding
• Confusing smoothing with corner radius size
• Assuming corners become square with smoothing

4. You set a corner radius of 15 but the corners still look sharp. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. The fill color is transparent, hiding the corners.

B. The shape is not selected, so changes don't apply.

C. The corner radius input was set to 150 by mistake.

D. The smoothing value is set to 0%, making corners angular.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze corner radius and smoothing interaction

   Even with corner radius set, smoothing controls how curved the corners appear. At 0%, corners remain angular despite radius.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Selection and input errors would cause no change or wrong radius, but sharp corners with radius 15 usually mean smoothing is zero.

3. Final Answer:

   The smoothing value is set to 0%, making corners angular. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Smoothing 0% = sharp corners despite radius [OK]

Hint: Check smoothing slider if corners stay sharp [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring smoothing effect on corner shape
• Assuming fill color affects corner rounding
• Not verifying shape selection before editing

5. You want to create a dashboard bar chart with bars that have soft, natural corners. Which combination of corner radius and smoothing should you use?

hard

A. Corner radius 15, smoothing 50%

B. Corner radius 0, smoothing 100%

C. Corner radius 30, smoothing 0%

D. Corner radius 5, smoothing 0%

Solution

1. Step 1: Define soft, natural corners

   Soft corners require a noticeable corner radius and smoothing to curve the edges naturally.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Corner radius 15, smoothing 50% has a moderate radius (15) and smoothing (50%) which creates soft, natural curves. Others either have zero radius or zero smoothing, resulting in sharp or no rounding.

3. Final Answer:

   Corner radius 15, smoothing 50% -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Soft corners = radius + smoothing > 0 [OK]

Hint: Use both radius and smoothing above zero for soft corners [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting smoothing to 0% which keeps corners sharp
• Using zero corner radius which means no rounding
• Confusing high smoothing with no radius effect