Rectangle and ellipse tools in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Rectangle and ellipse tools

Goal

Understand how to use rectangle and ellipse tools in Figma to create basic shapes for dashboard design.

Sample Data

Shape	Width (px)	Height (px)	Fill Color	Border Radius (px)
Rectangle 1	200	100	#4CAF50	0
Rectangle 2	150	150	#2196F3	20
Ellipse 1	120	80	#FFC107	N/A
Ellipse 2	100	100	#E91E63	N/A

Dashboard Components

• Rectangle 1: A simple rectangle with width 200px, height 100px, green fill (#4CAF50), no border radius.
• Rectangle 2: A square with width and height 150px, blue fill (#2196F3), border radius 20px for rounded corners.
• Ellipse 1: An ellipse with width 120px, height 80px, yellow fill (#FFC107).
• Ellipse 2: A perfect circle with width and height 100px, pink fill (#E91E63).

These shapes can be combined to build dashboard backgrounds, highlight areas, or decorative elements.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+  +------------------+
|                      |  |                  |
|    Rectangle 1       |  |   Ellipse 1      |
|   (200x100, green)   |  |  (120x80, yellow)|
|                      |  |                  |
+----------------------+  +------------------+

+----------------------+  +------------------+
|                      |  |                  |
|    Rectangle 2       |  |   Ellipse 2      |
| (150x150, blue, rad) |  | (100x100, pink)  |
|                      |  |                  |
+----------------------+  +------------------+

Interactivity

Users can select each shape to adjust properties like size, fill color, and border radius using Figma's right panel. Shapes can be moved or layered to create complex dashboard designs. Grouping shapes allows moving multiple elements together.

Self Check

If you change the border radius of Rectangle 1 to 30px, which shapes visually update?
Answer: Only Rectangle 1 changes to have rounded corners; other shapes remain the same.

Key Result

Basic dashboard shapes created using rectangle and ellipse tools in Figma with different sizes, colors, and border radius.

Practice

1.

What happens if you hold the Shift key while drawing a rectangle in Figma?

easy

A. It locks the rectangle size to a fixed width.

B. It creates a rectangle with rounded corners.

C. It changes the rectangle color automatically.

D. It creates a perfect square.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Shift key function in shape drawing

   Holding Shift while drawing a rectangle constrains the proportions to equal width and height.

2. Step 2: Apply this to rectangle shape

   This means the rectangle becomes a perfect square when Shift is held.

3. Final Answer:

   It creates a perfect square. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + draw rectangle = square [OK]

Hint: Hold Shift to keep width and height equal [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Shift rounds corners
• Assuming Shift locks size
• Believing Shift changes color

2.

Which of the following is the correct way to draw a perfect circle using the ellipse tool in Figma?

easy

A. Click and drag without holding any key.

B. Click and drag while holding the Shift key.

C. Click and drag while holding the Alt key.

D. Double-click the ellipse tool icon.

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall ellipse tool behavior

   Dragging normally creates an ellipse with free width and height.

2. Step 2: Effect of holding Shift key

   Holding Shift while dragging constrains the ellipse to equal width and height, making a perfect circle.

3. Final Answer:

   Click and drag while holding the Shift key. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + drag ellipse = circle [OK]

Hint: Hold Shift while dragging ellipse for circle [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not holding Shift and getting oval
• Using Alt instead of Shift
• Thinking double-click draws circle

3.

Consider you draw a rectangle of width 200px and height 100px, then you hold Shift and drag a corner to resize. What will be the new shape?

medium

A. A circle with diameter equal to the smaller side.

B. A rectangle with width and height resized independently.

C. A perfect square with equal width and height.

D. An ellipse with width and height equal.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Shift key effect on resizing

   Holding Shift while resizing a rectangle constrains proportions, keeping width and height equal.

2. Step 2: Apply to initial rectangle

   Starting from 200x100, resizing with Shift will make width and height equal, forming a square.

3. Final Answer:

   A perfect square with equal width and height. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + resize rectangle = square [OK]

Hint: Shift locks aspect ratio to keep shape square [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking width and height resize separately
• Confusing rectangle with ellipse
• Assuming shape becomes circle

4.

You tried to draw a perfect circle using the ellipse tool but ended up with an oval. What is the most likely mistake?

medium

A. You did not hold the Shift key while dragging.

B. You held the Alt key instead of Shift.

C. You double-clicked the ellipse tool instead of dragging.

D. You used the rectangle tool instead of ellipse.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to draw a perfect circle

   Holding Shift while dragging the ellipse tool constrains width and height to be equal.

2. Step 2: Analyze the mistake

   Not holding Shift means free width and height, resulting in an oval shape.

3. Final Answer:

   You did not hold the Shift key while dragging. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   No Shift = oval, Shift = circle [OK]

Hint: Always hold Shift for perfect circles [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Alt instead of Shift
• Double-clicking instead of dragging
• Confusing ellipse with rectangle tool

5.

You want to create a dashboard highlight using a perfect circle and a square of the same size side by side. You draw an ellipse and a rectangle. How do you ensure both shapes have exactly 150px sides?

hard

A. Hold Shift while drawing both shapes and set width and height to 150px.

B. Hold Shift while drawing both shapes and resize to 150px width only.

C. Draw both shapes freely and then set width to 150px manually.

D. Draw shapes without Shift and set width to 150px, height to 150px only for rectangle.

Solution

1. Step 1: Use Shift to constrain proportions

   Holding Shift while drawing ensures the ellipse becomes a perfect circle and rectangle becomes a square.

2. Step 2: Set both width and height to 150px

   Manually setting both width and height to 150px guarantees exact size for both shapes.

3. Final Answer:

   Hold Shift while drawing both shapes and set width and height to 150px. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + set width & height = perfect circle and square [OK]

Hint: Hold Shift and set both width and height to same value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting only width or height, causing shape distortion
• Not holding Shift and getting oval or rectangle
• Assuming resizing width alone is enough