Applying and detaching styles in Figma - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does it mean to apply a style in Figma?

Applying a style means attaching a predefined set of design properties (like color, text, or effects) to an object so it follows that style automatically.

beginner

How do you detach a style from an object in Figma?

You detach a style by selecting the object and clicking 'Detach Style' in the properties panel, which breaks the link to the style and lets you edit the object independently.

intermediate

Why would you want to detach a style from an object?

Detaching a style lets you customize the object without affecting the original style or other objects using it, useful for unique changes.

beginner

What happens to an object when you update a shared style it uses?

All objects using that shared style update automatically to reflect the new style changes, keeping design consistent.

intermediate

Can you re-apply a style after detaching it? How?

Yes, you can select the object and apply the style again from the styles panel to re-link it to the shared style.

What is the main benefit of applying a shared style in Figma?

A It keeps design consistent across multiple objects

B It locks the object so it cannot be edited

C It deletes the original style

D It converts the object to a vector

Applying a shared style ensures all objects using it stay consistent when the style is updated.

How do you detach a style from an object in Figma?

A Right-click and select 'Detach Style'

B Double-click the object

C Delete the style from the styles panel

D Click 'Detach Style' in the properties panel

Detaching a style is done by selecting the object and clicking 'Detach Style' in the properties panel.

What happens if you update a shared style used by many objects?

A Only the first object updates

B The style is deleted

C All objects using the style update automatically

D Objects lose their styles

Updating a shared style updates all objects linked to it, keeping design consistent.

Why might you detach a style from an object?

A To prevent the object from being edited

B To customize the object independently

C To delete the object

D To apply multiple styles at once

Detaching a style allows you to edit the object without affecting the shared style or other objects.

Can you re-apply a style after detaching it?

A Yes, by selecting the style again from the styles panel

B No, once detached it cannot be re-applied

C Only if you restart Figma

D Only if you duplicate the object

You can re-apply a style anytime by selecting it again from the styles panel.

Explain in your own words what applying and detaching styles means in Figma and why each is useful.

Think about how styles help keep things uniform or let you make exceptions.

Describe a real-life situation where you would want to detach a style from an object in your design.

Imagine you have a button style but one button needs a special look.

Practice

1. What happens when you apply a style to an element in Figma?

easy

A. The element deletes all previous styles and resets to default

B. The element becomes a separate copy and does not update with style changes

C. The element links to the shared style and updates if the style changes

D. The element locks and cannot be edited anymore

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand style application

   Applying a style links the element to a shared design setting.

2. Step 2: Effect of linked styles

   When the shared style changes, all linked elements update automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   The element links to the shared style and updates if the style changes -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Applying style = linked updates [OK]

Hint: Applying style links element to shared settings [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking applying style creates independent copy
• Believing element becomes locked
• Assuming styles delete previous formatting

2. Which of the following is the correct way to detach a style from an element in Figma?

easy

A. Double-click the style name in the right panel

B. Apply a new style over the existing one

C. Delete the element and recreate it without styles

D. Right-click the element and select 'Detach Style'

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate detach style option

   Right-clicking the element shows the context menu with 'Detach Style'.

2. Step 2: Detach style effect

   Selecting 'Detach Style' breaks the link to the shared style, allowing custom edits.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click the element and select 'Detach Style' -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Detach style = right-click menu option [OK]

Hint: Detach style via right-click menu [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to detach by double-clicking style name
• Deleting element instead of detaching style
• Applying new style does not detach old style

3. Consider a text element with a shared color style applied. If you detach the style and then change the shared style color, what happens to the text element's color?

medium

A. The text color updates to the new shared style color

B. The text color remains as it was when detached

C. The text color resets to default black

D. The text color becomes transparent

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand detaching effect

   Detaching breaks the link to the shared style, making the element independent.

2. Step 2: Effect of changing shared style after detaching

   Since the element is detached, changes to the shared style do not affect it.

3. Final Answer:

   The text color remains as it was when detached -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Detached style = no updates from shared style [OK]

Hint: Detached elements keep their current style despite shared changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming detached elements update automatically
• Thinking color resets to default
• Believing detaching makes element transparent

4. You tried to detach a style from a component but the option is grayed out. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You have not selected the element inside the component

B. The style is already detached

C. The component is a master component and styles cannot be detached

D. You need to restart Figma to enable detaching

Solution

1. Step 1: Check selection context

   Detaching styles requires selecting the element with the style, not the whole component frame.

2. Step 2: Why option is grayed out

   If the whole component is selected, detaching is disabled because styles apply to inner elements.

3. Final Answer:

   You have not selected the element inside the component -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Select inner element to detach style [OK]

Hint: Select inner element, not component frame, to detach style [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming master components block detaching
• Thinking restart fixes grayed option
• Believing style is already detached without checking

5. You have a button component with a shared fill style applied. You want to customize the button's fill color for a special case without affecting other buttons. What is the best approach?

hard

A. Detach the fill style from the button instance and change the fill color

B. Create a new shared fill style and apply it to the button instance

C. Change the fill color in the master component directly

D. Apply a text style to the button instead

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand customization without affecting others

   Detaching the style breaks the link, allowing unique edits on this button only.

2. Step 2: Why other options are less suitable

   Creating a new shared style affects multiple elements if reused; changing master affects all buttons; text style does not affect fill color.

3. Final Answer:

   Detach the fill style from the button instance and change the fill color -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Detach style to customize single element [OK]

Hint: Detach style to customize one element without global changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Changing master component affects all instances
• Applying text style does not change fill color
• Creating new shared style affects multiple elements