Effect styles in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Effect styles let you save and reuse visual effects like shadows and blurs on your designs. This helps keep your dashboard or report visuals consistent and saves time when styling multiple elements.

When you want all buttons on your dashboard to have the same shadow effect without setting it each time

When you need to apply a blur effect to multiple background images consistently

When your report requires a consistent glow effect on important KPI cards

When you want to quickly update the shadow style across all charts by changing one effect style

When collaborating with a team to keep visual effects uniform across pages

Steps

Step 1: Select a layer with an effect applied

- Layers panel

The layer is highlighted and its effects appear in the right sidebar under Effects

💡 Use a shape or text with a shadow or blur effect to start

Step 2: Click the four dots icon next to Effects

- Right sidebar under Effects section

The Effect styles panel opens showing existing saved effect styles

Step 3: Click the '+' button to create a new effect style

- Effect styles panel

A dialog appears to name your new effect style

Step 4: Type a descriptive name for the effect style

- Name input field in the dialog

The new effect style is saved and appears in the Effect styles list

Step 5: Select another layer to apply the saved effect style

- Layers panel

The layer is selected and ready for styling

Step 6: Click the four dots icon next to Effects and choose the saved effect style

- Effect styles panel

The selected effect style is applied to the layer, updating its visual effect

Step 7: To update an effect style, right-click it in the Effect styles panel and select 'Update style'

- Effect styles panel

All layers using that effect style update to the new effect settings

Before vs After

Before

A button has a manually set drop shadow effect unique to that button only

After

The button uses a saved effect style named 'Soft Shadow' that can be applied to other buttons

Settings Reference

Effect type

📍 Right sidebar > Effects

Choose the kind of visual effect to apply

Default: Drop shadow

Effect color

📍 Right sidebar > Effects > Color picker

Set the color and transparency of the effect

Default: Black with 50% opacity for shadows

Effect offset and blur

📍 Right sidebar > Effects > Offset and Blur sliders

Control the position and softness of the effect

Default: 0 offset, 10 blur for shadows

Effect styles panel

📍 Right sidebar > Effects > Four dots icon

Manage reusable effect styles

Default: No style applied

Common Mistakes

Creating multiple effect styles with very similar settings

This causes confusion and inconsistency when updating effects across the design

Reuse one effect style and update it as needed to keep effects consistent

Applying effect styles to layers that already have conflicting manual effects

The manual effects override or mix with the style, causing unexpected visuals

Clear manual effects before applying an effect style to avoid conflicts

Summary

Effect styles let you save and reuse visual effects like shadows and blurs across your design.

They help keep your dashboard or report visuals consistent and easy to update.

Remember to update effect styles carefully to avoid conflicting manual effects on layers.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of Effect styles in Figma?

easy

A. To add shadows, blurs, and other visual effects to design elements

B. To change the color palette of your design

C. To organize layers in your project

D. To create interactive prototypes

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what effect styles do

   Effect styles are used to add visual effects like shadows and blurs to design elements.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Changing colors, organizing layers, or prototyping are different features in Figma, not effect styles.

3. Final Answer:

   To add shadows, blurs, and other visual effects to design elements -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Effect styles = Visual effects [OK]

Hint: Effect styles = shadows and blurs, not colors or layers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing effect styles with color styles
• Thinking effect styles organize layers
• Mixing effect styles with prototyping features

2. Which of the following is the correct way to apply an existing effect style to a shape in Figma?

easy

A. Drag and drop the effect style onto the shape from the Layers panel

B. Right-click the shape and select 'Add Color Style'

C. Double-click the shape and type the effect style name

D. Select the shape, go to the Effects panel, and choose the saved effect style

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to apply effect styles

   Effect styles are applied by selecting the shape and choosing the style from the Effects panel.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Adding color styles, dragging from Layers, or typing names directly are not correct methods.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the shape, go to the Effects panel, and choose the saved effect style -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Apply effect style via Effects panel [OK]

Hint: Use Effects panel to apply saved effect styles [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add effect styles via color style options
• Dragging styles from Layers panel (not possible)
• Typing style names instead of selecting

3. Given a rectangle with a shadow effect style applied, what happens if you update the shadow's blur radius in the effect style?

medium

A. All objects using that effect style update automatically with the new blur radius

B. Only the selected rectangle updates with the new blur radius

C. The blur radius cannot be changed once applied

D. The effect style is duplicated and applied to the rectangle

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand effect style behavior

   Effect styles are linked, so changing the style updates all objects using it.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   Only updating one object or duplicating the style is incorrect; blur radius can be changed.

3. Final Answer:

   All objects using that effect style update automatically with the new blur radius -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Effect style update = global change [OK]

Hint: Updating effect style changes all linked objects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only one object updates
• Believing effect styles are fixed and unchangeable
• Confusing duplication with update

4. You tried to apply an effect style to a text layer, but the effect does not appear. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. Effect styles cannot be applied to text layers

B. The effect style is set to 'Inner Shadow' which is not visible on text

C. The effect style is disabled in the Effects panel

D. The text layer has no fill color, so effects are invisible

Solution

1. Step 1: Check effect style applicability

   Effect styles can be applied to text layers, so Effect styles cannot be applied to text layers is incorrect.

2. Step 2: Consider effect visibility and settings

   If the effect style is disabled in the Effects panel, it won't show on any layer.

3. Final Answer:

   The effect style is disabled in the Effects panel -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Disabled effect style = no visible effect [OK]

Hint: Check if effect style is enabled in Effects panel [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming effect styles don't work on text
• Ignoring effect style enable/disable toggle
• Confusing fill color with effect visibility

5. You want to create a consistent drop shadow effect across multiple components in your BI dashboard design. What is the best approach using effect styles?

hard

A. Manually add the same shadow settings to each component separately

B. Create a shared effect style for the drop shadow and apply it to all components

C. Use different effect styles for each component to customize shadows individually

D. Apply a blur effect instead of a shadow for consistency

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal of consistency

   Consistency means using the same effect style across components to keep uniformity.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for best practice

   Creating a shared effect style allows easy updates and consistent appearance.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a shared effect style for the drop shadow and apply it to all components -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Shared effect style = consistent design [OK]

Hint: Use shared effect style for uniform shadows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Manually setting shadows causing inconsistency
• Using different styles defeats consistency
• Confusing blur with shadow effect