Inspect mode in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Inspect mode

Goal

Understand how to use Inspect mode in Figma to view design details and measurements for building BI dashboards.

Sample Data

Element	Width (px)	Height (px)	Color	Font Size (px)
Title Text	300	40	#333333	24
Button	120	40	#0078D7	16
Chart Area	600	400	#FFFFFF	-
Card Background	320	180	#F3F3F3	-
Label Text	100	20	#666666	14

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Shows key metric with background color and font size from Inspect mode.
  Details: Width=320px, Height=180px, Background=#F3F3F3, Font Size=24px for main number.
• Button: Interactive element with Width=120px, Height=40px, Color=#0078D7, Font Size=16px.
  Use Inspect mode to get exact spacing and color codes.
• Title Text: Dashboard title with Width=300px, Height=40px, Color=#333333, Font Size=24px.
  Inspect mode helps confirm exact font and color.
• Chart Area: Space reserved for charts with Width=600px, Height=400px, Background=#FFFFFF.
  Inspect mode shows padding and margin details.
• Label Text: Small text labels with Width=100px, Height=20px, Color=#666666, Font Size=14px.
  Inspect mode reveals exact text styles.

Dashboard Layout

+------------------------------+----------------------------+
|          Title Text           |          Button            |
|        (300x40 px)           |        (120x40 px)         |
+------------------------------+----------------------------+
|                                                              |
|                        Chart Area (600x400 px)               |
|                                                              |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
|      KPI Card (320x180 px)       |       Label Text (100x20)  |
+---------------------------------+----------------------------+

Interactivity

Using Inspect mode, developers can:

• Copy exact color codes and font sizes to maintain design consistency.
• Measure spacing and element sizes to build pixel-perfect dashboards.
• Check padding and margin values to align components properly.
• Identify font families and weights for text elements.

This ensures the BI dashboard matches the design precisely.

Self Check

If you select the Button element in Inspect mode and change its color to #FF0000, which components visually update in the dashboard?

• The Button changes color to red (#FF0000).
• Other components remain unchanged because their colors are independent.

Key Result

Shows how Inspect mode in Figma reveals design details like sizes, colors, and fonts for building accurate BI dashboards.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of Inspect mode in Figma?

easy

A. To show detailed information about design elements like sizes and colors

B. To create new design components quickly

C. To export images in different formats

D. To add animations to design elements

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Inspect mode function

   Inspect mode provides detailed info about design elements such as sizes, colors, and fonts.

2. Step 2: Compare options with Inspect mode purpose

   Only To show detailed information about design elements like sizes and colors matches this purpose; others describe different Figma features.

3. Final Answer:

   To show detailed information about design elements like sizes and colors -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Inspect mode = detailed design info [OK]

Hint: Inspect mode = detailed design specs view [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Inspect mode with design creation tools
• Thinking Inspect mode exports images
• Assuming Inspect mode adds animations

2. Which of the following is the correct way to open Inspect mode in Figma?

easy

A. Right-click on a design element and select 'Inspect'

B. Double-click the canvas background

C. Click the 'Inspect' tab on the right panel

D. Press Ctrl + I to toggle Inspect mode

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how Inspect mode is accessed

   Inspect mode is accessed by clicking the 'Inspect' tab in the right panel of Figma.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   Click the 'Inspect' tab on the right panel correctly describes this. Other options describe incorrect or unsupported actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Click the 'Inspect' tab on the right panel -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Inspect tab in right panel = open Inspect mode [OK]

Hint: Look for 'Inspect' tab on right panel [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to open Inspect mode via right-click menu
• Using keyboard shortcut Ctrl + I which doesn't open Inspect
• Double-clicking canvas background does nothing

3. In Inspect mode, if a rectangle has width 200px and height 100px, what will the size info show?

medium

A. Width: 200px, Height: 100px

B. Width: 100px, Height: 200px

C. Width: 300px, Height: 100px

D. Width: 200px, Height: 300px

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Inspect mode size display

   Inspect mode shows exact width and height of design elements as specified.

2. Step 2: Match given rectangle dimensions

   The rectangle is 200px wide and 100px tall, so Inspect mode shows Width: 200px, Height: 100px.

3. Final Answer:

   Width: 200px, Height: 100px -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Size info = exact element dimensions [OK]

Hint: Inspect mode shows exact width and height [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping width and height values
• Adding dimensions incorrectly
• Assuming Inspect mode rounds sizes

4. You opened Inspect mode but see no color code for a selected text element. What is the likely issue?

medium

A. Inspect mode only shows colors for shapes, not text

B. The Inspect mode is disabled in settings

C. You need to restart Figma to see colors

D. The text element has no fill color applied

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Inspect mode color display

   Inspect mode shows color codes only if the element has a fill color applied.

2. Step 2: Analyze why no color code appears

   If a text element has no fill color, Inspect mode cannot show a color code, explaining the issue.

3. Final Answer:

   The text element has no fill color applied -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   No fill color = no color code in Inspect mode [OK]

Hint: Check if element has fill color applied [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Inspect mode ignores text colors
• Restarting Figma unnecessarily
• Assuming Inspect mode can be disabled

5. You want to speed up handoff by sharing exact font size, color, and spacing from Figma to developers. How does Inspect mode help?

hard

A. It exports the entire design as a PDF with specs

B. It provides exact CSS code snippets for selected elements

C. It automatically creates developer documentation

D. It converts designs into editable code files

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Inspect mode features for handoff

   Inspect mode shows exact sizes, colors, fonts, and provides CSS code snippets for developers.

2. Step 2: Compare options with Inspect mode capabilities

   Only It provides exact CSS code snippets for selected elements correctly describes Inspect mode's role in providing CSS snippets to speed up handoff.

3. Final Answer:

   It provides exact CSS code snippets for selected elements -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Inspect mode = exact CSS snippets for handoff [OK]

Hint: Inspect mode gives CSS code snippets for developers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Inspect mode with exporting PDFs
• Expecting automatic documentation creation
• Thinking Inspect mode converts designs to code files