Learn Figma Basics, Part 7: Fill mode, stroke, and effects
Tags: figma, design, tutorial, beginners
Published: 2020-05-03 19:16:50

#**Fill mode**
The fill mode allows you to apply a solid color, a gradient, or an image to an object. It is accessible through the properties panel of the object. You are allowed to apply multiple fill layers.

Let me show you how it works using our previous shape.

###**Add a fill:**
- Select the shape layer
- Go to **fill** section in the sidebar.

![figma fill](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MQUw18JHCSCgxqqGOyQYLdxdwQP9qT7KHTAlAHuKt_jLHpR6pHw4v0IWsMNV_tXCaGvZk71aEpc6MaalfKCEdx0RiJuVPwV42gKtw9IVw5xRHKpFqvW70mdcF6Kmo1X2Jh5iDOKb)

- Inside the fill section, click on the gray square to reveal the color picker.
- Move the circle point of the color picker to choose a color, or add a color code in the Hex input field.

![figma fill](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KUJc5ChqatZKQYMA6T27r9jTWhC8QqK6wz7lPZ1sJld6_dUg-JHd0FGPwSNTo5PpLeq5nzm_iqtIQ4rnCvdRT5CYhUtrmVl2-Pp-O6YX)

- In my case, I will change my shape color to a bright blue. 
(add this HEX code: **#1B9DE5** to match the color I used)

![figma fill](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/S4q8bPs5FQ0jaLAvVHx1SLBTES67r5V_zGad7w759P2T5W2YMYiZvtmkP288FxRmKbfFUB2Oo8W4337OSkz59gg_TZNWEMOt5vO-3K2x5oWV3dK7ExVyGHe3Ojp_f4F8hdp5MccB)

###**Add a Gradient :**
There are two ways to add a gradient effect to a layer. The first one is to change a solid color to a gradient. the second is to add a new fill layer on top of the solid color.

**Change a solid to a gradient:**
- Select your shape layer
- Click on the color square to trigger the color picker
- Click on solid On the top left of the color picker modal.

![figma fill](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YosccegRx94uwW6IjPlv-11DJ6Q3kqsdRGHexAlViSLlFdabCHYHRu1T6YY0sDq89549qunLNzQm7HU1bPjxRu2WEHxec8crflQESzk)

A dropdown menu appears with different gradient effects: linear, radial, angular, and diamond.

![figma fill](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z_nhaEs4G7g-_QCYZ5Y6QkNBJ7WJiOfUqY_N7W81NiC_VI2wUx3W-2rzUvr_gcM05OYAPo30r4-zV26yiafSR0u7AVJdjmpdjTIJW3_JLgPIaNrf74yqFsxJdMORIvlVxiwkMQPA)

- Select **Linear**
- Every gradient has a minimum of two colors. To modify a color, select one of the two colors square in the gradient controller.

![figma fill](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/wkQWssFqxiJPC4dPA8WjHrNJMMFxrtm8swA3VXCSgXkPKXbXnl-YU2efseKLNsdagcnORKTmRNA0nLJdGWF5VSXm2umzmzFnosnQeSZjnJ--YPGsXe2qm5rdN_9ScDBcAA_cF1S0)

![figma fill](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Hv0nKAOKzGGF5Lq37PDQJZGBwqBpyjrOGWnf2uKQvU7ZTtmwUQDBaVQjEhj41ZXaTOCHq7a9LSgvigmD6nnhuG0oucJqXhAisQ0WAa7lzqrYo7QYKgqo_QJsh51tR2T614TT00fC)

####**Add a new gradient layer :**
If you want to preserve your previous solid color, you create a new fill layer with a gradient.

- After selecting your shape layer, click on the **+** icon on the right side of the fill section.

![figma fill](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Azkemp47SmvnLjlRrbSGnAJDN_BHDpL-YSNls1gZMHWkAUAB1mFi_hHkuS2LN9hpaaPXlrWy3Dk5L7ot1peAyM7zOfRJ3Wb0UzNr_I7ZJDu5hlTNF7k2UtnUm0y-ERSuyAQLK7mF)

A new linear gradient will be created on top of your first fill.

![figma fill](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/A0UqjDpb19wCqFGMeqjTn_E1TOUspDcVxX0C-y6kSSh84XfuVXn8TQaayJ3Kgp2CXYOW1gepq7_VscvD5YXCTyI7FxqZa0n7-pv2k4on6irpSRhVmH8RIvnFxNGNyl93SO0bZzwk)

- Select the Linear fill layer to edit it.
- Or adjust the fill opacity with the opacity field.

![figma fill](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0ahtuGyQUD4_fIvFYE-RKTeqsI-Sa4uxySUqPONgGXCF4zx4-SqNOyFQWC4byblJTNwXL0nutDwC4bScKvxWGxHw9RIlsIj3ksJ_lqdfH6caQEeZssydJ4tn7NYsbyQjLo08LaoH)

###**Image as a Fill:**

Images in Figma are a **type of Fill**. You can access them in the **Fill section** with the gradient effects.

**New fill layer**
- Select the shape layer
- Click on the + icon on the right side of the fill section.
- Select the fill layer 
- Click on linear in the top left of the color picker
- Select **Image** in the dropdown menu

![figma fill](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MvEhintOqKfN1GibG-3Km2qSiassl6XGfgNJiOa7k3wDiqpo6KDozqxTAMQSlT5G74AKF8fgnSPgvWemAnzFOTlOX2K-fMOigU9orkUfoO_ikP-ODrwI9OqPgXF2BL7nxReka8PU)

A placeholder image of black and white checks will be applied to the shape. 

- Click the **Choose image** button in the **preview**

![figma fill](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nhBbO52aUhnmyf7HpfoSMEqaulIe-jPmZhxYZGwWGjLQ_nALn3fYcYf4KJDSnLST3EOJDsxXxaAxBDTXUYgYtdAgtfx4U7zwL45zUvKu4rWQYEOWfl3dOaLpicxfWbhlZJnPVP_Z)

Import an image from your computer and click Open **to apply**.
The Image will be added to your shape as a **Fill**.

![figma fill](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lMuZffSkjCLZuu4DOkNmT1bojHb4-g4Z_Nk7NYhkZpiMfehX32SknxT5nifGVvxUGAXORGpJJllzZ9yFWdfhj4AAq9ipuoO0St51ThWwmOD5d8gm_qGHQdM6LhxZvAJHEifno3yE)

#**Stroke:**
Adding a stroke is the same as adding a color fill. it is accessible through the properties panel. 
Stokes has three main options, the color the size, and the direction.

Let’s see how to add a stroke to a shape layer, edit its color, size, and direction.

####**1- Create  a stroke :**
the stroke section is under the fill area.

![figma Stroke](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WoBLH5wzajzTI0oMy8qr0EfvsGaM9MjHmxtSkVUIJRWMpxBv2sVp_w939oZS1M5fO0GR5vwP1ZUsFRKsBdK0zaLSYMKW0Akva4Z0Jxw)

- Select your shape layer.
- Click the **+** button on the right side of the stroke section to add a stroke layer.

![figma Stroke](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/EWX9BCh2cAzRbjL-30NwZ_H1xmWfyGPep-Yk6Ai5QLj-z3v_eZxdcKH6j8uuJGwnS0r3o5F_C-WYneeroOn9gIJxF9hVMeYFY_j923zHjH0xJsoDjYU_4m2aC8r0zWA1VB0ukymo)

####**2- Change the color of the stroke:**

- Select the color rectangle to trigger the color picker.
- Add the color code  **#ededed** in the Hex field.

####**3- Increase the size of the stroke:**
- The size field is under the color section. its default value is 1px.

![figma Stroke](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/r6mXBNtuhsIZ8Vf72uxgG-knXgpmoFaXZJNsxHijTybqAYxe8Y6mzbEZR62Pc9UGAHytJkUKVPC0YbSK9bzFoVJsTKx_uUjfr-ihHKyb8ucspsGnxmd6Om2RKpZYzv0szvAUY1PG)

- Click on the size field and increase it to 8px.

![figma Stroke](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s8lqSzfD3e07oG5TBmIn_ZMMYS1AupO4pz2ad8BFOnc2wSmC-z2JpH8rEB3PU-MiXcN_VepRiVbyHhB0d3RtnNB2Jf50NS-P1_4rdLDqAHKP6OmrwYSD5UFZXiE1487ZSOG-WVvv)

####**4- change the direction of the stroke:**
- Besides the stroke size, click on **inside**. 
- In the drop-down menu, select **Outside**.

![figma Stroke](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qqSRVx7CKeOGOZhPpJKHX3Mx4eU62CQjR7ugdWWDQt_ae1Z5F_EJt6M0A7T9qVeZcPm9g2A5W9NYxqXIc77BBMLrbXI_n9KNQNJ-ejqz20Dcdfr35bNDoblQVPidWjkeor7iZ5m4)


#**Effects:**
Effects are also a properties panel section, applicable the same way as a stroke or a fill. 

####**Add drop shadow :**
- Select the shape layer
- Click on the **+** icon on the right side of the effect section
![figma effects](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/14vHOXFs65fp6CWLjHCKOsPtjCY1c5jol729Ry6f2WDN01vEucZ6rYfadCHOleOmGI6Ll-El35TYdhIA4ztFem_Cb7aGmvLxDxA0Cj0)

- A drop shadow effect will be applied to the layer.
- Click on drop shadow to trigger the effects menu

![figma effects](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cDGLIn89u-FuIFmppSs7IDhQuvULxCtpBZN_1lu8RWvwOXn5PMfKgxLhKqXaDpP51tKVwK_Bi5MbTXETIxNWv3ORq-iLNsTnZifjfMkwNYpVzJeYK5CbAhYE6owB3Mt7_xuPhnTS)

You a have a choice between a drop shadow or a blur effect 
- Select the drop shadow
you can adjust the effect settings by clicking the **effect icon** on the left.

![figma effects](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qsjYgy4BOlCjf4BxBC7qJGsoZFckwIFLFca_EZTTscXF5cn-c3xp91sJlaUKv2NUk4wnuWVFpTvjA1vZryyaT3AW9hGtKA7w2v4VWDF5Ap9OaKHF86bNWg0r79fyVc1I8PlA_J3M)

In the effect modal, you have various options like effect size, color, opacity, blur, and blend mode.  You can change some of the default settings to see how it works.

In the next post, we will discuss how to make smart objects with the **components and styles** features. 

This post is a part of a series that cover the basics of designing with Figma.
Please don’t forget to follow and share. See you in the next post ;)