I’m working on a web project and I created some nice animations in Figma, like a loading spinner that looks really smooth. I know how to export static SVGs from Figma but I’m stuck when it comes to the animated parts.
I’m not sure what the best approach is here. Can I somehow export the entire animation from Figma and use it directly in my website? Or do I need to take the static SVG and then recreate all the animation effects using CSS keyframes or JavaScript libraries?
What’s the most efficient workflow for bringing Figma animations into a live web application? I want to make sure I’m not overcomplicating things.
Figma to web animations are a pain - there’s no export that keeps the motion intact. I screen record my prototypes at 60fps and use that as reference while coding CSS animations. The timing functions are crucial - check the exact easing curves in Figma’s prototype panel. For spinners, I grab the SVG paths and animate stroke-dasharray or rotation with CSS. Then I use dev tools to tweak values until they match the Figma version perfectly. Takes some back and forth, but you get cleaner code than hacking exported files.
I’ve dealt with this exact issue. Figma makes gorgeous animations, but the export options are pretty terrible for web use. Here’s what actually works: grab the static SVGs from Figma, then build the animations yourself using CSS keyframes or GSAP. Your animations will run way smoother and work across different browsers. Just copy the easing curves and timing from Figma - you’ll get pixel-perfect results. For complex stuff, Lottie files work too, but you’ll need to export from After Effects first. Bottom line: use Figma as your blueprint, don’t try to export directly. Saves tons of time and performs much better.
yeh, animating from figma to web is a hassle. I record my prototype then recreate it frame by frame in css. sounds tedious, but it gets quick with practice. for spinners, svg + css is the way to go - just align the rotation speed and you’re set. keep it easy!
Went through this exact thing six months ago. Figma’s prototyping animations aren’t for production - they’re just for showing concepts to clients. I broke down my Figma animations frame by frame to understand the motion, then rebuilt them in Framer Motion for React. Treat Figma as a visual reference, not something you export directly. For your loading spinner, grab the SVG elements and animate them with CSS transforms instead. You’ll get better performance, smaller files, and full control over timing. Just match the easing curves from your Figma prototype.