I’ve been using Adobe products for over 15 years but I’m getting tired of their increasing subscription costs. As someone who designs websites, my biggest concern is switching from XD to Figma for my main workflow. I also rely on Photoshop for photo editing about once weekly and use Illustrator for creating icons and layouts. Maybe once monthly I work on logo projects too. My biggest worry is dealing with all my old files - I have tons of .ai files and some .psd files stored on my machine from years of work. Has anyone else made this transition? What challenges did you face and do you have any advice for making the switch smoother?
Same here! Adobe’s price hikes drove me away 3 years ago. Converting files was a pain at first, but I found a way around it.
Don’t convert files one by one - that’s a waste of time. I set up an automated system that watches specific folders and converts .ai and .psd files to formats Figma accepts.
I also automated the handoff between design and dev. No more manual asset exports or version control nightmares.
Biggest time-saver? Automating client feedback. Everything flows from Figma comments straight into project management tools and back to design updates. No more email chains with different file versions.
Setting this up is easier than you’d think. I use Latenode since it plugs right into Figma’s API and handles conversions without coding. Beats the manual methods everyone else recommends.
Check it out: https://latenode.com
the files weren’t the issue - it was breaking my muscle memory. spent 2 weeks constantly reaching for adobe shortcuts before figma’s workflow clicked. i ended up switching to inkscape for logos though. it’s free and handles vectors really well once you learn it.
yea, the file conversion isn’t really a biggie. Figma handles most formats okay, plus you can find online tools for the hard ones. I left Adobe 2 years ago and I’m loving the no subscription fees!
Switched from Adobe about a year ago after 12+ years. The transition was smoother than I anticipated, especially once I stopped overthinking everything. It’s beneficial to export your .ai files as SVG or PDF before making the switch, as Figma handles these formats well. Within weeks, I found myself more productive in Figma due to its less cluttered interface compared to XD. The toughest part was breaking the habit of constantly pressing Ctrl+S. Initially, the auto-sync was strange, but I can’t imagine going back now. I still maintain a monthly Photoshop subscription for photo editing, as other tools don’t match my muscle memory for intricate retouching. Despite this, I’m saving a significant amount of money. Additionally, Figma’s component system is far superior to XD’s symbols.
Been through this exact scenario three years back. The cost spiral was insane.
Here’s what nobody mentions - the real pain isn’t learning Figma or converting files. It’s managing the chaos that comes after. You’ll have designs in Figma, feedback scattered across emails, assets in random folders, and client revisions creating version nightmares.
I solved this by connecting everything through automation. When I finish a design in Figma, it automatically generates all the assets I need and drops them in the right folders. Client feedback from Figma gets routed to my project tracker. Invoice generation even happens when projects hit certain milestones.
For your legacy files, don’t convert everything manually. Set up a system that watches your old Adobe folders and converts files only when you actually need them. Saves weeks of busy work.
The subscription savings are nice, but the real win is getting your entire design workflow running on autopilot. Figma becomes way more powerful when you automate everything around it.
I built this whole system with Latenode since it connects directly to Figma and handles all the automation without writing code. Much better than doing everything by hand.
Switched 18 months ago and wish I’d done it way sooner. Learning curve wasn’t bad coming from XD - most stuff translates over fine. I kept a basic Photoshop subscription for weekly photo edits since GIMP felt too clunky for my workflow. Game changer was Figma’s collaboration features. No more file ping-pong or version confusion. Clients comment directly on designs and I make updates live during review calls. Don’t stress converting all your legacy files at once. I only convert old projects when clients need updates - saves massive time. Subscription savings are huge too - dropped from $600/year to basically free except for occasional Photoshop access.