The standard way to screenshot a static Figma design is to export it. Select a frame or object, open Export in the right sidebar, click +, choose a format and scale, optionally preview it, and click Export. For a precisely bounded area, use a Slice. For a live prototype, open Present mode and use your operating system’s screenshot command.
Choose the right Figma screenshot method
Your best method depends on whether you need design pixels or the live presentation view.
| Goal | Best method | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Save a complete frame or selected layer | Export | A file in PNG, JPG/JPEG, SVG, or PDF |
| Capture an exact canvas region | Slice | Only pixels inside the slice, with optional padding |
| Copy a quick raster image | Copy as PNG | A PNG on the clipboard |
| Show prototype interactions or device-like presentation chrome | Present mode plus an operating-system capture | A screenshot of what is visible in the live presentation |
Figma describes export as a way to share designs, move content between tools, or save copies outside Figma. The export workflow is documented as available on any plan, although the file owner’s copy/share restrictions and your permission level can affect what you can do.
Export a Figma frame or selected design as an image
- Select the frame, component, group, section, or individual layer on the canvas or in the Layers panel.
- In the right sidebar, find Export and click + to add an export setting.
- Choose the scale and format. Use PNG for a conventional lossless screenshot, JPG/JPEG for a smaller photographic-style file, SVG for scalable vector artwork, or PDF for document-oriented output.
- Click Preview if you need to inspect the result, then click Export.
In Figma’s browser version, the file normally goes to your browser’s download location. The desktop app asks you for a filename and destination. Exporting a frame captures its bounds; it does not include the surrounding infinite canvas.
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Export at the correct scale
Choose 1× for the frame’s defined pixel dimensions. Use 2× or another scale when you need a denser raster for documentation or a high-resolution display. Remember that doubling the scale increases both pixel dimensions and file size. SVG remains resolution-independent, while PNG and JPG are raster outputs.
Export several objects
You can select multiple exportable layers, frames, or sections and add export settings to the selection. Check the selection before exporting so you do not accidentally include a parent frame or unrelated layers.
Export only part of the Figma canvas with Slice
- Open the Region tools dropdown in the toolbar and choose Slice.
- Drag around the exact area you want to capture.
- Resize the slice numerically or by dragging its handles.
- Configure its export settings in the right sidebar, including format and scale.
- Export the slice.
Only content inside the slice boundaries is exported. A slice can include explicit padding, which is useful when a screenshot needs a controlled margin around a card, icon, or cropped screen. Slice requires can edit access, unlike ordinary export, which can be available to people with can view access when the owner has not restricted copying and sharing.
When Slice is better than selecting a frame
- Use a frame selection when the entire frame is the intended output.
- Use Slice when the desired area crosses layer boundaries or needs custom whitespace.
- Use Slice when you need a repeatable crop rather than a manually trimmed screenshot.
Copy a Figma object as a quick PNG
Select the object or frame, open its context menu, and choose Copy as PNG. Paste into an email, document, image editor, or chat application. This is the fastest route when you do not need a saved file, export scale controls, or a format other than PNG.
Because the image goes to the clipboard, the destination application determines how it is saved. For a named file or repeatable export settings, use the Export panel instead.
Screenshot a live Figma prototype
Exporting a frame produces the underlying design. It does not reproduce interactive state, presentation controls, or device chrome. To capture what a reviewer sees while clicking through a prototype:
- Click Present in the toolbar.
- In presentation view, choose the appropriate scaling option and, when needed, enable fullscreen.
- Navigate to the exact prototype screen and interaction state you want to show.
- Use your operating system’s screenshot command to capture the visible presentation.
Figma documents Command-Option-Return for presentation on Mac and Control-Alt-Enter on Windows. Figma’s documented presentation view does not provide a separate native command that directly exports the live presentation as an image, so the operating-system capture is the correct approach.
Why a prototype capture can differ from an exported frame
- Presentation mode can show the result of an interaction rather than the frame’s initial state.
- Fullscreen and scaling change the visible viewport.
- A system capture can include presentation or browser/device chrome; frame export cannot.
Fix common Figma screenshot problems
The Export section or plus button is missing
Confirm that a layer, frame, component, group, section, or slice is selected. If you can view the file but cannot use Slice, ask for can edit access. Also check whether the owner has restricted copying and sharing; that restriction can prevent export even when you can view the file.
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Inspect the selected object’s bounds. A child layer exports only its own bounds, while a frame exports the frame rectangle. For a deliberate crop, create a Slice and add padding rather than trying to trim the result afterward.
The prototype screenshot does not show the expected screen
Capture from Present mode, not the editor canvas. Navigate through the prototype to the required state first, then set scaling or fullscreen before invoking the operating-system screenshot.
The keyboard shortcut does not work
Figma shortcuts are enabled by default, but browser, operating-system, or keyboard-layout shortcuts can conflict. Open Figma’s shortcuts panel from Help and resources or the actions menu to see the current command for your environment.
The export has the wrong format or quality
Return to the Export setting and verify both format and scale. PNG is normally the safest choice for UI text and flat colors. JPG can reduce file size but may introduce compression artifacts. SVG is appropriate for vector artwork, and PDF is intended for document-style delivery.
Export versus prototype capture: a practical decision guide
- Need a clean design asset: select the frame and export PNG.
- Need a precise subsection: draw a Slice, set padding, and export.
- Need speed for a one-off paste: use Copy as PNG.
- Need interaction, hover state, or presentation chrome: use Present and your operating-system capture.
- Need scalable artwork: export SVG instead of a raster screenshot.
- Need a printable document: export PDF.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is an automated screenshot of a Figma URL or another web page rather than a manually selected canvas region, ScreenshotNeo provides a single-request website screenshot API. It accepts consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response reports the page verdict and billing status in X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. It also offers an MCP server for AI agents, including Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for all options. This cURL request captures a URL as a WebP file:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);ScreenshotNeo includes full-page capture with lazy images, CSS-selector element capture, dark mode, device presets and custom viewports, retina scale, custom CSS and JavaScript, click-before-capture, waits, request blocking, headers, cookies, user agents, authorization, timezone, geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, chosen cache TTLs, signed links, asynchronous jobs, webhooks, bulk capture for up to 100 URLs per call, usage data, and an OpenAPI specification. Its free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Can someone with view access export a Figma frame?
Yes, when the owner has not restricted copying and sharing. Slice still requires can edit access.
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One-click scans. No signup required.
Does exporting a frame capture prototype animations?
No. Export captures static design content. Use Present mode and an operating-system screenshot for a live interaction state.
Which format is best for a normal UI screenshot?
PNG is the usual choice because it preserves sharp text and flat interface colors without lossy compression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone with view access export a Figma frame?
Yes, when the owner has not restricted copying and sharing. Slice still requires can edit access.
Does exporting a frame capture prototype animations?
No. Export captures static design content. Use Present mode and an operating-system screenshot for a live interaction state.
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PNG is the usual choice because it preserves sharp text and flat interface colors without lossy compression.
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