How to export animation from Figma to Lottie format?

Designing animations in Figma and exporting them to Lottie format is a highly practical skill, especially when implementing smooth animations on mobile devices and web. To accomplish this, several steps and specific tools are required. Below, I will detail the entire process:

Step 1: Designing Animations

First, complete the animation design in Figma. This includes creating all necessary layers and animation frames. Ensure each animation element is on a separate layer, which is crucial for subsequent animation processing.

Step 2: Using Plugins

Figma does not natively support exporting to Lottie format. Therefore, we need to utilize plugins to achieve this. Several excellent plugins are available for this purpose, such as Figmotion and Motion. For this demonstration, we'll use Figmotion as an example:

1. In Figma, click the 'Plugins' menu in the top-right corner.
2. Select 'Manage plugins', then search for and install Figmotion in the plugin marketplace.
3. After installation, select the elements or frames you want to animate, then click the 'Plugins' menu again and choose Figmotion.

Step 3: Creating and Adjusting Animations

With Figmotion, you can create keyframe animations for the selected layers. The plugin interface allows you to add and adjust keyframes, modifying properties such as position, scale, and transparency:

1. In the Figmotion plugin interface, set the start and end states of the animation.
2. Add the required animation effects and timeline.
3. You can preview the animation to ensure everything works as intended.

Step 4: Exporting to Lottie

After completing the animation setup:

1. In the Figmotion plugin, locate the export option.
2. Select export to Lottie format.
3. Save the exported JSON file.

Step 5: Using Lottie in Applications

Now you can use this Lottie animation in web or mobile applications. For web projects, you can use the Lottie Web library to load and play the animation. For mobile applications, use the iOS or Android version of the Lottie library.

Experience Sharing

In my previous projects, we designed a series of complex loading animations and state transition animations. With Figmotion, we were able to quickly convert these designs to Lottie format and seamlessly integrate them into our React application. This not only enhanced the user experience but also optimized performance, as Lottie animations are more lightweight than traditional GIF or video files.

This is the entire process of exporting animations from Figma to Lottie. I hope this helps you achieve smoother and more engaging user interface animations in future projects.