Designilo

Gradients add depth and polish to modern UI designs—but copying them precisely in Figma can be tricky if you don’t know the shortcuts.

Whether you’re applying a branded gradient to buttons, backgrounds, or icons, Figma makes it easy to copy gradients—including all the color stops, angles, and transparency settings.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How gradients work in Figma
• 3 easy ways to copy a gradient
• How to save gradients as styles for reuse
• Pro tips to keep your design system clean

🎨 What Is a Gradient in Figma?

A gradient in Figma is a type of fill that blends two or more colors together. You can create:

• Linear Gradients
• Radial Gradients
• Angular Gradients
• Diamond Gradients

Each gradient includes:

• Multiple color stops
• Opacity values
• Rotation or position settings

✅ 1. How to Copy a Gradient Using Layer Style Shortcut

This is the fastest and most accurate method.

Step-by-step:

1. Select the object with the gradient you want to copy
2. Press Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + C to copy the layer style
3. Select the target object
4. Press Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + V to paste the layer style

✅ This copies the entire fill section, including gradient type, angle, stops, and opacity.

🔹 2. How to Copy Just the Gradient Fill

Sometimes you only want to copy the gradient fill, not stroke, shadow, or effects.

To do that:

1. Select the original object
2. In the Fill section of the right-hand panel, click the gradient thumbnail
3. Click the color bar to open the gradient editor
4. Click “Copy” (in the gradient popup menu, “…”)
5. Select the new object
6. Add a Fill > click “Solid” > change to “Linear” (or desired type)
7. Click “Paste” in the same popup menu

This keeps your other styles intact while only changing the fill.

🔁 3. Use the Eyedropper Tool (For Simple Gradients)

If the object is visible on the canvas:

1. Select the new object
2. In the Fill section, click the swatch
3. Click the eyedropper icon
4. Click the object with the gradient

⚠️ Works best for gradients with clear contrast or few stops.

💾 How to Save and Reuse Gradients as Styles

If you’re using a gradient repeatedly (like for buttons or backgrounds), save it as a Color Style.

Here’s how:

1. Apply the gradient to an object
2. In the Fill section, click the four-dot icon (Styles)
3. Click “+” Create Style
4. Name it (e.g., Gradient/Primary or Background/Hero)
5. Apply to other objects via the Styles menu

🎉 Updating the gradient style will update it everywhere it’s applied. Great for design systems.

🚫 What Not to Do

• ❌ Don’t try to manually recreate the same gradient—eyeballing angles or stops is error-prone
• ❌ Don’t copy-paste just the shape without confirming the fill is transferred
• ❌ Don’t use gradients with untagged styles in shared libraries—always use named, reusable styles

🧠 Pro Tips for Gradient Workflows

• Use transparent stops to create subtle fade effects
• Use gradients in overlay layers for modern depth and lighting
• Name saved styles clearly: Gradient/CTA, Gradient/LightOverlay, etc.
• Use Variants + Styles together to apply gradients dynamically to components

🧭 In Summary: How to Copy a Gradient in Figma

Task	Best Method
Copy everything (gradient + stroke + effects)	Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + C / V
Copy just the gradient fill	Use Fill section → Copy/Paste from color picker
Apply to many objects	Save as Color Style
Get visual match quickly	Use Eyedropper Tool

Gradients are a powerful part of any modern design system. When you know how to copy, paste, and reuse them properly in Figma, you save time and ensure brand consistency at scale.

Explore more design tips, component strategies, and layout guides at Designilo.com.