Figma is known for its clean text handling, but sometimes you need to go beyond live text — like when designing logos, manipulating individual letters, or creating custom layouts. That’s where breaking text apart comes in.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- Convert text into editable vector shapes
- Break apart individual characters
- Use outlines for advanced styling or transformations
- Avoid common mistakes when detaching type
🧩 What Does “Break Text Apart” Mean in Figma?
“Breaking text apart” refers to converting live text into vector outlines so you can manipulate each letter individually. After this, the text is no longer editable with the Text tool — it becomes a set of vector shapes.
This is useful for:
- Custom wordmarks and logos
- Rotating or scaling individual letters
- Applying gradients, distortions, or boolean effects
- Exporting artwork without relying on installed fonts
✂️ Step-by-Step: How to Break Text Apart in Figma
✅ Step 1: Type Your Text
- Use the Text Tool (T) to type your word or phrase
- Choose your desired font, weight, size, and spacing
✅ Step 2: Outline the Text
- Select the text object
- Go to the top menu:
Right-click → Outline Stroke
or use the shortcut:Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + O
This action converts your text into vector paths. The letters are now outlined shapes, not editable text.
🔄 Optional: Ungroup the Letters
By default, outlined text stays grouped as one shape. To manipulate each letter:
- Select the outlined group
- Right-click → Ungroup
- Now each letter is an individual shape you can move, resize, or rotate independently
You can also use:Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G (Ungroup shortcut)
🧠 Use Cases for Breaking Text Apart
| Use Case | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Logo Design | Create custom ligatures or letter tweaks |
| Poster Typography | Rotate, scale, or overlap individual letters |
| Export to SVG | Ensure shape fidelity without font dependency |
| Custom Effects | Apply gradients or boolean subtracts to letters |
🚫 Important Notes & Limitations
- ❌ No longer editable as text: You can’t change the font or spelling afterward
- ✅ Always keep a backup copy of the original text before converting
- ✅ Figma treats outlined text as vector shapes (great for exporting)
🔁 Bonus Tip: Reversing the Process
You can’t reverse outlined text back into live editable type. So always:
- Keep one editable version on a hidden layer
- Or duplicate the frame before outlining
✅ Summary: Breaking Text Apart in Figma
| Task | Shortcut or Tool |
|---|---|
| Convert to shapes | Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + O (Outline Stroke) |
| Ungroup letters | Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G |
| Use cases | Logos, posters, SVG exports, letter effects |
| Warning | Text becomes uneditable |
Breaking text into shapes gives you full creative freedom in Figma — from reshaping typography to building iconic wordmarks. Just remember to duplicate your live text first, and you’ll be free to customize letters like never before.
Looking for more Figma text techniques and design system guides? Explore Designilo.com for more tips and tutorials.
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