FIG Design or Figure File
Creative ProjectsFIG is used for local Figma copies, but MATLAB and Xfig also use the suffix for different formats. Establish the producer first; import a Figma-origin file through Figma’s file browser rather than assuming every FIG is a Figma design.
- Main use
- Producer-specific figures, including local Figma copies
- Data type
- Multiple uses; identify the producer
All sections, questions and sources
Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai
Identify the FIG producer first
| Producer | Content and opening route |
|---|---|
| Figma | A local UI-design copy; import through the Figma file browser. |
| MATLAB | A saved Figure; open trusted files through MATLAB openfig or its supported workflow. |
| Xfig | A text drawing format; open with compatible Xfig and inspect external-image dependencies. |
These FIG formats are not interchangeable. Ask the producer before choosing a workflow when the origin is unknown.
Source for these steps：Figma · Save a local copy of files / MathWorks · savefig — Save figure as FIG-file / Xfig project · Fig Format 3.2
Opening steps
Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.
Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.
Troubleshooting by symptom
- Figma rejects it: investigate MATLAB, Xfig or another format.
- Comments/history absent: a local copy does not carry the original history or comments.
- No original-library updates: reimport does not preserve the original sharing relationships.
- Text differs: inspect missing fonts and substitutions.
Figma FIG → SVG / PNG / PDF
- Import into Figma, select the required frames and export an appropriate format.
- Check screens, components, fonts and which master will receive future updates.
Reimport creates a new file; image/PDF output does not replace collaborative history or component relationships.
A local copy is a separate document
A local Figma copy supports backup or transfer but does not transfer the original URL or history. For continuing collaboration, agree on access to the original file.
Source for these steps：Figma · Save a local copy of files / Sketch · Importing & exporting / MathWorks · savefig — Save figure as FIG-file / Xfig project · Fig Format 3.2
Worked example: checks before handoff
Example: after a team-transfer import, verify screens/components and establish the new working master rather than assuming original-library updates continue.
Source for these steps：Figma · Save a local copy of files / Sketch · Importing & exporting / MathWorks · savefig — Save figure as FIG-file / Xfig project · Fig Format 3.2
Related-format differences
| Format / method | Purpose and preserved information |
|---|---|
| .fig | Producer-specific figures, including local Figma copies |
| Shared URL / SVG | A URL addresses the permission-controlled original; SVG is a vector deliverable. |
| Figma FIG → SVG / PNG / PDF | Reimport creates a new file; image/PDF output does not replace collaborative history or component relationships. |
Handling and security
Confirm sharing scope before importing into another organization; avoid unknown converters for unpublished designs.
Questions and answers
Will Figma open a MATLAB FIG?
No equivalence is implied; ask the producer for the appropriate MATLAB workflow or exported image.
Are original comments retained?
Figma local copies do not include comments or version history.
Does local FIG automatically sync with the original?
A reimported document is a new file, separate from original history/connections.
Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
- Formal name
- FIG Design or Figure File
- Steward / specification
- Figma
- MIME type
- Consult the producer or delivery system. The extension alone does not establish a MIME type.
Primary and official sources
- Software documentationSave a local copy of files
Saving/reimporting FIG and limitations concerning history.
Figma · Link checked： - Software documentationImporting & exporting
Importing designs and exporting bitmap/vector assets.
Sketch · Link checked： - Software documentationsavefig — Save figure as FIG-file
MATLAB FIG saving and reopening with openfig.
MathWorks · Link checked： - Software documentationFig Format 3.2
Xfig text-format specification, distinct from Figma.
Xfig project · Link checked：