Tbh, I just found out about the 'Shift + S' trick in Figma and it's a game changer

I was working on a mobile app screen and kept having to zoom in and out to check small details like icon spacing. Honestly, it was driving me nuts. Then I watched a tutorial from a designer in Austin and she mentioned pressing Shift + S to toggle a pixel grid overlay. It lets you see the exact pixel grid at any zoom level. Has anyone else found a different shortcut that helps with checking alignment fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

zarak183mo ago

Wait, that ruler guide trick is smart! It reminds me of when I was trying to line up some text blocks last week and I kept nudging them with the arrow keys. I got so annoyed until I realized holding Shift while pressing the arrows moves things ten pixels at a time. It was perfect for making small, exact adjustments without my mouse. Why are these little shortcuts always hidden? What's your go-to for fine-tuning stuff?

jade61828d agoMost Upvoted

Shift + S to toggle a pixel grid overlay" actually sounds more distracting than helpful to me lol. I tried using pixel grids before and it just clutters my screen, I end up turning it off after like 30 seconds. Honestly I think people rely too much on shortcuts instead of just training their eye to spot alignment issues naturally. The whole point of design is making it look good to people, not perfect to a grid that nobody else will ever see. Plus half the time those overlays don't even work right on complex shapes or curved elements, so what's the point.

oscarwilliams3mo ago

Oh man, that pixel grid trick is a lifesaver! I actually started using the 'R' key to quickly drop a ruler guide, then just tap it again to make it go away. It's way faster than dragging from the side rulers every single time. Makes checking distances between elements a total breeze.