Leading design platform Figma has announced a significant update, introducing a suite of AI-powered image editing features directly within its platform. The new tools, which include object removal, object isolation, and image expansion, are designed to streamline the creative workflow for designers and eliminate the need to switch to external applications for photo editing.
Streamlining the Design Workflow
Figma’s latest move aims to consolidate the design process by integrating powerful editing capabilities that have traditionally required exporting assets to separate software. The company noted that while generative models are effective for creating new images, designers often require more granular, prompt-free tools for refining existing visuals. By embedding these features, Figma empowers users to maintain their creative momentum entirely within one ecosystem.
As part of this update, Figma has also revamped its user interface, collating all image editing tools into a single, accessible toolbar. Key functions like background removal, a frequently used action on the platform, are now prominently featured for quicker access.
In-Platform Granular Editing
A core component of the update is the enhanced lasso tool. Designers can now use it to precisely select an object within an image, and then choose to either remove it completely or isolate it for repositioning. The AI model intelligently regenerates the background, ensuring that characteristics like color and texture are seamlessly maintained when an object is moved.
Furthermore, users can select specific objects to make nuanced adjustments to factors such as lighting, shadow, color, and focus, offering a level of in-app control previously unavailable.
Expanding Creative Possibilities
Figma is also introducing an AI-powered image expansion feature, a critical tool for adapting creative assets across various formats. This allows designers to take a standard image, such as a 1×1 social media post, and intelligently extend its background to fit a web banner or mobile-specific dimensions. This function saves significant time by reducing the need for constant cropping and manual element adjustments.
Relevance for MENA’s Tech Scene
For the rapidly growing startup ecosystem across the MENA region, Figma’s update is particularly significant. Local startups, often operating with lean teams and tight budgets, can now leverage an all-in-one design solution to produce high-quality marketing materials, UI/UX designs, and social media content more efficiently.
This move democratizes access to advanced editing tools, enabling MENA-based designers and marketers to compete on a global scale without investing in multiple expensive software licenses. The ability to quickly adapt visuals for different platforms is crucial for digital-first companies in the region, and these integrated AI features will directly accelerate their content creation and product development cycles.
About Figma
Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that allows teams to create, test, and ship better designs from start to finish. It operates in the browser, enabling real-time collaboration for UI/UX designers, product managers, and developers. The platform is widely used for designing websites, applications, logos, and other digital experiences.
Source: TechCrunch
