Figma Draw: More Expressive Creative Tools

New Tools in Figma Draw

Figma's April 29, 2026 Draw update brings a collection of new capabilities that expand what designers can accomplish without ever leaving Draw mode. The additions span typography, layout, and illustration controls — making Draw a more complete standalone creative environment.

Text on a Path

The most notable addition is a dedicated text on a path tool. Designers can now add text to any existing vector path directly in Draw, or drag on an empty canvas to create text that curves along a circle. Right-clicking the resulting object separates the text and vector into independent layers for further editing. This capability was previously available in Figma Design but required mode-switching when working in Draw; it is now a first-class citizen in the Draw toolbelt.

Auto Layout in Draw Mode

Auto layout — one of Figma's most-used layout features — is now accessible directly within Draw mode. Previously, designers who needed to apply auto layout had to exit Draw entirely and switch to Design mode, interrupting their creative workflow. That friction is now eliminated, allowing layout-driven compositions to be structured and adjusted without a context switch.

Improved Brush and Texture Controls

Figma's brush and texture system gains finer control with this update. Designers can now manipulate X and Y noise independently, enabling directional texture effects — horizontal grain, vertical streaks, angled texture — that were not achievable with the previous unified noise slider. Additional improvements include the ability to cmd-click (ctrl-click on Windows) any stroke to sample its color, weight, and brush or dynamic style instantly, and the option to set a gradient color and blend mode from the Draw toolbelt before beginning a stroke.

Component Labels in the Layers Panel

Draw now surfaces component type labels inline in the layers panel, helping designers identify component variants and types at a glance without needing to expand each layer's properties panel. This is particularly useful in complex illustration files with many nested components or when quickly navigating between layers during an illustration workflow.

Availability

These updates are available in Figma Draw as part of the standard Figma subscription. Draw mode is accessible to all Full and Dev seat holders with no additional seat or add-on required.