Optimizing Your Figma Designs for Esprit Code: Best Practices Guide

Getting clean, production-ready code from Esprit Code starts with well-structured Figma designs. In this guide, we’ll share proven techniques to ensure your designs convert smoothly and generate the best possible HTML/CSS output.

1. Frame Organization: The Foundation

Use Top-Level Frames for Each Export

Do This:

  • Create separate frames for each page or section you want to export
  • Place frames directly on the canvas (not nested inside other frames)
  • Give frames descriptive names like “hero-section” or “pricing-table”

Why It Matters: Esprit Code generates one HTML/CSS file pair for each top-level frame. Nested frames become div containers within the parent’s HTML, not separate files.

Example Structure:

Canvas
├─ desktop-landing-page
├─ mobile-landing-page
└─ pricing-section

Each of these generates independent HTML/CSS files you can use separately or combine.

Naming Conventions for Clean CSS

Do This:

  • Use lowercase with hyphens: main-header, cta-button, feature-grid
  • Avoid special characters: feature$box becomes a problematic CSS class
  • Be descriptive but concise: hero-heading rather than text-layer-1

Why It Matters: Figma layer names directly become CSS class names. Clean naming means readable, maintainable CSS.

2. Layout Strategies That Convert Well

Leverage Auto Layout Whenever Possible

Do This:

  • Apply Auto Layout to containers with multiple children
  • Set consistent spacing values (padding, gap)
  • Use proper alignment settings

Why It Matters: Auto Layout maps directly to CSS Flexbox, producing clean, responsive code. Manual positioning requires absolute positioning, which is less flexible.

Best Auto Layout Settings:

  • Primary axis: Horizontal or Vertical (matches flex-direction)
  • Spacing: Use consistent values (16px, 24px, 32px)
  • Padding: Uniform or individual edge values
  • Alignment: Center, Flex Start, Flex End

Grid Layout for Complex Arrangements

Do This:

  • Use Figma’s Grid Layout for card grids, galleries, and multi-column sections
  • Set clear column counts and gap values
  • Align items to grid cells

Why It Matters: Grid Layout converts to CSS Grid, ideal for responsive multi-column layouts without complex calculations.

When to Use Absolute Positioning

Do This:

  • Use absolute positioning for hero overlays, floating elements, or precisely positioned decorative graphics
  • Ensure parent frames have defined dimensions

Why It Matters: Absolute positioning gives exact control but is less responsive. Use it strategically for elements that should stay fixed relative to their container.

3. Text and Typography

Semantic Heading Hierarchy

Do This:

  • Position your main heading near the top of your design
  • Use larger font sizes for more important headings
  • Maintain logical size relationships (H1 > H2 > H3)

Why It Matters: Esprit Code automatically assigns heading tags (h1-h6) based on text position and size. Proper visual hierarchy ensures proper HTML semantics.

Heading Selection Logic:

  • Top-positioned, large text → h1
  • Secondary large text → h2
  • Subsections → h3-h6
  • Small text → p

Text Content Considerations

Do This:

  • Use actual content text rather than placeholder “Lorem ipsum”
  • Break long paragraphs into separate text layers for better control
  • Use text styles consistently across your design

Why It Matters: Real content helps you see how the final page will look. Consistent text styles convert to unified CSS classes.

4. Images and Visual Assets

Image Handling Best Practices

Do This:

  • Use image fills for photographs and complex graphics
  • Name image layers descriptively: hero-background, product-shot-1
  • Keep image sizes reasonable (under 2MB each when possible)

Why It Matters: Esprit Code fetches images through Figma’s API. Large images slow down the conversion process. Descriptive names help you identify images in the exported code.

Vectors and Shapes

Do This:

  • Use vector shapes (rectangles, ellipses, polygons) for UI elements
  • Apply fills and strokes consistently
  • Group related vector elements

Why It Matters: Vector shapes convert cleanly to CSS without requiring external image files, resulting in faster-loading pages.

5. Effects and Styling

What Converts Beautifully

Supported Effects:

  • Drop shadows → box-shadow
  • Blur effects → filter: blur()
  • Gradients (linear, radial) → CSS gradients
  • Blend modes → mix-blend-mode
  • Opacity → opacity property

Best Practices:

  • Use moderate blur values (under 50px)
  • Stick to standard blend modes (multiply, screen, overlay)
  • Test gradient angle and color stops

Advanced Features: Masks

Do This:

  • Use masks for creative cutouts and overlays
  • Ensure mask layer is properly positioned above masked content
  • Use simple mask shapes when possible

Why It Matters: Esprit Code supports Alpha, Luminance, and Vector masks. Simple shapes convert more reliably than highly complex vector paths.

6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

❌ Avoid: Deeply Nested Groups

Problem: Excessive nesting (10+ levels deep) creates overly complex HTML with too many wrapper divs.

Solution: Flatten your structure where possible. Use Auto Layout containers instead of nested groups.

❌ Avoid: Overlapping Absolute-Positioned Elements

Problem: Multiple elements with absolute positioning can create z-index conflicts.

Solution: Use Auto Layout or explicit z-index management in your Figma layers.

❌ Avoid: Inconsistent Spacing Values

Problem: Random spacing (13px, 17px, 23px) creates messy, hard-to-maintain CSS.

Solution: Use a spacing scale (8px, 16px, 24px, 32px) and stick to it.

❌ Avoid: Hidden Layers You Don’t Need

Problem: Hidden layers still get processed and generate unnecessary CSS.

Solution: Delete truly unnecessary layers before exporting, or organize them outside your export frames.

7. Pre-Export Checklist

Before clicking “Fetch Design & Go to Explorer”:

  • All top-level frames are properly named
  • Layout uses Auto Layout or Grid where appropriate
  • Text content is realistic (not just placeholders)
  • Image layers are optimally sized
  • Layer names follow CSS-friendly conventions
  • No unnecessary hidden layers in export frames
  • Effects and styling are applied consistently

8. Post-Export: Refining the Code

Once you have your HTML/CSS:

Quick Wins:

  • Add responsive media queries for mobile/tablet
  • Implement hover states for interactive elements
  • Connect forms to backend services
  • Add JavaScript for complex interactions

Developer Handoff:

  • Share both generated code and original Figma file
  • Document any custom modifications needed
  • Highlight areas requiring responsive breakpoints

Real-World Success Story

A recent Esprit Code user converted a 5-page marketing site design in under 10 minutes:

  • 5 top-level frames (hero, features, pricing, testimonials, footer)
  • Consistent Auto Layout usage throughout
  • Descriptive layer naming
  • Moderate use of effects and gradients

Result: Clean HTML/CSS that required only minor tweaks for responsive behavior and form handling. Total time saved: ~8 hours compared to manual coding.

Conclusion

Esprit Code works best when your Figma designs follow web-native principles: clear hierarchy, consistent spacing, semantic structure, and thoughtful organization. By applying these best practices, you’ll generate cleaner code, reduce post-export editing time, and create a smoother workflow from design to development.

Ready to optimize your next design? Keep this guide handy and watch your conversion quality improve dramatically!

Have tips of your own? Share them in the comments! We’re always learning from our community.

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