The Glass Effect in Figma: Mesmerizing Transparency in User Interface Design

In recent years, the Glass Effect – also known as Glassmorphism – has become one of the most prominent UI design trends. With its ethereal, glass-like transparency, this style brings a modern, lightweight feel while maintaining visual depth for the interface. And if you're a designer using Figma, creating this effect is actually not as complicated as it appears.

Why is the Glass Effect so popular?

Glassmorphism isn’t just beautiful; it’s functional. By creating a sense of transparency—like looking through a frosted glass—this effect Helps users focus more on the main content, while maintaining a subtle background context.

Key features of this effect include:

• Create depth and clear layering between UI components
• Bringing a sense of Elegant and high-tech
• Works well with elements like blur, transparency, and light/dark mode

How to create a Glass Effect in Figma?

No plugins required, no external resources needed. Figma has all the tools you need to create the glass effect in just a few simple steps.

1. Create a background frame

Start with a background featuring a gradient color or an image. Since the essence of the Glass Effect is... “blur the background”, you need a background with depth for the effect to appear clearly.

2. Create a glass layer

Add a rectangle to the background. Then, in the Fill, select a white color with an opacity of approximately 10–30%. Place this layer in the Background blur (not layer blur).

Tip: A blur of 20–25px typically creates a clear effect without causing confusion.

3. Customize borders & shadows

To enhance realism, you can add a faint stroke and a soft drop shadow. However, use these sparingly—the Glass Effect looks best when kept minimal.

When should you (and shouldn't you) use the Glass Effect?

The glass effect is very appealing, but it's not always appropriate. Here are some things to keep in mind:

When to use:

• Are you designing tech interfaces, fintech, or modern apps?
• Interfaces with multiple layers require soft content separation.
• You want to create a visual highlight while keeping the design clean and minimalist.

Limitations:

• A UI with a too plain background → the glass effect won't be clear
• You need high performance (with dev, the Glass Effect can be heavy if not optimized)
• Using too much – will diminish the impact of the focal point

The Glass Effect is not just a "hot trend," but a powerful tool in the hands of designers. With Figma, you can freely experiment, refine, and create with this style in a natural, quick, and effective manner.

Use the Glass Effect as a special spice – use it sparingly but effectively, and always place it User experience comes first.