Figma to After Effects: fix missing fonts and text wrapping

Diagnose imported text differences and choose an editable or rasterized result before animating.

• You will: Check fonts, text widths, styling, and composition dimensions.

• Prerequisites: MotionUI on macOS or Windows, Figma source file, After Effects, required fonts

How do you check Figma text in After Effects?

Step 1: Open the source and imported scene

Open MotionUI on your computer and access plugin setup from the app. Run its plugin in the Figma file, then open the imported scene in After Effects.

MotionUI is a desktop app for macOS and Windows by HIVER connecting Figma, After Effects, Claude Code and Codex. It supports direct Figma import and Claude Code or Codex control of both design applications. This checklist focuses on inspecting the imported result.

Select a text element that looks wrong. Compare it with the Figma source before adding animation. Record whether the difference affects the letter shapes, line breaks, text width, or styling.

Expected result: You have a specific mismatch to investigate, rather than adjusting the entire scene at once. Figma and After Effects use different rendering systems, so review appearance rather than assuming identical rendering.

Step 2: Check the required font in After Effects

Inspect the font used by the affected text in Figma. Check that the required font is installed on your computer and available in After Effects. For editable imported text, compare the font shown in After Effects with the source.

If a different font is selected, address font availability before changing the layout. Once the required font is available, use it for the affected text and compare the result again.

Expected result: You can distinguish a substituted font from a remaining appearance difference. A matching font name is a useful check, but the visible result still needs review.

Step 3: Isolate text reflow from composition size

Compare where each line ends in Figma and After Effects. Check the text box width, font size, spacing, and line spacing shown in each application. Treat these as inspection points, not assumptions about which settings caused the difference.

If only the text wraps differently, focus on that text layer. If the entire layout occupies a different proportion of the scene, compare the Figma frame dimensions with the destination composition.

Use New comp to start with the Figma frame dimensions. To design for an existing composition, use Create frame from comp to begin with the required size.

Expected result: You know whether to adjust the text layout or reconsider the destination dimensions.

An existing composition with a different aspect ratio does not promise a stretched, edge-to-edge match. Check the frame and composition before resizing text to compensate.

Step 4: Identify styling that changes during import

Inspect the affected text for gradient fills, effects, underline, and strikethrough. Some styling does not transfer in the same form. Use this checklist from MotionUI's import appearance help to classify the result.

Expected result: You can separate a font problem from a styling or layer-type difference. If text arrives as an image, checking fonts alone will not make that imported image editable.

When should you rasterize a headline or retain editable text?

Step 5: Choose the import action for the affected element

Retain editable text when you need to revise the wording or work with supported text separately in After Effects. Use Send selection for the supported parts that need to remain editable.

Choose Rasterize selection when the headline's visual appearance matters more than editing its internal text and shapes. Select the affected element in Figma, open the target composition if you have one, and click Rasterize selection in the Figma plugin or the Figma tab of the After Effects panel.

Concrete example: A product screen contains a gradient headline above plain button labels. If the headline needs to move as a single piece of artwork, rasterize that headline. Send the remaining supported elements separately when you need them editable.

Expected result: The headline becomes an image layer you can animate, while the rest of the scene can retain supported editable layers. Selecting the whole frame instead would flatten that frame into one image.

Step 6: Review the final size and planned zoom

Inspect the imported text at your final output size. For a rasterized headline, also inspect the closest planned zoom before committing to the animation.

Expected result: You have checked both appearance and the editability needed for the shot. PNG assets have fixed resolution, so assess their visible quality at the scale you actually intend to use. See rasterizing a Figma selection for the full workflow.

Troubleshooting: what should you check if text still looks wrong?

• The font still looks substituted: Confirm the required font is available inside After Effects, then compare the affected editable layer's font with Figma.

• The text still wraps differently: Recheck text width and line endings after resolving font availability. Compare composition dimensions separately.

• The headline styling is still different: Check whether the styling falls into the documented cases above. Rasterize only the affected artwork when internal editing is unnecessary.

• The rasterized headline looks soft during a zoom: Review the PNG at the largest planned scale. Reconsider the zoom or retain editable text where supported.

If a difference persists, send support screenshots of the Figma source and After Effects result, the import action used, and a small reproducible example.

Need to set up the app first? Follow the MotionUI setup guide for Mac and Windows.