# Release Notes 2026: February Edition | Figma Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJIgDWol5CE Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/QJIgDWol5CE Generated: 2026-02-27T15:04:30.599+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Figma's February 2026 Release Notes introduce major updates including Glass effects for text and objects, enhanced image cropping precision, FigJam emoji stamps for collaborative feedback, the ability to convert designs to prototypes using Make connectors, and new plugin functionality via the Draw features API. **Key Points:** - Figma introduced Glass effects, which allow users to apply glassmorphism to text and objects with controls for light, reflection, depth, and refraction. - Image cropping received precision improvements, allowing users to select specific aspect ratios like Square (1:1) or Portrait, and use AI to expand backgrounds while maintaining aspect ratio. - FigJam now features custom emoji stamps, allowing teams to react collaboratively to ideas on the board using emojis like melting face, caterpillar, and fire. - The Make feature introduced Connectors, enabling users to link designs to external tools like Amplitude, GitHub, and Jira, and allowing for bidirectional data flow. - Figma's API now supports the creation of plugins using Draw features, empowering developers to build more powerful vector editing tools. - The team announced that the next Release Notes episode will cover updates related to Figma's presence at the Config 2026 conference and a giveaway for tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations. ![Screenshot at 00:03: The title screen prominently displays "Release Notes" with the text "The new new from Figma," introducing the segment focused on recent product updates.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-00-03.jpg) **Context:** This video presents the Figma Release Notes for February 2026, hosted by David Curran and featuring guest Yuhki Yamashita, Figma's Chief Product Officer, alongside Mari Kong and Kaitie Chambers. The hosts introduce several major feature updates across Figma and FigJam, emphasizing improvements to design tooling, collaborative feedback mechanisms, and workflow integration with external services. ## Detailed Analysis The February 2026 Figma Release Notes cover several significant updates. First, Figma expanded its effects capabilities by introducing the Glass effect, which can be applied to text and objects, offering granular control over light angle, reflection, depth, and refraction. Furthermore, image manipulation received enhancements, allowing users to crop images with greater precision, including preset aspect ratios like Square (1:1) and Portrait, and utilize AI to expand the image background while preserving the content's original aspect ratio. In FigJam, custom emoji stamps were launched, enabling teams to provide richer, more expressive feedback on digital whiteboards using new emojis like the melting face, caterpillar, and fire. A major workflow improvement came via Make Connectors, which allow users to connect Figma designs directly to external tools such as Amplitude, GitHub, and Jira, facilitating bidirectional data flow. This supports a modern design workflow where design and code are closely linked. Additionally, Figma expanded its plugin capabilities by allowing developers to create plugins using Draw features, making it possible to build custom vector editing tools. The hosts also mentioned that the next release notes will feature a giveaway for Config 2026 tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations, with submissions closing at noon Pacific time on March 5th. Finally, David Curran expressed his excitement about the continued evolution of software aiding design and development, noting that the goal is to make the process more intuitive and less siloed. ### Feature Updates - Glass effects added to text/objects with control over light, refraction, and reflection - Image cropping improved with preset aspect ratios (Square, Portrait) and AI background expansion - FigJam received custom emoji stamps (melting face, caterpillar, fire) for collaborative feedback - Make Connectors launched to link designs with external tools (Amplitude, Jira, GitHub) - New API allows plugin creation using Draw features for custom vector tools ### Workflow Discussion - Yuhki Yamashita highlighted that integrating design and code is crucial, evidenced by the popularity of tools like Code to Canvas, and emphasized that the goal is to make design workflows less siloed and more intuitive. ### Community & Events - The host announced a giveaway for two tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations to Config 2026, with submissions closing at noon PST on March 5th; the winner will be announced in the next Release Notes episode. ![Screenshot at 00:02: A demonstration of the new Glass effect being applied to text, showing controls for light, reflection, and refraction.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-00-02.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:45: Mallory Dean demonstrating the new image cropping controls within Figma, showing preset aspect ratio options like Square \(1:1\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-00-45.jpg) ![Screenshot at 03:11: A demonstration of the FigJam stamps feature, showing custom emojis like a smiling blob, caterpillar, and fire being used as reactions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-03-11.jpg) ![Screenshot at 05:36: The FigJam stamp menu showing the new custom emoji stamps like the cake illustration, with the presenter demonstrating applying a 'Layer Blur' effect.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-05-36.jpg) ![Screenshot at 12:02: The presenters transition to the FigJam board, showing three directions of prototyping options \(Modal, In-feed promo, Overlay\) with sticky notes feedback.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/QJIgDWol5CE/00-12-02.jpg)