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Export Performance Problems

Slow exports can be frustrating, especially for complex files or tight deadlines. This guide helps you optimize for faster processing.
Typical export times: Simple 1-page design: 10-30 seconds | Complex 10-page brochure: 1-3 minutes | Large 50+ page catalog: 5-15 minutes

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Problem 1: Very Slow Export (Taking Forever)

Symptoms:
  • Export takes 5+ minutes for simple file
  • Progress bar barely moving
  • Browser sluggish during export
  • Fan spinning loudly
Causes: File complexity, system resources, network speed

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What Affects Export Speed

  • File Complexity (Biggest Factor)
  • System Resources
  • Browser Performance
  • Network Speed
Export time increases with:Layer count:
  • 10-50 layers: Fast (10-30 sec)
  • 100-200 layers: Medium (1-2 min)
  • 500+ layers: Slow (5-10 min)
  • 1000+ layers: Very slow (10-20 min)
Images:
  • Small images (< 1000px): Fast
  • High-res images (3000-5000px): Medium
  • Huge images (> 5000px): Slow
  • Many images: Multiplicative slowdown
Vector complexity:
  • Simple shapes: Fast
  • Complex paths (100+ nodes): Medium
  • Very complex paths (1000+ nodes): Slow
  • Boolean operations: Add overhead
Effects:
  • No effects: Fast
  • Few shadows/blurs: Small impact
  • Many heavy effects: Significant slowdown
  • Nested effects: Worse
Optimization: Simplify where possible

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Solutions for Faster Exports

Most effective improvements:1. Reduce image sizes:
Calculate needed size:
Print size: 4" × 3"
DPI: 300
Pixels needed: 1200 × 900 px

If image is 6000 × 4500 px:
Resize to 1200 × 900 px = 96% smaller!
Before adding to Figma: Resize in Photoshop or online toolResult: 50-80% faster export2. Flatten complex objects:
  • Select complex vector groups
  • Right-click → Flatten
  • Reduces layer complexity
  • Still looks same, processes faster
3. Remove hidden layers:
  • Delete hidden layers you don’t need
  • Each layer adds processing time
  • Even invisible ones
4. Simplify vector paths:
  • Avoid excessive nodes
  • Use Simplify plugin if available
  • Reduce boolean operations
5. Reduce effects:
  • Minimize blur/shadow effects
  • Flatten layers with effects if possible
  • Use simpler effects
Settings affecting speed:Faster settings:
  • Compression: 75% (vs 95%)
    • Smaller file = faster upload/download
    • Processes faster
  • Downsample images: Enabled
    • Reduces image processing time
    • Smaller output file
  • PDF Format: PDF/X-1a (vs PDF/X-4)
    • Simpler format
    • Faster processing
Slower settings:
  • Compression: 95-100% (larger file, slower)
  • No downsampling (processes full-res images)
  • PDF/X-4 (transparency support adds overhead)
Trade-off: Speed vs qualityFor proofs: Use faster settings For final: Use quality settings
For multi-page documents:Instead of: Exporting all 50 pages at once (10 min)Do: Export in batches of 10 pages (2 min each)
  • Pages 1-10: Export → 2 min
  • Pages 11-20: Export → 2 min
  • Etc.
Combine later:
  • Adobe Acrobat: Tools → Combine Files
  • Online: Smallpdf, ILovePDF
  • Mac Preview: Drag PDFs into sidebar
Advantages:
  • Can start reviewing while others export
  • Less likely to crash/timeout
  • Progress feels faster
Disadvantage: Extra combining step
Before big export:1. Close everything else:
  • Other applications
  • Browser tabs (except Figma)
  • Background apps
2. Restart browser:
  • Clears memory leaks
  • Fresh start
  • Can improve speed 30-50%
3. Check available storage:
  • Need space for temporary files
  • Free up 1-2 GB if needed
4. Disable browser extensions:
  • Some interfere with Figma
  • Temporarily disable all except essentials
5. Plug in laptop (if applicable):
  • Power saving mode slows CPU
  • Plugged in = full performance
Result: Significantly faster processing
Better performance than browser:Figma Desktop App:
  • Native application
  • Better memory management
  • Fewer browser limitations
  • Often 20-40% faster for exports
Download: figma.com/downloadsTry: Same file, desktop vs browser
  • Compare export times
  • Desktop usually wins
Bonus: Works offline for editing (not exporting)
Faster upload = faster export:1. Use wired connection:
  • Ethernet cable
  • More stable and faster than WiFi
  • Can be 2-5× faster
2. Close bandwidth-heavy apps:
  • Video streaming
  • Downloads/uploads
  • Cloud sync (Dropbox, etc.)
3. Export during off-peak hours:
  • Early morning or late night
  • Less network congestion
  • Figma servers less busy
4. Upgrade internet (if possible):
  • Faster upload tier
  • Long-term investment for frequent exports

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Problem 2: Browser/Plugin Freezing During Export

Symptoms:
  • Figma becomes unresponsive
  • Can’t click anything
  • “Page unresponsive” dialog
  • Must force quit
Causes: Memory exhaustion, browser limitations

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Solutions

1

Don't Interact During Export

Let it run:
  • Don’t click in Figma during export
  • Don’t switch tabs
  • Let process complete uninterrupted
Why: Heavy processing, interaction causes conflictsDo instead: Work in different app/window while exporting
2

Increase Browser Memory Limit

Chrome allows increasing limit:1. Close Chrome completely2. Launch with flag:
Mac:
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --max-old-space-size=8192

Windows:
chrome.exe --max-old-space-size=8192
3. Open Figma and exportNote: 8192 = 8 GB RAM limit (adjust based on your RAM)Helps: Very complex files that exhaust default memory
3

Use Figma Desktop App

Better memory handling:
  • Less likely to freeze
  • Can allocate more resources
  • More stable for large files
Download: figma.com/downloadsTry: If browser consistently freezes
4

Simplify File

If still freezing:
  • File too complex for available resources
  • Must simplify (see optimization tips above)
  • Or export in smaller batches

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Problem 3: Export Works But Is Very Slow

Symptom: Exports complete successfully but take way too long Expected vs actual times:
  • Reasonable Times
  • Slow Times (Need Optimization)
Normal export durations:
File TypeComplexityExpected Time
Business card (1 page)Simple10-20 sec
Flyer (1 page)Medium20-40 sec
Brochure (8 pages)Medium1-2 min
Booklet (20 pages)Medium2-4 min
Catalog (50 pages)Complex5-10 min
Catalog (100+ pages)Complex10-20 min
Factors:
  • Image count/size
  • Layer count
  • Effects
  • System specs

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Benchmark Your System

1

Create Simple Test File

Make a standard test:
  • Single frame (8.5” × 11”)
  • One image (2000 × 2000 px)
  • A few text elements
  • Simple shapes
Export: Note time
2

Compare to Baseline

Expected on modern system:
  • Good system (16 GB RAM, modern CPU): 10-15 sec
  • OK system (8 GB RAM, older CPU): 20-30 sec
  • Slow system (4 GB RAM): 40-60 sec
If significantly slower: System or network issue
3

Test Network Speed

Run speed test: fast.comMinimum for good performance:
  • Upload: 10+ Mbps
  • Download: 25+ Mbps
If slower: Network bottleneck, consider upgrade
4

Identify Bottleneck

What’s limiting:
  • Export fast, upload slow: Network issue
  • Everything slow: System resources (RAM/CPU)
  • Browser freezes: Memory limit
  • Varies by time of day: Network congestion or server load
Address bottleneck: Targeted optimization

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Optimization Strategies by File Type

  • Business Cards / Simple Files
  • Brochures / Medium Files
  • Booklets / Catalogs
Should be fast (< 30 sec):If slow:
  • Check image sizes (shouldn’t need > 1500px)
  • Remove any effects
  • Ensure no hidden complexity
Best practices:
  • Use vector logos (not PNG)
  • Keep images to needed resolution
  • Minimal effects

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Hardware Recommendations

If you do frequent print exports:

Minimum Specs

Usable but slow:
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • CPU: Intel i5 or equivalent
  • Storage: SSD (any)
  • Network: 10+ Mbps upload
Experience:
  • Simple files: OK
  • Complex files: Slow
  • Large catalogs: Very slow

Recommended Specs

Good performance:
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • CPU: Intel i7/M1 or equivalent
  • Storage: SSD 256 GB+
  • Network: 25+ Mbps upload
Experience:
  • Simple files: Fast
  • Complex files: OK
  • Large catalogs: Acceptable

Ideal Specs

Best performance:
  • RAM: 32 GB
  • CPU: M1 Max/M2 or Intel i9
  • Storage: SSD 512 GB+
  • Network: 50+ Mbps upload
Experience:
  • Simple files: Very fast
  • Complex files: Fast
  • Large catalogs: Good

Budget Improvements

Best ROI upgrades:
  1. RAM (biggest impact)
    • 8 GB → 16 GB: ~$50-100
  2. Internet upgrade (if slow upload)
    • Higher tier: $10-20/month
  3. SSD (if on HDD)
    • 256 GB SSD: ~$30-50
Skip: GPU (doesn’t help for exports)

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Troubleshooting Workflow

When export is slow:
1

Identify Duration

Baseline:
  • Start timer when export begins
  • Note when completes
  • Compare to reasonable time for complexity
If 2-3× slower than expected: Something wrong
2

Check System Resources

Activity Monitor (Mac) / Task Manager (Windows):
  • Is RAM usage > 80%?
  • Is CPU at 100%?
  • Is another app using significant resources?
Fix:
  • Close resource-heavy apps
  • Restart browser
  • Restart computer
3

Check Network

Test speed: fast.comLook for:
  • Upload speed < 10 Mbps (slow)
  • High ping > 100ms (latency)
Fix:
  • Use wired connection
  • Close other network apps
  • Try different network
4

Optimize File

Reduce complexity:
  • Resize images
  • Flatten complex layers
  • Remove hidden/unused layers
  • Reduce effects
Re-export: Should be faster
5

Adjust Settings

Try faster export settings:
  • Compression: 75%
  • Downsample: Enabled
  • PDF Format: PDF/X-1a
Trade-off: Slightly lower quality for speed
6

Try Different Environment

Eliminate variables:
  • Different browser (Chrome vs Firefox)
  • Desktop app (vs browser)
  • Different network
  • Different time of day
Identify: What’s causing slowdown

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Performance Best Practices

For consistently fast exports:
  • Optimize all images before importing to Figma
  • Use components/instances (reused elements processed once)
  • Keep layer count reasonable (< 500 per page if possible)
  • Flatten complex vectors before export
  • Remove hidden/unused layers regularly
  • Use Figma Desktop App instead of browser
  • Close other apps during export
  • Use wired network connection
  • Restart browser before big exports
  • Save optimized export settings as preset
  • For catalogs: Export in batches of 10-20 pages

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When to Expect Slower Exports

Normal scenarios for slower processing:
Takes longer:
  • Figma loads resources
  • Plugin initializes
  • Caches being built
Subsequent exports: Usually fasterNormal: 30-50% slower than later exports
Intricate illustrations:
  • Thousands of nodes
  • Complex boolean operations
  • Nested groups
Will be slower: Can’t optimize much without quality lossAccept: Or flatten to raster if acceptable
Photo-heavy designs:
  • 20+ images
  • Each 3000+ px
  • Full bleed (large)
Will be slower: Image processing takes timeOptimize: Resize images to exact needed dimensions beforehand
Time zones matter:
  • Figma servers busier during business hours (US/Europe)
  • Slower processing during peak
Try: Early morning or late night for faster processingUsually minor: But can add 10-20% to export time

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Learn More

Export Errors

Fix failed exports

File Size Optimization

Reduce PDF file size

Export Settings

Configure for best results

Design to Print Workflow

Complete workflow guide
#1 performance tip: Optimize images BEFORE adding to Figma. Resize to exact needed dimensions (inches × 300 DPI). This single step can reduce export times by 50-80% for image-heavy designs.