FROM ME THIS WEEK
Tiny steps, big shifts
Current email subscriber count: 249
At the start of this year, I didn’t imagine I’d be writing to over 200 of you.
I began sharing my design learnings on YouTube in April — mainly because I was struggling with visual effects in client projects. That frustration pushed me to pause freelancing, which felt scary and a little humiliating at the time. But looking back, it gave me the clearest direction: learn visual design, deeply.
As a career switcher, I knew progress would come from small, repeated practice. And somehow, all those small steps led to this moment with you here.
Which brings us to this week’s tutorial: stippling.
An effect that looks complex, but with one plugin, you’ll see it’s simpler than it seems.
Let’s explore it together.
LEARN DESIGN
Realistic Stippling Effect in Figma
Use a single plugin in Figma to create organic stippling effects.
Stippling vector graphic cover
🎁 Grab your starter file and follow along!
Video Tutorial is linked below.
Step 1 - Prep the graphic
Start with any subject.
Make sure it sits inside a white-filled frame — the plugin relies on that background to generate the dots.
Subject is put inside a white-filled frame
Step 2 – Apply stippling
Open the Stippling plugin.
Enable Random Distribution
Set Spacing → 1
Set Dot Max Size → 3
❗Move the sliders slowly
Adjust the plugin settings
Step 3 – Style the Vector
Clean up
Remove the white fill
recolor the vector to whatever matches your design.
Change the vector color to white.
Step 4 – Tada!
✨ Result time.
Drop it back into your layout, and you’ve got a clean stippled graphic that feels hand-crafted.
Perfect for posters, hero graphics, and UI textures.
Final result.
Watch on Youtube
Like and share the video.
Leave a comment if you got any questions!
WHAT’S COMING NEXT
Perspective Dotted World Map in Figma
Perspective Dotted World Map teaser thumbnail
Next week, we’re taking dots even further.
I’ve been experimenting with dotted pattern in Figma lately, especially on a world map. Turns out, not only we can dotted any image, but we can also wrap this map into a globe-perspective, so it looks realistic!
If you’ve ever wanted to make data-style visuals, hero graphics, or global-themed layouts, you’ll love this one.
Can’t wait to show you how it comes together.
Thanks for reading and spending a bit of your day with me.
If you want to keep up with more behind-the-scenes thoughts or small design notes I don’t always send by email, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Would love to have you there:
See you in the next email.
MengChi