Exporting
Export individual nodes as images, or save and open entire documents as .fig files.
Image Export
Select a node and use the Export section in the properties panel.
Export Settings
- Scale — 0.5×, 0.75×, 1×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, or 4× (hidden for SVG — vectors are resolution-independent)
- Format — PNG (transparent background), JPG (white background), WEBP (transparent background), SVG (vector)
You can add multiple export settings to export the same node at different scales or formats in one go. A live preview with a checkerboard background shows what will be exported.
Export Methods
| Method | Mac | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard shortcut | ⇧⌘E | Shift + Ctrl + E |
| Context menu | Right-click → Export… | Right-click → Export… |
| Properties panel | Click "Export" button | Click "Export" button |
The exported file is saved via a native dialog (desktop) or browser download.
Copy/Paste as
In addition to file export, you can copy the selection to the clipboard in multiple formats via the context menu (right-click → Copy/Paste as):
| Action | Shortcut (Mac) | Shortcut (Win/Linux) |
|---|---|---|
| Copy as text | — | — |
| Copy as SVG | — | — |
| Copy as PNG | ⇧⌘C | Shift + Ctrl + C |
| Copy as JSX | — | — |
- Copy as text — copies visible text content from the selection
- Copy as SVG — copies the selection as SVG markup (paste into code editors, Inkscape, etc.)
- Copy as PNG — renders at 2× and copies to the clipboard (ready to paste into Slack, Notion, etc.)
- Copy as JSX — copies the OpenPencil JSX representation (compatible with
renderJsx())
.fig File Operations
OpenPencil uses the .fig format for full documents — the same binary format as Figma.
Opening Files
| Action | Mac | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Open file | ⌘O | Ctrl + O |
A file picker dialog opens, filtered for .fig files. On the desktop app, this uses the native OS dialog.
Saving Files
| Action | Mac | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Save | ⌘S | Ctrl + S |
| Save As | ⇧⌘S | Shift + Ctrl + S |
- Save overwrites the currently open file without a dialog
- Save As opens a save dialog to choose a new location
Saved files are compressed and include a thumbnail image for preview in file browsers.
Round-trip Compatibility
Files exported from OpenPencil can be opened in Figma, and vice versa. The .fig format preserves all node types, properties, fills, strokes, effects, vector data, and layout settings.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Mac | Windows / Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Export selection | ⇧⌘E | Shift + Ctrl + E |
| Copy as PNG | ⇧⌘C | Shift + Ctrl + C |
| Open file | ⌘O | Ctrl + O |
| Save | ⌘S | Ctrl + S |
| Save As | ⇧⌘S | Shift + Ctrl + S |
Tips
- Use 2× or 3× scale when exporting for high-DPI screens.
- JPG always uses a white background — use PNG or WEBP if you need transparency.
- Use SVG export when you need a vector format for further editing in Illustrator, Inkscape, or code.
- The thumbnail in exported .fig files enables preview in file browsers and Figma's file picker.