Skip to main content
Niia
New Member
August 26, 2026
Question

Paint on image vectors now switches to Crop/Custom

  • August 26, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 131 views

Before today, I could select an image, draw a closed vector shape in it, and use Paint to remove or add the image fill within that vector shape. This allowed me to cut out parts of an image using vector geometry, without using a mask.

For example:

1. Select an image.
2. Enter vector editing.
3. Draw a closed vector shape over the desired area.
4. Use Paint to remove/add the image fill inside that vector shape.

If the vector shape was not closed, Figma simply would not allow the fill operation. It did not switch to Crop.

Now, when I select Paint, Figma immediately switches to Crop → Custom. The vector shapes can still be created, but I can no longer use Paint to edit the image fill through those vectors.

This is particularly important because I have existing Figma files where image cutouts were created using exactly this workflow. They were made with vector geometry, not masks. The objects are still clearly vector-based, but I can no longer edit their image fills using the previous method.

I also noticed that Figma released “Erase and drag to fill for vector editing” on August 24, 2026, which introduced changes to vector editing and the Paint Bucket tool.

Could this new vector editing update have changed the behavior of Paint when working with image fills?

7 replies

Nazara
New Member
August 30, 2026

Before today, I could select an image, draw a closed vector shape in it, and use Paint to remove or add the image fill within that vector shape. This allowed me to cut out parts of an image using vector geometry, without using a mask.

For example:

1. Select an image.
2. Enter vector editing.
3. Draw a closed vector shape over the desired area.
4. Use Paint to remove/add the image fill inside that vector shape.

If the vector shape was not closed, Figma simply would not allow the fill operation. It did not switch to Crop.

Now, when I select Paint, Figma immediately switches to Crop → Custom. The vector shapes can still be created, but I can no longer use Paint to edit the image fill through those vectors.

This is particularly important because I have existing Figma files where image cutouts were created using exactly this workflow. They were made with vector geometry, not masks. The objects are still clearly vector-based, but I can no longer edit their image fills using the previous method.

I also noticed that Figma released “Erase and drag to fill for vector editing” on August 24, 2026, which introduced changes to vector editing and the Paint Bucket tool.

Could this new vector editing update have changed the behavior of Paint when working with image fills?

i also have the same problem! its so frustrating and i cant find a new way to do what i used to do with paint tools to crop the image. could you quote me if you find any solution

Jaycee Lewis
Figmate
Figmate
August 31, 2026

Hey hey ​@Niia  ​@Nazara  🤩 Thanks for flagging this. I’m sharing your feedback with the team that owns this update. If you have any additional related details, please share here. Thank you! — Jaycee

Jaycee Lewis
Figmate
Figmate
August 31, 2026

Hey ​@Niia  ​@Nazara  Could you share a link to the file where this is happening. You can invite support-share@figma.com as a viewer. Adding support as a viewer won't affect your billing or take up a seat on your team. Thanks! — Jaycee

Niia
NiiaAuthor
New Member
September 1, 2026

Hey ​@Niia  ​@Nazara  Could you share a link to the file where this is happening. You can invite support-share@figma.com as a viewer. Adding support as a viewer won't affect your billing or take up a seat on your team. Thanks! — Jaycee

 

Sure, thanks for your response!

Here’s the Figma file:  https://www.figma.com/design/hc92MHnG4YfKpwpBHcsBZz/Untitled?node-id=0-1&t=6jzKtnM5Qm8SP2M2-1

I’ve given you edit access.

In the left layout, you can move the image and double-click it to see that the background was removed using vectors, not a mask. Part of the original background is still visible.

In the second example, there is a vector shape created for the cutout, but now the background can no longer be removed with the vector/Paint workflow — only Crop is available.

Thanks for looking into this!

Jaycee Lewis
Figmate
Figmate
September 2, 2026

Thanks ​@Niia 🤩 I shared the file link and your comments with the team. We appreciate YOU!  — Jaycee

proofofjake
New Member
September 9, 2026

having same exact issue, this was a work flow i used a lot, would love a work around. its a strange change with no benefit i can see??

proofofjake
New Member
September 9, 2026

this change is genuinely one of the most frustrating things i have ever encountered in any software update ever.