Hey, this is Caleb from Pin Toolbox, and today I want to show you a powerful strategy for making mood boards using FigJam and our Chrome extension, Pin Toolbox. This technique is perfect for designers and creative professionals who want to streamline their workflow and create visually stunning mood boards quickly. If you use FigJam already, I think you're going to find some tips, tricks and some of the best Figma plugins to use. And if you don't already use FigJam, you're going to quickly become a convert. Right, let's get started.
What You'll Need
- Google Chrome: If you don't have it installed, you'll need to download it first.
- Pin Toolbox: A Chrome extension that lets you download high-quality images from Pinterest.
- Pinterest Account: Create a board with the images you want to use.
- A good Pinterest board
- FigJam: The collaborative online whiteboard tool from Figma.
Step 1: Add Pin Toolbox to Chrome
- Visit Pin Toolbox Website: Go to Pin Toolbox and click the "Add to Chrome" button.
- Add Extension: This will take you to the Chrome Web Store. Click "Add to Chrome" and then "Add Extension".
- Pin the Extension: Click the puzzle icon in the Chrome menu bar, find Pin Toolbox, and click the thumbtack icon to pin it for easy access.
Step 2: Download Images from Pinterest
- Create a Pinterest Board: For this example, I made a board with images of digital aesthetics from the early 2000s, which I use for my digital camera collection and editing inspiration.
- Open Pin Toolbox: Click the Pin Toolbox icon in your Chrome menu bar.
- Log into Pro Account: The free version is limited to 15 pins. If you want unlimited downloading, you can upgrade to Pro.
- Extract Images: Click "Extract Images". Pin Toolbox will find the highest quality image for each pin on your board. This can take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the number of images.
- Download Images: Choose to download the images as a ZIP file. Once downloaded, unzip the folder to access the images.
Step 3: How To Upload Images to FigJam
- Create a New FigJam Board: Go to Figma and create a new FigJam board.
- Upload Images: Drag the unzipped folder of images into FigJam. The images will be uploaded and displayed on the infinite canvas.
Step 4: How to Make a Moodboard in FigJam
- Organize Images: Start by arranging the images roughly into a layout that you like. FigJam’s infinite canvas allows you to move images around freely.
- Use FigJam Tools + Plugins:
- Icons8 Background Remover: Select an image, go to the plugin section at the bottom right, search for "background remover," and run it to create transparent PNGs.
- Washi Tape: FigJam has a washi tape tool that adds a scrapbook feel to your mood board, making it look more authentic and creative.
- Collaborate: FigJam allows for real-time collaboration, so you can invite others to join you in creating the mood board.
Step 5: How to Export from FigJam
- Select and Export: Drag over the entire mood board to select it, right-click, and choose "Export". Select the file type (e.g. PDF).
- Download and Review: Your mood board will be downloaded, and you can open it to see the final product.
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial. FigJam is really a whole new jam and has infinite opportunities with it's ecosystem of plugins. Though we're biased, Pin Toolbox is also a great addition to your arsenal and is now used by over 10,000 designers.
If you want to download entire Pinterest boards in just a few clicks, you can try Pin Toolbox for free from the Google Chrome webstore. If you want to learn some more unknown Pinterest productivity hacks check out our article here.