Bring your designs into Pencil in one step. Drop a Photoshop file straight in, or paste a link to a Figma section. There is nothing to install, and no file to export first. From 1 October 2026, this built-in import replaces the Pencil plugins for Photoshop and Figma.
What's new
Import happens in one step, inside Pencil. You get the same editable creative or template as before, with less work to get there.
Nothing to install. No plugin to set up or keep updated.
No extra file. Skip exporting a .pencil file and uploading it. Bring in your PSD or Figma design directly.
No Photoshop needed. Anyone on your team with the .psd can bring it into Pencil from their browser.
All your sizes. Each Photoshop artboard, or each frame in a Figma section, becomes its own format in one creative or template.
You stay in control. Preview your layers before importing and choose which ones stay editable.
Easy updates. When a Figma design changes, import again from the same link.
Back to Photoshop. Pencil also exports layered PSDs, so you can take work back to Photoshop for final touches.
Import a Photoshop file
You can import any RGB .psd up to 1 GB, using a current version of Chrome, Firefox or Edge, or Safari 16.4 and later.
Open the library. Go to the Files Library and open the Works tab for a creative, or the Templates tab for a reusable template.
Start a new work. Choose New work. At What should we make?, choose Import your work.
Choose Photoshop. Select your .psd file. You can also drag the file straight onto the page.
Review the preview. Your artboards appear on one side and the selected artboard's layers on the other.
Set each layer. Leave Keep Editable on for any layer you want to change in Pencil. Turn it off to lock the layer's exact original look, which is best for layers using Photoshop effects.
Add to your assets. Optionally, mark image layers to add them to your asset library at the same time.
Confirm the import. Each artboard becomes its own format in the finished creative or template.
Working on a canvas? Choose Add content, then Files, then Import PSD to import directly onto the board.
There is more detail, including PSD export, in importing Photoshop files.
Import from Figma
Connect your Figma account once, then import any section by pasting its link.
Connect Figma. Go to Settings, open Integrations, find Figma and choose Connect. Sign in to Figma and allow access. You do this once.
Each person connects their own Figma account, and a connection works in one Pencil workspace at a time.
If you do not see Figma import, ask a workspace admin to turn on Figma Import under Settings, then Beta features.
Copy the link. In Figma, right-click the section you want and choose Copy link. Pencil imports one section at a time, so links to a single frame or a whole file will not work.
Open the library. In Pencil, go to the Files Library and open the Works or Templates tab.
Start a new work. Choose New work. At What should we make?, choose Import your work, then Figma.
Paste and import. Paste the link and choose Import.
Review what Pencil found. Check anything it flags for a closer look, then confirm.
The section becomes one creative or template, and each frame inside it becomes a format. Layers stay editable, text stays text and shapes stay shapes. You can also import from a canvas with Add content, then Files, then Import Figma.
There is more detail, including how designs arrive and how to prepare a file, in importing Figma designs.
After Effects. Import your work also takes an After Effects project as a .zip file, which is the third route into Pencil.
What's happening to the Pencil plugins
From 1 October 2026, built-in import takes over from the Pencil plugins for Photoshop and Figma, and the plugins are no longer supported.
The .pencil import option goes away on 1 October 2026. If you have .pencil files saved, import the original PSD or Figma section instead.
Your work is safe. Anything you have already imported through a plugin stays in Pencil, unchanged.
Nothing else to do. Next time you import, just follow the steps above.
Tips for the best results
A little preparation means more of your design arrives fully editable.
Fonts. Add your design's fonts to the Brand Library before importing. Pencil matches fonts by exact name, including capitalisation and punctuation. Upload each weight as its own file, as Poppins-Bold does not cover Poppins-SemiBold.
Photoshop files. Save the file in RGB, and convert CMYK or other colour modes before importing. Draw editable shapes with the rectangle, ellipse, triangle or line tools, as freeform shapes come in as images. Keep effects simple on layers you want to edit. Adjustment layers are not imported, and Smart Objects and complex effects come in as images.
Figma files. Connect with a full Figma seat, and import from files saved in your organisation's team or project space rather than personal drafts, as Figma limits how often other seats and drafts can be read. Keep each section to three or four frames, and import one section at a time. Apply masks, effects and rotation to individual layers rather than to groups, because an effect on a group turns the whole group into a single image. Keep all content inside frames, as anything placed on the section background is not imported.
Both. Give a layer the same name in every artboard or frame. Pencil then treats it as one layer, so you can edit it across all formats at once.
FAQ
Do I lose anything by moving off the plugin? No. Your imported work stays as it is, and built-in import gives you the same editable result in fewer steps.
Can I still use my .pencil files? Not after 1 October 2026. Import the original PSD or Figma section instead.
Do I need Photoshop to import a PSD? No. You just need the .psd file and a supported browser.
Do I need a paid Figma plan? Figma limits how often files can be read on free plans, lower seat types and personal drafts. For reliable imports, connect with a full seat and import from your organisation's paid team or project space.
Why didn't my Figma link work? Check that it links to a section rather than a single frame or a whole file, and that your Figma account is connected in this workspace.
Can I send designs back to Figma? Figma import is one-way. You can export any static creative from Pencil as a layered PSD.
Where can I save work I export from Pencil? Static creatives export as PSD files and video creatives export as MP4 files. Once exported, you can save them anywhere you prefer, including SharePoint or another storage system.
Do I need a working file to use Pencil? Not always, though it helps. Static layouts can often be recreated from reference materials, with placeholders standing in for product images or backgrounds. Working files matter more for video, where layers and timelines let you build custom animated templates.
Need a hand? Contact the Pencil support team or your account manager, and we will help you with your first import.