Layers

Use layers in ProtoPie just like you do in other design tools. Add, move, and resize shape layers like rectangles or ovals freely.

Layer Properties

Origin

Reference point acting as a basis for changes in a layer’s size, position, or rotation.

Radius

Curvature of a rectangle layer its four corners or each individual corner. To set the radius for each, click on the corners icon and fill in the radius value for each one.

Opacity

If the opacity is set to 0%, a trigger assigned to this layer would not work anymore.

Fill — Solid Color

Use hex color codes to set a color fill. If the color's fill transparency is set to 0%, a trigger assigned to this layer would still work.

Fill — Image

Choose an image to use as a fill. There are three fill types: fill, stretch, and fit.

Border

Visual outlines for a layer. There are three border types: inside, center, and outside.

Shadow

Drop shadow to add depth and dimension to a layer.

Touch Area

Touch area of a layer which can exceed the actual layer itself.

Make Lower Layers Touchable

Make other layers below a layer touchable.

Use as Mask

Shape layers only. Option to hide portions of a layer that's outside the shape layer.

SVG Layer

You can add SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) layers and scale them without losing quality. To make their properties editable, just convert them to shapes after importing.

Color gradients and multi-color fills are not supported yet.
ProtoPie currently supports the only following shapes: path, ellipse, polyline, polygon, rectangle, circle, and line.

Import vector layers as SVG with the ProtoPie plugin for Figma.

Paste SVG codes

You can copy SVG code from Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD or Zeplin and paste it directly into ProtoPie. Here’s an example:

SVG code example

<svg width="175px" height="166px" viewBox="0 0 175 166" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <g id="Page-1" stroke="none" strokeWidth="1" fill="none" fillRule="evenodd">
    <polygon id="Star" fill="#2212D4" points="87.5 137.25 33.7176494 165.525055 43.9891644 105.637527 0.478328759 63.224945 60.6088247 54.4874725 87.5 0 114.391175 54.4874725 174.521671 63.224945 131.010836 105.637527 141.282351 165.525055"></polygon>
  </g>
</svg>

Video Layer

ProtoPie supports mp4 (H.264) video files that are 20 MB or smaller.

Play Automatically

Have a video play automatically when the prototype is run

Lottie Layer

A Lottie layer renders a JSON file containing parsed Adobe After Effects animations that were exported with Bodymovin. Learn more about Lottie.

Play Automatically

Have a Lottie JSON file play automatically when the prototype is run

Audio Layer

ProtoPie supports wav, mp3, and m4a audio files.

Play Automatically

Have an audio file play automatically when the prototype is run

You can use the output from a camera in your smart device as a layer. This works when you run your prototype in ProtoPie Player. A placeholder is shown instead when you run the prototype in the preview window or browser.

Auto Start

Have the camera start automatically when the scene starts.

Camera [Front]

Use the front-facing camera.

Camera [Rear]

Use the rear-facing camera.

Text Layer

A text layer is a layer that holds text.

Font

You can pick any font that's installed on your computer. Selecting the system default font results in using the device its default font in the prototype.

Weight

You can adjust the thickness of the font.

Size

You can adjust the font size.

Alignment

You can adjust both the horizontal and vertical alignment.

Text Resize

A text layer can resize automatically based on width or height, or be of a fixed size.

Letter Spacing

You can adjust the spacing between characters.

Line Height

You can adjust the spacing between lines.

Missing Font

If a font is missing, a missing font warning will show. Select alternative fonts to replace the missing fonts.

Input Layer

An input layer is used to enter single-line or multi-line text via a native keyboard on smart devices or a physical keyboard.

1. Text

You can add text that would appear as pre-typed in the input layer.

2. Placeholder

You can have a placeholder in your input layer. The place holder color can be different from the color of the text typed in the input layer.

3. Keypad Type

For single-line input layers, there are various keyboard types for smart devices you can choose from:

Text
URL
Email
Number
Text Password
Number Password

4. Return

You can modify the return key on the native keyboard for smart devices with one of the following:

Go
Next
Send
Search
Done
New Line (for multi-line input only)

5. Keyboard Theme

On iOS/iPadOS, the keyboard theme can be set to dark or light.

6. Focus Out Options

There are two options to focus out of the input layer:

Tap the return key
Tap outside of the input layer

iOS Background Blur Layer

You can use 13 types of iOS Background Blur effects that work for iOS 13 and greater and web. (You can use 3 default background blur effects on iOS 12 and below.)

Default Effects

Extra Light
Light
Dark

Material Effects (Light and Dark themes)

Ultra Thin Material
Thin Material
Material
Thick Material
Chrome Material

Constraints

You can set constraints to layers. A layer its size and position would be adjusted automatically according to its constraints when its parent layer is resized. The constraints also apply when the parent layer is resized by a response.

The left part determines the position constraints. You can use fixed spacing on four sides: top, bottom, left, and right. This means that a layer can maintain its position, relative to any of the four sides of the parent layer.

The right part determines the size constraints. You can use fixed widths and heights. This means that a layer can maintain its size, relative to the width and height of the parent layer.

Pin to Top Right Corner

By using a fixed width, fixed height, fixed top spacing, and fixed right spacing, the blue layer would maintain its position relative to the right and top of the parent layer. Moreover, if the parent layer is resized, the blue layer would maintain its size.

Center Position

By using a fixed width and fixed height only, the blue layer would maintain its center position relative to the four sides of the parent layer when the parent layer is resized.

Fixed Spacing

By using fixed left spacing and fixed right spacing, the blue layer would be resized maintaining the same spacing left and right when the parent layer its width is resized.