How to start using Sketch right
I mean how to work with Sketch and do it as much effective as it possible.
1. Start
- Install Sketch https://www.sketch.com/
- Use Dropbox for sketch files because there you can have all versions of you files and you can restore some old versions. And of course you can share sketch-files with your team, for example UI library.
2. Choose right dimension
This is important for prototyping. When you use the custom width of your artboard your prototype will not be scrollable. So press “A” in order to create and choose the type of your artboard. The height may be custom.
3. Hotkeys! Navigation.
⚡️Change default hotkeys. The most useful combination for navigation:
So, how to jump between artboard without pressing CMD+(+/–) or lens. Press CMD+3 and you will see the all your artboards, click on the artboard or any layer in the artboard, then press CMD+2 — zoom to selected object and then CMD+1 to make view 100%. These combination are very useful because you can make it only by your left hand. And the position of CMD button and 1–2–3 buttons very comfortable for the hand.
I use it all the time.
⚡️️️️ESC—move up through you layers. Choose layer in a group, press ESC and you will choose the group of this layer, press ESC again and you will choose artboard or group if your group was in another group.
⚡CMD+Click — choose layer in a group, not the group.
⚡️Copy and Past style of objects. SHIFT+CMD+C — Copy style, SHIFT+CMD+V—Past style. This is not the default settings, I like to use this combination.
R — new rectangle. 😀
4. Clean toolbar
My toolbar:
5. Use plugins
6. Create and use color presets
If you start a new project and you don’t have UI guides, you don’t have any colors, so you should create this. Create color preset and add colors there while you are creating your mock-ups.
7. Symbols (components of your design)
Try fast, then create symbol. Don’t use the symbols when you just start. It’s better to try some variants of UI and then when you find the idea create the symbol. Always use the symbols for a table.
8. Use official UI-kits first
Use the official UI-kits in the start of your work, don’t try to make the custom components. It helps you to create UX of you app and don’t waste you time for UI.
Good tips for the next level:
