Use Visual Context Preview in the wxrks Editor to see the original Figma design next to the segments you're translating or reviewing. Each translatable text area is mapped to a box on the design, so you can jump from a segment to its place on the frame and back — no manual setup required.
💡 Who is this for? This guide is for Vendors and Project Managers who need to use design context while translating or reviewing a Figma work unit in the Editor.
Audience and access
Anyone who can open the work unit in the Editor can use Visual Context Preview — access is controlled by project and task permissions, not by role alone.
Role | Typical use |
Vendor | Translate or review an assigned Figma work unit with design context next to each segment. |
Project Manager | Open Figma work units to check progress, review context, or support a Vendor. |
Account Admin | Same Editor preview experience as a Project Manager when opening a Figma work unit. |
Client | View design context when granted access to open the work unit in the Editor. |
If the preview returns a permission error, ask a Project Manager or Account Admin to confirm your project or task access.
Key concepts
Term | Meaning |
Visual Context Preview | The Editor preview that shows the original Figma page design with boxes over each translatable text area. |
Figma work unit | A work unit whose file name ends with |
Frame | A top-level area from the Figma page that contains visible text. Each frame appears as its own image in the preview. |
Text box | A highlighted region on a frame that matches one segment. |
Internal design assets | The design images and layout data the preview runs on. They're system-managed and don't show up in the project's normal Reference Files list. |
When the preview is available
The Editor loads Visual Context Preview automatically — no preview mode to pick, no file to upload — as soon as:
You open a work unit in the Editor,
its file name ends with
.figma.json, anddesign layout data was attached to the project when the content was created from Figma.
If the work unit isn't a Figma file, this preview simply doesn't apply.
Open Visual Context Preview
Open the project and then the Figma work unit (or your assigned task) in the Editor.
If the preview panel is hidden, click the eye icon (Show/Hide preview) in the Editor's header.
The right-hand panel loads the Figma design automatically — the header shows the page name and zoom controls, the body stacks each frame in reading order with its name and design image, and a footer tip reminds you that clicking a box jumps to its segment.
Figma preview always shows the same reference design on both the source and target sides — it's visual context, not a live re-render of your translation inside Figma.
Work with segments and boxes
Jump from design to segment
Click a box on the design to focus the matching segment in the grid. Turn on Show all boxes first if you want to see every mapped text area at once rather than just the active one.
Jump from segment to design
Focus a segment in the grid and its matching box becomes active on the design, with the preview scrolling to center it when possible. A segment with no matching box simply clears the active highlight — that's expected, not an error.
Preview controls
Control | What it does |
Show/Hide preview | Opens or closes the preview panel from the Editor header. |
Zoom in / Zoom out | Steps through 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, and 200%. |
Fit to width | The default view. Click the center zoom label at any time to return to it. |
Show all boxes | Outlines every mapped text area at once, not just the active one. Disabled when no boxes are available for the work unit. |
Refresh | Reloads the layout and design images for the current work unit. |
Source / Target switch | Changes the side badge only — Figma preview shows the same original design on both sides. |
Open in new window / Fullscreen | Standard panel sizing controls — pop the preview into its own window or expand it in place. |
What to expect while working
The preview shows the original design — placement, nearby UI, hierarchy, spacing, surrounding artwork — not a live re-render of your translated text inside Figma.
Translate and review text in the segment grid as usual; the preview is context, not an editing surface.
A page with multiple frames shows them as separate, labeled frames in one scrollable preview.
If one frame's image is missing, that frame shows Image unavailable for this frame — other frames keep working normally.
Final layout validation still happens back in Figma once translations are returned to the design file.
Notes for Project Managers and Account Admins
Vendors and other Editor users never need to upload design files manually for the standard Figma connector flow — that's handled when content is sent from the Figma plugin.
Design assets used by the preview are internal: they don't appear in the normal project Reference Files list and can't be removed as ordinary reference files.
If a user reports a missing preview, confirm the work unit's file name ends with
.figma.json, that they can open the work unit in the Editor, and that the content was created with a Figma plugin version that includes Visual Context Preview. If access is denied specifically on the design reference, review the user's project or task access.
Troubleshooting
No Figma preview shows up in the Editor.
Confirm the file name ends with .figma.json, then open or refresh the panel with Show/Hide preview. If another preview mode is showing, reopen the work unit so the Editor can select Figma preview again.
"Loading the design..." never finishes, or shows "Unable to load the design."
Click Refresh. If it persists after reopening the work unit, layout data may be missing for it.
"You do not have permission to view the design reference."
Ask a Project Manager or Account Admin to confirm your project or task access.
"No design image was uploaded for this work unit."
The work unit has no usable design package — usually because the content predates Visual Context Preview, no visible text frames were captured, or the design image upload failed at creation. Ask a Project Manager to have the page sent again from Figma with a current plugin version.
Clicking a box does nothing, or Show all boxes is disabled.
Segments may still be loading — wait and try again, or use Refresh. If it's still disabled, no box coordinates are available for this work unit (the layout package is missing or empty).
The design looks outdated.
The preview reflects the design as of the last time the content was sent from Figma. Ask a Project Manager to refresh it from Figma if the source design has since changed.
Related articles
wxrks Editor — the rest of the Editor's layout: the top bar, segment grid, and file actions.
wxrks Editor Menu for Vendors — every tab in the Editor's side menu.
Previewing InDesign (.IDML) files in the wxrks editor — the equivalent layout preview for InDesign work units.