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Tips & restrictions when creating & importing your Sketch file

This article explains how to prepare a Sketch file for import into Maglr, and which Sketch features don't import or look different after import. To import a file, open the options menu in the editor's top bar and choose Import from Sketch. The full procedure is in Import your Sketch file.


Sketch is updated regularly, and these updates can affect the import. Some layers may not come in as expected. If your file doesn't import correctly, send the Sketch file to support@maglr.com.


Preparing your Sketch file


Keep these points in mind when you design a Sketch file for import into Maglr:


  • Desktop layout: The Sketch import works only in the Desktop layout. In the Mobile layout, the import popup shows "Importing from Sketch is disabled in the Mobile layout. Switch to Desktop to import an artboard."
  • One artboard per scene: Maglr imports an artboard into the scene that is open in the editor. It does not create a new scene. Open or create the scene you want to fill before you import. If you plan to spread a page over several scenes, design one artboard for each scene.
  • Scene size and name: The open scene takes the width, height, name and background color of the artboard. You don't need to match the scene size to the artboard before you import.
  • Safe zone: The import doesn't change the scene's safe zone settings. Adjust the safe zone yourself after the import, if needed.
  • Interactivity: Animations, effects and actions are added in the Maglr editor, not in Sketch.


If your design has several similar pop-ups, design only one of them in Sketch. After the import, add the interactivity to that pop-up in Maglr, then duplicate it as many times as you need. This way, you set up the interactivity only once.


Skipped layers after import


If Maglr can't convert a layer, it skips that layer and shows a warning: "Not all layers were successfully imported. The following layers were skipped: …". The warning lists the names of the skipped layers. Check those layers for Sketch features that don't import, or rebuild them in the Maglr editor.


Sketch features that don't import


Some Sketch features don't import into Maglr, or look different after the import. The sections below list them by type.


Shapes, borders and masks


  • Boolean operations: Shapes combined with Union, Subtract, Intersect or Difference don't import correctly. Flatten them in Sketch before you import.
  • Rotated elements inside a combined shape: In Sketch, the bounding box of a combined shape doesn't update correctly when an element inside it is rotated. The bounding box is also wrong after the import. To fix it, move the rotated element in Maglr after the import.
  • Border position: In Maglr, borders on vector shapes are always drawn centered on the edge. An inside or outside border in Sketch shows as a centered border after the import. To get the look of an inside or outside border, add a second shape in Sketch.
  • Custom line ends: Line ends such as arrows or dots don't show after the import.
  • Borders on masks: A border on a shape that you use as a mask may not show after the import.


Groups


  • Rotated groups: A rotated group imports unrotated. The elements inside the group keep their own rotation.
  • Flipped groups: A group flipped horizontally or vertically in Sketch doesn't import flipped. Flip the elements inside the group yourself in the Maglr editor. Flipped elements that aren't groups import flipped.
  • Resizing groups: Groups resize differently in Maglr than in Sketch, so grouped graphics may not scale as they do in Sketch. If you plan to resize grouped graphics in Maglr, flatten them in Sketch before you import.
  • Tints on groups: A tint on a group doesn't import.


Fills, gradients and color


  • Multiple fills: If an element has several fills in Sketch, Maglr imports only one: the first active fill.
  • Fills on images: A fill on an image layer imports as a color overlay on the image. The result may look different from the fill in Sketch.
  • Angular gradients: Angular gradients don't import. Linear and radial gradients do.
  • Gradients on text: A gradient on text doesn't import. Imported text comes in as regular text. To give text a gradient, change it to a Heading in Maglr and set the gradient there.
  • Color adjustments: Hue, Saturation, Brightness and Contrast adjustments don't import.


Shadows, blurs and blend modes


  • Multiple shadows: If an element has several shadows in Sketch, Maglr imports only one: the first active shadow.
  • Inner shadows: Inner shadows don't import.
  • Blurs: Only Gaussian blur imports. Other blur types don't.
  • Blend modes: Blend modes import when they are set on a layer. Blend modes set on a fill or an effect don't import.


Frequently asked questions


Why can't I import a Sketch file in the Mobile layout?


The Sketch import works only in the Desktop layout. In the Mobile layout, the import popup shows "Importing from Sketch is disabled in the Mobile layout. Switch to Desktop to import an artboard." and you can't select an artboard. Switch to the Desktop layout, then open Import from Sketch again.


Why does my imported design look different from Sketch?


Maglr doesn't import every Sketch feature. For example, it imports only one fill and one shadow per element, only Gaussian blur, and only linear and radial gradients, and it draws borders on vector shapes centered. Sketch updates can also affect the import. If your design still doesn't come in as expected, send the Sketch file to support@maglr.com.


What does "Not all layers were successfully imported" mean?


This warning means Maglr couldn't convert one or more layers from your Sketch file, so it skipped them. The warning lists the names of the skipped layers. The rest of the artboard is imported. Check the skipped layers for Sketch features that don't import, or rebuild them in the Maglr editor.

Updated on: 29/10/2026