How to Fix Blurred Ellipse Barriers in Figma

To remove the visible barrier between blurred ellipses in Figma, use gradient masking or adjust layer opacity to 1%, applying Background Blur instead of Layer Blur. Create a single merged layer with proper hierarchy and apply the blur effect to the group rather than individual elements.

Table of Contents

• Basic Blur Issues in Figma
• Methods to Eliminate the Barrier Effect
• Advanced Techniques for Ellipses
• Performance Optimization When Working with Blur

Basic Blur Issues in Figma

Figma has several fundamental limitations when working with blur effects that lead to barrier effects between intersecting objects. As noted in the official Figma documentation, it’s impossible to apply multiple effects to a single layer simultaneously - only the first encountered effect will be displayed.

This is particularly noticeable when working with intersecting ellipses under the Layer Blur effect. When two ellipses overlap, Figma creates artificial boundaries between them, forming square or rectangular “barriers.” This occurs due to how the blur algorithm processes object boundaries and their intersections.

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Methods to Eliminate the Barrier Effect

Using Gradient Masking

One of the most effective ways to solve the problem is to use gradient transparency masking. As discussed in this Reddit thread about blurred borders, the process is as follows:

1. Create a mask layer of appropriate shape
2. Apply a gradient ranging from 0% to 100% transparency
3. Use this layer as a mask for the image or blurred objects

This method allows you to smoothly overlap the boundaries between blurred ellipses, eliminating visible barriers.

Adjusting Opacity to 1%

Another effective method, mentioned in Atharva Kulkarni’s article, is to:

In the design settings panel on the right, change the fill opacity to 1% and add effect → Background Blur with a blur value of 35 (can be any value)

This trick preserves the blur effect while making the layer virtually invisible, yet still interacting with the background.

Switching to Background Blur

Unlike Layer Blur, Background Blur produces more predictable results with intersecting objects. As shown in Figma glassmorphism tutorials, Background Blur often yields better results when working with multiple transparent layers.

To create a “frosted glass” effect in Figma, use Background Blur instead of Layer Blur, especially when you have intersecting transparent shapes.

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Advanced Techniques for Ellipses

Boolean Operations and Shape Union

The Figma forum discusses using boolean operations to achieve the desired effect:

I used a circle and rectangle and performed boolean subtraction. To see what’s behind the object, I reduced the fill opacity to 1%. It cannot be lower than 1%, otherwise the object will disappear completely along with the effect.

For ellipses, this method can be adapted:

1. Create two ellipses that should be blurred together
2. Combine them into a single group
3. Apply the Union boolean operation
4. Adjust transparency and add the blur effect

Using a Wrapper Layer

Create a separate wrapper layer that will contain all the ellipses inside it. This approach is mentioned in the Figma effects documentation:

Differences between group and layer shadows are most noticeable on layers that overlap each other. When shapes don’t overlap, they look the same.

Apply the blur effect to the group rather than individual ellipses. This will avoid conflicts between individual layers.

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Performance Optimization When Working with Blur

Limiting the Number of Blur Layers

As noted in the Bring Your Own Laptop article, excessive use of blur effects can negatively impact performance:

We can also apply blur effects to overlapping elements such as top navigation or side menus, keeping our designs clean and easy to read and navigate.

Alternative Approaches for Complex Scenes

For very complex scenes with multiple intersecting blurred objects, consider alternative approaches:

1. Use plugins like Shape Blur Gradient to automatically create organic gradients based on blurred geometric shapes
2. Export blur layers and import them as raster images
3. Consider using external tools for pre-processing complex blur effects

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Sources

1. Apply effects to layers – Figma Learn - Help Center
2. Figma Tips: Blur Effect - Atharva Kulkarni
3. How to Create Glassmorphism in Figma (Background Blur) - YouTube
4. Blur everything around shape - Figma Forum
5. How to Apply Blur in Figma: A Comprehensive Tutorial - Bring Your Own Laptop
6. Blurred border - Reddit r/FigmaDesign
7. Shape Blur Gradient - Figma Community Plugin

Conclusion

Eliminating the barrier effect between blurred ellipses in Figma requires understanding the tool’s limitations and applying the right techniques. Key recommendations:

1. Prefer Background Blur over Layer Blur for complex intersecting objects
2. Use gradient masking for smooth boundary overlap
3. Combine intersecting shapes before applying the blur effect
4. Adjust opacity to 1% to preserve the effect with minimal visibility
5. Use wrapper layers to manage groups of blurred objects

By following these principles, you’ll be able to create smooth, professional blur effects without unwanted barriers between objects. For particularly complex cases, consider using specialized plugins or alternative approaches to effect processing.