How to Make App Store Screenshots Without Figma
· By ScreenKit Team
Figma is great when you need a full design system. It is overkill when you just need App Store screenshots for a release. This workflow is for the indie dev who has real app screens and wants store-ready assets without rebuilding artboards by hand.
Start with the screenshots you already have
Capture clean product screens from your app first. Do not start by choosing backgrounds or fonts. The product UI decides the story, and the design should support that story.
Use screens that show complete states: a finished habit, a solved task, a generated plan, a dashboard with real-looking data. Empty states rarely sell the app well.
Write one sentence per screen
Before designing anything, write a rough headline for each screenshot. Keep it plain. If you cannot write the benefit in one sentence, the screen probably is not focused enough.
Good screenshot copy usually starts with a verb: Track your streak, Plan your week, Compare every price, Translate before you travel.
Pick the store size before the style
A common mistake is designing a nice-looking mockup and resizing it later. That creates awkward crops and unreadable copy. Choose the target iPhone or iPad canvas first.
Once the main iPhone set works, adapt the same visual system to the other required or optional sizes.
Use a layout system, not one-off artboards
Your screenshots should look like a set. Keep headline position, device scale, spacing, and background style consistent unless a screen needs a deliberate break.
This is where a dedicated screenshot tool is faster than a blank design file: the basics are already set up for store dimensions.
Export and upload a test file early
Before polishing all screenshots, export one file and upload it to App Store Connect as a test. If the dimensions are wrong, you want to know before you finish the whole set.
After the upload passes validation, finish the remaining screenshots and export the complete set.
Quick checklist
- Capture real screens from the app
- Choose 4-6 screens that tell a complete story
- Write one short headline per screenshot
- Design on the target App Store canvas size
- Keep headline and device placement consistent
- Test one export in App Store Connect before polishing
- Export the final set as PNG or high-quality JPEG
Make the screenshot set in ScreenKit
Pick a store-ready canvas, drop in real app screens, add short copy, and export the right App Store or Google Play sizes.
Start creatingFAQ
Do I need Figma to make App Store screenshots?
No. Figma is useful for custom design work, but App Store screenshots can be made faster in a dedicated screenshot generator that already has device frames, store sizes, and export presets.
Can I use raw iPhone screenshots directly?
You can, but raw screenshots rarely explain the app well. A short headline, consistent layout, and correct store dimensions usually make the listing clearer.
What file format should I export?
PNG is the safest choice for crisp UI text. JPEG can work for photo-heavy apps if the quality is high enough.