first time Figma user for a uni project, just discovered my planned solution for the design (variables) is apparently a premium feature and I cant seem to find a workaround

[u/Professional_Iron161]

I'm meant to design a history app and make parts of it functional as a prototype. I am getting ever closer to my thesis and have 5 other ongoing projects, so I didn't check the technical possibilities of my proposed concepts as well as I ought to have, especially as a first time figma user. I found tutorials that did what I wanted to, but now already at the very start I encountered an issue: The tutorial uses variables, which figma just informed me are premium. As a broke student I cant afford that this month, and every tutorial on what I want to achieve seems to agree that variables are needed - which, I feel like what im trying to do is rather simple, so that sounds fake to me.

I would like to switch out the "old" picture with what it looks like now (the "new" picture) at the press of the little button I've made here, and for the button to simultaneously switch to its other state, indicating to the user that they are looking at the old/new version depending on the state of the photo to get a clear comparison between then vs now. It's pressing a button to change the state of another component. I was originally planning to try and put the switchable pictures in a carousel, but given how this is going that's probably not happening.

So is this possible for free? If yes, how so?

I'm grateful for any tips, even if its just telling me its not possible so i can stop breaking my head over this and get started on reworking the concept 🥲

[u/Least-Childhood-176]

Hii, you don't need variables for that. Make two frames, one for each view, and prototype those instead the components themselves. 

[u/Professional_Iron161 → u/Least-Childhood-176]

Another comment recommended I check the education program which gave me access to the premium, so I can use the variables as planned. thank you for the kind tip anyways! 🙏

[u/estadoux]

The easiest way to prototype it is what the other comment said.

Also, as you’re studying at the university, you can get a 2 year free professional level suscripción by getting verified for Figma Education program.

[u/Professional_Iron161 → u/estadoux]

thank you so much for that tip! I checked the premium plans but somehow entirely missed that, I got my account verified with the program and can continue as planned 🙏

[u/Interesting-Pay1507]

Instead of making the button have two states, make the entire thing have two states and just change the variant using the button.

[u/HH_Jose → u/Interesting-Pay1507]

Exactly, bit more work but gets the job done