ImageToSVG

How to Create SVG Draw-On Animations — Path Writing Effect

The SVG draw-on effect animates stroke-dashoffset from path length to zero, making paths appear to write themselves on screen.

Preset:
Colors:
VTracer vectorization + SVGO optimizationPrivacy protected

SVG Draw Animation Setup

Get the path's total length with `path.getTotalLength()`. Set `stroke-dasharray` and `stroke-dashoffset` to that value. Animate `stroke-dashoffset` to 0 with CSS — the stroke appears to draw from start to end.

  • const len = path.getTotalLength()
  • path.style.strokeDasharray = len
  • path.style.strokeDashoffset = len
  • CSS: @keyframes draw { to { stroke-dashoffset: 0; } }

Sequencing Multiple SVG Path Draws

For multi-path SVGs (like a signature or logo), sequence each path with `animation-delay`. Calculate cumulative durations from each path's length to keep constant drawing speed.

  • animation-delay on each path for sequential drawing
  • Use animation-fill-mode: forwards to hold the drawn state
  • Normalize speed: duration = pathLength / drawSpeed

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I control SVG draw speed per path?

Yes — set animation-duration proportional to each path's getTotalLength() result to maintain consistent drawing speed across all paths.

Does the SVG draw animation work on all browsers?

Yes — stroke-dasharray and CSS animations are universally supported in all modern browsers including Safari and Firefox.

Related guides

Ready to Convert Your Image to SVG?

Free online converter — no sign-up, no watermarks, results in under 3 seconds.

Try It Free — Convert Image to SVG