Flutter SVG rendering issues with exported Figma graphics using flutter_svg package

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1

I’m trying to load an SVG file exported from Figma in my Flutter application using the flutter_svg package. However, I’m facing errors that indicate the definitions for the pattern references cannot be found.

The error messages I’m seeing are:

Failed to find definition for url(#design0)
Failed to find definition for url(#design1)

Here’s the SVG code that’s causing the issue:

<svg width="24" height="25" viewBox="0 0 24 25" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
<defs>
    <image id="graphic0_145_78" width="80" height="80" xlink:href="data:image/png;base64,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"/>
    <pattern id="design0" patternContentUnits="objectBoundingBox" width="1" height="1">
        <use xlink:href="#graphic0_145_78" transform="translate(-0.0185405) scale(0.0125848 0.0125)"/>
    </pattern>
    <pattern id="design1" patternContentUnits="objectBoundingBox" width="1" height="1">
        <use xlink:href="#graphic0_145_78" transform="translate(-0.0185405) scale(0.0125848 0.0125)"/>
    </pattern>
</defs>
<mask id="overlay0_145_78" style="mask-type:alpha" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" x="0" y="0" width="24" height="25">
    <rect y="0.5" width="23.5" height="24" fill="url(#design0)"/>
</mask>
<g mask="url(#overlay0_145_78)">
    <rect y="0.5" width="23.5" height="24" fill="url(#design1)"/>
    <rect y="0.5" width="23.5" height="24" fill="#8A8EAA"/>
</g>
</svg>

The flutter_svg library says it cannot locate the pattern definitions and that they might be referenced prior to their definitions. Can anyone help me understand what the issue might be? Has anyone else encountered similar challenges when exporting SVG files from Figma for use in Flutter projects?

2

Flutter_svg doesn’t handle complex patterns with base64 images well. I hit this same issue when migrating web SVGs to Flutter. Instead of messing with export settings, I just preprocessed the SVG files. I wrote a quick Node.js script that finds pattern fills and swaps them for solid colors based on the dominant color in the base64 image. SVGO with custom plugins works too - you can strip the problematic patterns while keeping things looking the same. Way faster than tweaking Figma exports or testing different flutter_svg versions.

3

Your SVG structure is causing flutter_svg to choke on the pattern definitions with embedded images. The package reads elements in order but gets confused when it hits xlink:href references to base64 images inside patterns.

I’ve hit this same issue with complex Figma exports that had gradients and images mixed in. Here’s what actually works:

Easiest fix: Go back to Figma and change your export settings. Turn off ‘Include id attribute’ and try flattening any image layers into vector shapes before you export.

If that doesn’t work: Extract the base64 image data into a separate asset file and reference it differently, or move your defs section so all definitions come before any references. Sometimes just reordering the XML elements fixes flutter_svg’s parsing issues with complex patterns.

4

had this exact problem last week! flutter_svg doesn’t handle embedded base64 images in patterns very well. quick fix - open the svg in a text editor, remove the base64 image data, then replace the pattern fills with simple colors like fill="#8A8EAA". works every time when figma exports get messy like this.

5

This issue often arises from how the flutter_svg package processes SVG files from Figma, particularly when encountering complex patterns. The package might attempt to render references to patterns before fully parsing the definitions. To resolve this, I recommend going back to Figma and simplifying the SVG. Convert any bitmap images to vector paths and adjust export settings by disabling features like ‘Include id attribute’ and enabling ‘Outline text’. If the design allows, consider reconstructing it using CustomPainter, giving you direct control over the rendering process.

6

Manual SVG debugging is a nightmare. I’ve hit this same Figma export issue tons of times - pattern reference problems happen when flutter_svg can’t handle complex nested definitions.

Skip wrestling with SVG syntax or export settings. Automate the whole thing instead.

I use Latenode to build workflows that grab SVG files from folders, run them through conversion tools, and spit out clean assets for flutter_svg. You can add steps to replace problematic patterns with solid colors or simpler gradients.

The real win? Connect it to Figma’s API. When designers update assets, the workflow automatically processes and pushes clean SVGs to your project. No more manual debugging of pattern definitions or xlink references.

Your current issue is probably the pattern element structure and transform attributes. But instead of fixing this one file, automate everything so you don’t hit this again.

Check out Latenode for building these workflows: https://latenode.com