I’m having trouble with SVG exports from my Figma design. When I export SVG files from my design project, they look completely different when I use them on my website compared to how they appear in the Figma editor.
The exported SVG should look like the original design with proper colors and effects, but instead, it appears with different styling and missing visual elements. I think this might be related to blend modes or layer effects that don’t translate properly during the export process.
Has anyone else experienced this issue where Figma SVG exports lose their visual formatting? Is there a specific export setting I should be using, or do I need to modify the SVG code manually after export? Any help would be greatly appreciated since this is affecting my entire design workflow.
Figma’s SVG renderer doesn’t support certain CSS properties that work perfectly fine in browsers. I’ve hit this wall countless times with complex illustrations. Figma uses its own rendering engine that handles effects differently than standard SVG specs. Here’s what fixed it for me: switch to “Use CSS properties” in the export dialog instead of presentation attributes. This makes Figma write cleaner SVG code that browsers actually understand. Also check if you’re using custom fonts - they’ll mess things up since SVG doesn’t embed fonts like Figma does. If all else fails, export elements separately and rebuild them in code. Pain in the ass, but you get full control over how everything looks.
Had this exact problem last month on a client project. It’s usually Figma’s SVG export screwing up certain features. First, check your export settings - make sure “Include id attribute” is turned on. Here’s what breaks most often: gradients with transparency and outer glows. I duplicate the artboard first, then manually convert the problematic effects to solid shapes when I can. For stubborn gradients, I swap them out for CSS-friendly versions. Sometimes the SVG code itself is messed up - fill and stroke properties export with wrong values. Open the SVG in a code editor and compare the hex values to your original design. This process saved me hours of debugging headaches.
I’ve faced similar hurdles with Figma exports. Typically, complex effects like drop shadows and blend modes don’t translate well in SVG. I recommend flattening layers and simplifying styles before exporting. Sometimes selecting individual components instead of whole frames helps maintain visual fidelity. If needed, consider converting effects into vector shapes manually—it’s tedious but can yield better results. If you’re aiming for exact replication, exporting as a high-res PNG might be your best option, although it’s not vector. Another approach could involve exporting to PDF and then converting that to SVG, but this adds extra steps.
yeah, figma exports can be so annoying! def check the outline mode before ya export, it helps spot issues. i also ungroup stuff and only select what i need instead of the whole artboard. it’s saved me a lotta time when debuging!
totally get what ur saying! SVG can be a pain sometimes. flattening might work, but some styles just don’t come through. if it gets too messy, maybe try exporting as PNG? gives better results sometimes. gl!