SVG filter effects


SVG filter effects are effects applied to Scalable Vector Graphics files. SVG is an open-standard XML format for two-dimensional vector graphics as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium. A filter effect consists of a series of graphics operations that are applied to a given source vector graphic to produce a modified bitmapped result.
Filter effects are defined by filter elements. The property is set on a container element or on a graphics element to apply a filter effect to it. Each element contains a set of filter primitives as its children. Each filter primitive performs a single fundamental graphical operation on one or more inputs, producing a graphical result. Because most of the filter primitives represent some form of image processing, in most cases the output from a filter primitive is a single RGBA bitmap image.
The original source graphic or the result from a filter primitive can be used as input into one or more other filter primitives. A common application is to use the source graphic multiple times. For example, a simple filter could replace one graphic for two by adding a black copy of the original source graphic but offset to create a drop shadow. In effect, there are now two layers of graphics, both with the same original source graphics.

SVG filter primitives

The following table lists the filter primitives available in both SVG 1.0 and SVG 1.1. SVG Tiny does not support filter effects, while SVG Basic supports only those filter primitives shown:
NameElementSVG Basic
BlendfeBlend
Color matrixfeColorMatrix
Component transferfeComponentTransfer
CompositefeComposite
Convolve matrixfeConvolveMatrix
Diffuse lightingfeDiffuseLighting
Displacement mapfeDisplacementMap
FloodfeFlood
Gaussian blurfeGaussianBlur
ImagefeImage
MergefeMerge
MorphologyfeMorphology
OffsetfeOffset
Specular lightingfeSpecularLighting
TilefeTile
TurbulencefeTurbulence

The current draft of the Filter Effects Module Level 1 adds a filter primitive for drop shadow. This primitive, feDropShadow, is just a shorthand for a combination of other filter primitives.

Framework for applying a filter



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a filter applied