SVG Cubic Morph

The component that also covers SVG morphing, with similar functionality as for the SVG Morph component, but with a different implementation for value processing and animation setup.

Basic Example

The first morphing animation example is a transition from a rectangle into a star, just like for the other component.

<svg id="morph-example" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 600 600">
  <path id="rectangle" class="bg-lime" d="M38.01,5.653h526.531c17.905,0,32.422,14.516,32.422,32.422v526.531 c0,17.905-14.517,32.422-32.422,32.422H38.01c-17.906,0-32.422-14.517-32.422-32.422V38.075C5.588,20.169,20.104,5.653,38.01,5.653z"/>
  <path id="star" style="visibility:hidden" d="M301.113,12.011l99.25,179.996l201.864,38.778L461.706,380.808 l25.508,203.958l-186.101-87.287L115.01,584.766l25.507-203.958L0,230.785l201.86-38.778L301.113,12.011"/>
</svg>

Now we can apply both .to() and fromTo() methods:

// the fromTo() method
var tween = KUTE.fromTo('#rectangle', {path: '#rectangle' }, { path: '#star' }).start();
// OR
// the to() method will take the path's d attribute value and use it as start value
var tween = KUTE.to('#rectangle', { path: '#star' }).start();
// OR
// simply pass in a valid path string without the need to have two paths in your SVG
var tween = KUTE.to('#rectangle', { path: 'M301.113,12.011l99.25,179.996l201.864,38.778L461.706,380.808l25.508,203.958l-186.101-87.287L115.01,584.766l25.507-203.958L0,230.785l201.86-38.778L301.113,12.011' }).start();

By default, the component will process the paths as authored and deliver its best without any option required, like for the first red rectangle below which applies to any of the above invocations:

The second blue shape and its corresponding end shape have been edited by adding additional curve points using a vector graphics editor to match the amount of points in both shapes as well as to optimize their travel distance during the animation. You can use the same technique on your shapes to control the animation to your style.

Chris Coyier wrote an excelent article to explain how SVG morphing animation works, it should give you a pretty good idea on the concept, terminology.

Subpath Example

In other cases, you may want to morph paths that have subpaths. Let's have a look at the following SVG:

<svg id="multi-morph-example" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1024 1024">
  <path id="w1" d="M412.23 511.914c-47.708-24.518-94.086-36.958-137.88-36.958-5.956 0-11.952 0.18-17.948 0.708-55.88 4.624-106.922 19.368-139.75 30.828-8.708 3.198-17.634 6.576-26.83 10.306l-89.822 311.394c61.702-22.832 116.292-33.938 166.27-33.938 80.846 0 139.528 30.208 187.992 61.304 22.962-77.918 78.044-266.09 94.482-322.324-11.95-7.284-24.076-14.57-36.514-21.32z 
    m116.118 79.156l-90.446 314.148c26.832 15.372 117.098 64.05 186.212 64.05 55.792 0 118.252-14.296 190.834-43.792l86.356-301.976c-58.632 18.922-114.876 28.52-167.464 28.52-95.95 0-163.114-31.098-205.492-60.95z 
    m-235.526-222.28c77.118 0.798 134.152 30.208 181.416 60.502l92.752-317.344c-19.546-11.196-70.806-39.094-107.858-48.6-24.386-5.684-50.02-8.616-77.204-8.616-51.796 0.976-108.388 13.946-172.888 39.8l-88.44 310.596c64.808-24.436 120.644-36.34 172.086-36.34 0.046 0.002 0.136 0.002 0.136 0.002z 
    m731.178-170.666c-58.814 22.832-116.208 34.466-171.028 34.466-91.686 0-159.292-31.802-203.094-62.366l-91.95 318.236c61.746 39.708 128.29 59.878 198.122 59.878 56.948 0 115.94-13.68 175.462-40.688l-0.182-2.222 3.734-0.886 88.936-306.418z"/>
  <path id="w2" d="M0 187.396l367.2-50.6v354.798h-367.2v-304.2z 
    m0 649.2v-299.798h367.2v350.398z 
    m407.6 56v-355.798h488.4v423.2z 
    m0-761.2l488.4-67.4v427.6h-488.4v-360.2z"/>
</svg>

Similar to the svgMorph component, this component doesn't provide multipath processing so we should split the sub-paths into multiple <path> shapes, analyze and associate them in a way that corresponding shapes are close and their points travel the least possible distance.

Now since we've worked with these paths before, the first example below showcases how the svgCubicMorph component handles it by default, using the reverseSecondPath:true option for all tweens because each shape have a slightly different position from its corresponding shape. The following example was made possible by editing the shapes with a vector graphics editor. The last example showcases a creative use of association between starting and end shapes. Let's have a look:

Make sure to check the markup here as well as the svgCubicMorph.js for a full code review.

Intersecting Paths Example

The same preparation apply here, however the outcome is a bit different with cubic-bezier path commands, as shown in the first example. For the next two examples, the shapes have been edited for a better outcome. Let's have a look:

So the technique involves creating <mask> elements, splitting multipath shapes into multiple <path> shapes, matching the amount of starting and ending shapes by duplicating an existing shape or by sampling another shape for the same purpose, editing shapes for more accurate point-to-point animation, as well as various options to optimize the visual presentation.

That's it, you now mastered the SVG Cubic Morph component.

Notes

• Since animation works only with path SVGElements, you might need a convertToPath utility.
• In some cases your start and end shapes don't have a very close size, you can use your vector graphics editor of choice or something like SVGPath tools to apply a scale transformation to your shapes' path commands.
• The SVG Cubic Morph component WILL animate paths with sub-paths, but the animation isn't very appealing unless you've prepared your paths for this specific case, in other cases hopefuly this guide will help you break the ice.
• Compared to svgMorph, this component requires more work, but can be more memory efficient, as we're dealing with significantly less interpolation points which translates directly into better performance and the shapes never show any sign of "polygon artifacts".
• Some shapes can be broken even if the browser won't throw any error so make sure you double check with your SVG editor of choice.
• In some cases the duplicated curve bezier points don't produce the best morphing animation, but you can edit the shapes and add your own additional path commands between the existing ones so that the component will work with actual points that travel less and produce a much more "natural" morphing animation.
• The edited shapes can be found in the assets/img folder of this demo, make sure to check them out.
• Make sure to check the svgCubicMorph.js for a full code review.
• This component is affected by the the fill-rule="evenodd" specific SVG attribute, you must make sure you check your shapes in that regard as well.
• This component is bundled with the demo/src/kute-extra.js file.