Learning to Create SVG Animations with GSAP in Webflow

Creating visually appealing animations is a great way to engage the users on a website. In this tutorial, we will learn how to use GSAP and SVGs to create stunning animations. We'll specifically focus on using Webflow to create these animations, which will allow you to easily integrate them into your web projects.

Setting Up the Section Wrapper and Sticky Element in Webflow

First, let's set up the structure for our animations in Webflow. We'll start by adding a div and giving it the class of section-wrapper. This div will be used as the container for our animations. We'll also set the interaction to trigger when we scroll past the 600 VH tall div.

Inside the section-wrapper, we'll create another div and give it the class of sticky-element. This will be a div with 100% width and 100 VH height. We'll also apply overflow: hidden to remove any horizontal scroll. Additionally, we'll set the position of the sticky-element to sticky with a distance of 0 pixels from the top to keep it in view while scrolling.

Next, we'll add an image inside the sticky-element. We'll apply the Flex Center on the sticky-element and give the image the class of image. This image will be a visual component of our animation.

Adding SVGs to the Webflow Project

In Webflow, we have the capability to import SVGs and work with them to create dynamic animations. You'll want to have two SVG elements for our specific animation effects.

One of the SVGs contains a lightning bolt path. We'll copy the path and paste multiple copies directly on top of each other to create a unique effect. Once the SVG is set up, we'll export it and save it as "bolt.svg".

The second SVG consists of a bunch of squares directly next to each other and under each other. We'll similarly export this SVG and save it as "boxes.svg".

In the Webflow project, we'll add embed components for each of these SVGs. We'll set the width and height of the SVGs to be 100% of their parent elements. Additionally, for the SVG containing the squares, we'll use preserveAspectRatio="none" inside the SVG tag to allow the boxes to stretch out to cover the space.

Animating SVGs with GSAP in Webflow

To bring our SVG animations to life, we'll be using the GSAP library. Here's how we can leverage GSAP to create stunning animations within Webflow:

Importing GSAP Library

In Webflow, we can import the GSAP library by heading over to greensock.com and clicking the "Get GSAP Now" button. We'll import two libraries – the gsap.core and gsap.scrollTrigger. After copying the code provided, we'll paste it in the closing body tag section above the code sandbox file.

Creating GSAP Timeline for SVG Animation

We'll create a timeline for our SVG animation called SVG stacker using GSAP. This timeline will be associated with a scroll trigger and will be triggered while scrolling through the section-wrapper.

We'll set the starting and ending points for the animation based on the scroll position and enable scrubbing to synchronize the animation with the scroll speed.

Animating SVG Elements

Within the GSAP timeline, we'll add animations for the SVG elements. For the SVG containing the rectangles, we'll animate the rectangle elements to fade in with a stagger effect, making them appear one after the other. We'll use GSAP's stagger functionality to control the delay and direction of the animations to achieve the desired effect.

Similarly, for the SVG with the lightning bolt, we'll animate the polygon elements to scale and create a captivating visual effect. We'll leverage GSAP's transform origin to ensure the scaling originates from the desired position within the SVG.

Fine-tuning Animation Effects

To add depth to the animation, we'll apply an opacity animation to the SVG elements, making them fade in as they come into view. This will create a sense of distance and perspective within the animation, adding a realistic touch to the overall effect.

Additionally, we can customize the easing of the animations to control the smoothness and flow of the transitions. By adjusting the easing properties, such as using a power3.ease, we can create a more dynamic and immersive experience for the users.

Conclusion

In summary, Webflow provides a robust platform for creating intricate SVG animations using GSAP. With its intuitive interface and powerful integration capabilities, Webflow empowers designers and developers to bring their creative visions to life with fluid and captivating animations. By following the techniques outlined in this tutorial, you can leverage the synergy between Webflow, GSAP, and SVGs to craft visually stunning and engaging animations for your web projects.