Feature Request: Option to Include Invisible Elements in SVG Export
I would like to request an option in Figma's SVG export settings to preserve invisible vector elements in the exported SVG. This would apply to elements that remain on the canvas but are visually invisible, such as:
- Objects with opacity: 0
- Objects with no fill and no stroke
- Other non-rendering vector elements
This request does not apply to layers that have been explicitly hidden in the Layers panel. Hidden layers should continue to be excluded from export by default.
Why this matters
SVG is increasingly used not only as a static graphic format, but also as a foundation for interactive applications, design systems, animations, and developer workflows.
In many cases, invisible elements serve important structural purposes, including:
- Acting as geometry references for JavaScript interactions
- Providing targets for future CSS styling or state changes
- Defining paths for animation frameworks
- Serving as semantic markers or anchors within an SVG document
- Supporting external tooling that relies on specific element IDs or shapes, regardless of their visual appearance
Currently, these elements are removed during export because they do not contribute to the rendered image. While this is a reasonable default behavior, it can result in the loss of information that developers intentionally included in the design.
Proposed solution
Add an optional export setting:
Include invisible elements in exported SV
When enabled, Figma would preserve non-rendering elements in the SVG output while maintaining the current behavior as the default.
This approach would:
- Preserve backward compatibility
- Avoid affecting existing workflows
- Support advanced SVG use cases
- Better align SVG export with the format's role as both a graphical and structural document
For teams building interactive experiences, this small option could significantly reduce manual post-processing of exported SVG files and improve design-to-development workflows.