Custom SVG files are one of the best ways to make a VideoScribe project look original. Unlike a standard PNG or JPEG, a properly prepared SVG can contain the paths that tell VideoScribe how the artwork should be drawn.
The difficult part is not simply saving an image with an .svg extension. The file needs usable strokes, a sensible drawing order, and clean artwork. This guide explains the manual workflow and a faster option for converting line art into VideoScribe-ready strokes.
Create your first VideoScribe-ready SVG
Upload line art, generate ordered strokes, and export an SVG you can bring into VideoScribe.
What makes an SVG work in VideoScribe?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. The format can store vector paths instead of only a grid of pixels, so artwork can be resized without the same quality loss as a bitmap image. VideoScribe can use those paths to animate the drawing.
However, not every SVG found online will draw well. Some files are only embedded bitmap images, while others contain outlines, clipping masks, brush effects, excessive nodes, or confusing nested groups. These may cause the image to reveal in an unexpected way, appear instantly, or draw in an unnatural order.
According to VideoScribe’s official custom-image guidance, basic strokes made with pencil, pen, or Bézier tools are the safest choice. The company also recommends working in pixels, embedding linked images, and keeping the SVG structure clean.
Method 1: Create the SVG manually
This method gives you the most control, but it requires a vector editor such as Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape.
1. Prepare clean source artwork
Start with simple line art whenever possible. High-contrast black artwork on a plain background is easier to trace than a photograph, a textured illustration, or an image with shadows and gradients. Remove marks that you do not want the drawing hand to follow.
2. Set up the document correctly
Use pixels as the measurement unit, place the document origin at 0,0, and use whole numbers for the artboard dimensions. These details can prevent unexpected scaling or animation problems after import.
3. Build paths with basic strokes
Trace the artwork with the pen, pencil, or Bézier tool. Avoid decorative brush definitions and calligraphy effects for the paths that VideoScribe needs to follow. A brush may look correct in the editor but behave like an outlined shape when animated.
For filled or hand-drawn artwork, a common technique is to place a basic transparent stroke over the visible artwork. VideoScribe follows that invisible path while revealing the image underneath.
4. Arrange the drawing order
The path order matters. VideoScribe’s guidance notes that strokes are drawn according to their order in the SVG. In Illustrator, that generally means working from the bottom of the Layers panel upward. Arrange the paths in the same sequence a person would naturally draw the image.
5. Clean and save the file
Delete hidden artwork, remove unnecessary clipping masks, simplify excessive nodes, and avoid deeply nested layers. When saving from Illustrator, use Save As, embed images, use presentation or style attributes for CSS properties, and leave the responsive option unchecked. These settings follow VideoScribe’s current recommendations.
Method 2: Convert line art with VideoScribe Tracer
Manual tracing is useful when you need complete artistic control. It is also repetitive. VideoScribe Tracer is designed to shorten that workflow by turning line art into clean strokes and exporting files for a VideoScribe workflow.
- Choose your image. Use clean line art with strong contrast for the best starting point.
- Upload it to the Tracer. The tool analyzes the artwork and creates traceable strokes.
- Review the result. Adjust the available detail and stroke controls until the preview follows the important lines without preserving unwanted noise.
- Use Free Trace when needed. Manually define an area when automatic tracing needs extra guidance.
- Export the SVG. Download the result for your VideoScribe project. An Illustrator-compatible export is also available when you want to continue editing.
You can start with five free creations, so you can test the workflow before selecting an unlimited plan.
How to import the SVG into VideoScribe
VideoScribe’s current help center lists SVG as a supported image format alongside JPEG, PNG, and GIF. To import your finished file:
- Open the VideoScribe project.
- Select Image in the left panel.
- Choose Upload image.
- Select the SVG file from your computer.
- Add it to the canvas and preview the animation.
You can also drag and drop supported image files directly onto the canvas. After import, preview the complete drawing before building the rest of the scene.
Common VideoScribe SVG problems
The image appears instantly
The file may not contain usable strokes, or it may be a bitmap placed inside an SVG container. Reopen the file in a vector editor and inspect the paths. If you are using VideoScribe Legacy, the “Only draw strokes?” setting can also affect how an SVG with unweighted strokes behaves.
The outline draws instead of the filled artwork
This often happens when a brush or filled shape is treated as the drawing path. Use a basic path to control the reveal, or add a transparent stroke over the visible artwork.
The drawing order feels random
Rearrange the paths or layers in your vector editor. Put them in the order a hand would logically draw the subject. Avoid unnecessary nested groups because they make the sequence harder to predict.
The SVG is cut off or has too much empty space
Check the artboard. VideoScribe uses the SVG canvas or artboard to determine the image box, so resize it to fit the artwork before saving.
The project becomes slow
Simplify paths with too many nodes and remove hidden elements. If the SVG contains a bitmap, optimize that image before embedding it. Cleaner files are easier to edit and animate.
Manual tracing or automatic tracing?
Choose manual tracing when the exact character of every path is essential, the artwork contains complex fills, or an illustrator needs precise control over each movement. Choose automatic tracing when you have clean line art, need several assets, or want to get from an image to a working VideoScribe test quickly.
The two workflows can also be combined: generate the initial strokes with the Tracer, then refine the exported file in Illustrator before importing it into VideoScribe.
Frequently asked questions
Can VideoScribe import SVG files?
Yes. VideoScribe’s current documentation lists SVG as one of the supported image formats.
Why does an SVG from the internet not draw correctly?
Many stock SVG files were made for display, not for drawing animation. They may contain filled shapes, clipping masks, embedded bitmaps, brush effects, or paths in an unsuitable order.
Do I need Adobe Illustrator?
No. Inkscape can be used for manual SVG editing, and VideoScribe Tracer provides a browser-based option for generating strokes from line art.
Can I convert a PNG or JPEG for VideoScribe?
Yes, especially when the source is clean line art. The result still needs usable paths and an appropriate drawing order; simply changing the filename extension will not create those instructions.
Turn line art into VideoScribe-ready strokes
Create up to five free traces and export your SVG when it is ready.
VideoScribe and Sparkol are trademarks of their respective owner. VideoScribe Tracer is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sparkol.