Brush-style underline animation

Hey everyone

I’d like to create an animation that underlines a word or phrase with a brush-style line as the page scrolls. The underline would need to look something like this. I know how to create an underline/highlight with a solid block of colour (like this), but I’m looking for something that mimics a paintbrush stroke instead. Is that possible to do in Webflow?

Thanks for any ideas :slight_smile:


Here is my public share link: LINK
(how to access public share link)

1 Like

Hi @Waterish,

while there is no option to create the brush stroke in webflow, you could overlay an image/svg and animate it as desired.

With position parameters you could put it under any text, however, the animation might become tricky, depending on the style.

If you’re willing to use custom code, you could generate a brush-like stroke, like in this codepen or this StackOverflow discussion.

Cheers
Leon

Thanks Leon. If I was to implement something like the Stack Overflow animation, I’d need to put the CSS in the page header’s custom code section, right? Would I do the same with the HTML part? I’m not sure how that would work with the content I already have on the page.

The code would be placed best in a custom code element on the intended page.

The styling of the CSS of the StackOverflow example can be done in webflow, the animations code would be best in an embed element.

The code for an embed that runs once would then be:

<style>
/* create wrapper */
.brush-wrap {
  position: relative;
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 3rem;
}

/* applying example animation (indefinite variant) */
.brush-wrap.brush-wrap--indefinite:before {
  clip-path: url(#clip-indefinite);
}

/* clipping/animating object (pseudo element) */
.brush-wrap:before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  background: black;
  z-index: -1;
  clip-path: url(#clip); /* applying clip animation */
}

.brush-wrap p {
  font-size: 2rem;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  margin: 0;
  color: white;
  font-style: italic;
  filter: drop-shadow(0px 0px 2px black);
}
</style>
<div class="brush-wrap">
  <p>Vivamus in erat</p>
</div>
<!-- do not hide SVG with display: none; it will disable anim/clipping -->
<svg height="0" width="0" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <defs>
    <!-- 
      square that can be animated
      animating view area
      user for clipping shape
    -->
    <!-- runs only once -->
    <clipPath id="rect-cp">
      <rect id="rect" x="0" y="0" width="0" height="1">
        <animate 
          id="anim"
          attributeName="width" 
          dur="1s" 
          fill="freeze"
          calcMode="spline"
          keyTimes="0; 1"
          keySplines="0.5,0,0.5,1"
          values="0;1" 
        />
      </rect>
    </clipPath>
        <clipPath id="clip" clipPathUnits="objectBoundingBox">
      <use href="#brush-shape" clip-path="url(#rect-cp)" />
    </clipPath>
        <!-- brush shape -->
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</svg>

Cheers
Leon

OK, just to clarify, all of the code (CSS and everything else) would need to go in a custom code embed element on the page, and nothing would need to go in the custom code section of the header (accessed from the page options). Is that correct?

Thanks again :slight_smile:

That’s correct! It might work via the page settings as well, but it’s more difficult to place and arrange, I think. The custom embed element is draggable as every other one as well, so it’s significantly easier in my opinion.

Cheers
Leon