spreadMethod

The spreadMethod attribute applies to gradient paint elements: linearGradient and radialGradient. It determines how a shape is filled beyond the defined edges of the gradient.

Usage context

pad
The final color of the gradient fills the shape beyond the gradient's edges.

reflect
The gradient repeats in reverse beyond its edges.

repeat
The gradient repeats in the original order beyond its edges.

Defining a gradient's edges

By default, a gradient reaches to the edges of the shape being filled. To see the effects of this attribute, you will need to set the size of the gradient smaller than the shape.

In the case of a linear gradient, the edges may be defined as a rectangle by the x1, x2, y1 and y2 attributes. In the case of a radial gradient, the edges may be defined as outer and inner circles by the cx, cy and r (outer) and fx, fy and fr (inner) attributes.

Examples of spreadMethod with linear gradients

SVG

<svg width="220" height="150" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <defs>
    <linearGradient id="PadGradient"
                    x1="33%" x2="67%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </linearGradient>
    <linearGradient id="ReflectGradient" spreadMethod="reflect"
                    x1="33%" x2="67%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </linearGradient>
    <linearGradient id="RepeatGradient" spreadMethod="repeat"
                    x1="33%" x2="67%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </linearGradient>
  </defs>
 
  <rect fill="url(#PadGradient)"
          x="10" y="0" width="200" height="40"/>
  <rect fill="url(#ReflectGradient)"
          x="10" y="50" width="200" height="40"/>
  <rect fill="url(#RepeatGradient)"
          x="10" y="100" width="200" height="40"/>
</svg>

Result

Notice that the middle third of each gradient is the same. The outer thirds show the difference between the three spread methods.

Examples of spreadMethod with radial gradients

SVG

<svg width="340" height="120" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <defs>
   <radialGradient id="RadialPadGradient"
                    cx="75%" cy="25%" r="33%" 
                    fx="64%" fy="18%" fr="17%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </radialGradient>
    <radialGradient id="RadialReflectGradient"
                    spreadMethod="reflect"
                    cx="75%" cy="25%" r="33%" 
                    fx="64%" fy="18%" fr="17%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </radialGradient>
    <radialGradient id="RadialRepeatGradient"
                    spreadMethod="repeat"
                    cx="75%" cy="25%" r="33%" 
                    fx="64%" fy="18%" fr="17%">
      <stop offset="0%"  stop-color="fuchsia"/>
      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="orange"/>
    </radialGradient>
  </defs>
 
  <rect fill="url(#RadialPadGradient)"
        x="10" y="10" width="100" height="100"/>
  <rect fill="url(#RadialReflectGradient)"
        x="120" y="10" width="100" height="100"/>
  <rect fill="url(#RadialRepeatGradient)"
        x="230" y="10" width="100" height="100"/>
</svg>

Result

Browser compatibility

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