SVG ARROWHEADS TO PNG

Why did my SVG arrowhead disappear in the PNG?

If arrowheads disappear in an SVG to PNG export, inspect the path's marker reference and the marker's size and orientation before increasing PNG resolution. A marker is separate artwork attached to a path vertex. A wrong ID, a marker viewport that clips its shape, a scale tied to stroke width, or a tip facing the wrong way can hide it even when the line itself is visible.

Preview and convert your SVG

FAST DIAGNOSIS

Find which part of the arrow is missing

PNG symptom	First check	Controlled test
Line visible, no arrowhead	`marker-end="url(#arrow)"` and a matching unique `id="arrow"`.	Replace the marker's contents with a large solid triangle and remove unrelated styles.
Only part of the tip appears	`viewBox`, `markerWidth`, `markerHeight`, and the drawn path's bounds.	Enlarge the marker viewport in a copy and move the triangle fully inside it.
Tip points sideways or backwards	`orient` and the path direction.	Use `orient="auto"` on an end marker, then reverse the path only if its geometry is actually backward.
Tip changes size when the line gets thicker	`markerUnits`.	Compare `strokeWidth` with `userSpaceOnUse` at the same final export size.

SMALL REPRODUCTION

Start with one line and one explicit marker

Paste this complete SVG into the converter. It uses a marker definition, an end reference, and an explicit viewBox. Compare its preview with the PNG result before adding it back to a complex diagram.

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="320" height="120" viewBox="0 0 320 120">
  <defs>
    <marker id="arrow" viewBox="0 0 10 10" refX="9" refY="5"
            markerWidth="10" markerHeight="10" markerUnits="userSpaceOnUse" orient="auto">
      <path d="M 0 0 L 10 5 L 0 10 z" fill="#17324d"/>
    </marker>
  </defs>
  <path d="M 28 60 L 285 60" fill="none" stroke="#17324d"
        stroke-width="4" marker-end="url(#arrow)"/>
</svg>

refX and refY place the marker's reference point on the line's end. The triangle stays inside its own viewBox. markerUnits="userSpaceOnUse" makes its chosen size independent of the line's stroke width; this is a diagnostic choice, not a universal design rule.

EXPORT CHECKLIST

Bring back the full diagram without losing the tips

Confirm every marker-start, marker-mid, or marker-end URL points to one matching ID.
Check whether a start marker should use its own orientation or auto-start-reverse; do not reuse a one-way tip without inspecting its direction.
Check the tip's marker viewBox, size, reference point, and paint independently of the path's stroke.
Check that the root SVG viewBox also includes the final arrowhead, especially near an outer edge.
Preview at the intended size, convert, download, and inspect the actual PNG rather than assuming the line preview proves the tip is present.

An exported bitmap cannot invent a missing marker. Increasing scale is useful only after the marker appears correctly and you need smoother raster edges.

FAQ

SVG arrowhead questions

Can the line be visible while its marker is missing?

Yes. The path and referenced marker are distinct pieces. Test the marker ID and its viewport before altering the line.

Why does the tip get larger when I thicken the stroke?

With stroke-width-relative marker units, marker dimensions scale with the stroke width. Choose user-space units if a fixed marker size is intended.

Will a larger PNG reveal a clipped arrowhead?

No. Correct the marker bounds or the root viewBox first; then export at the required pixel size.

Check the preview, then export the final PNG.

Open the SVG to PNG converter

Published October 10, 2026.