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paperjs

paperjs/paper.js

Paper.js is a JavaScript vector graphics scripting library that draws and manipulates paths on HTML5 Canvas in the browser or Node.js.

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What is it?

Paper.js is a JavaScript port of Scriptographer, a vector graphics scripting tool. It provides a scene graph of paths, shapes, text, groups and symbols, and lets you create and transform them programmatically on an HTML5 Canvas element.

The library is distributed on NPM as `paper` for browsers and bundlers, with a core build that omits PaperScript support. Companion packages `paper-jsdom` and `paper-jsdom-canvas` allow headless use in Node.js, with SVG import and export through jsdom and canvas rendering through node-canvas, which requires Cairo and Pango.

The project is built with Gulp and pnpm, and tests run on Vitest and Playwright. Prebuilt development versions of the develop branch are published on dedicated branches.

Key features

  • 01Scene graph of paths, shapes, text, groups and symbols on Canvas.
  • 02Path editing operations such as boolean combination and transformation.
  • 03PaperScript support in the full browser build.
  • 04SVG import and export in Node.js via jsdom.
  • 05Canvas rendering in Node.js via node-canvas.

Use cases

  • Building interactive vector drawings or animations in the browser.
  • Generating or processing SVG graphics in a Node.js server script.
  • Creating canvas-based editors or diagram tools.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Paper.js from NPM in your project folder

    npm install paper
  2. 2

    Import it with a bundler and call paper.setup() on a canvas element

Things to know

  • The license is not detected in the project metadata, so check the repository's license before using it.
  • Canvas rendering in Node.js (paper-jsdom-canvas) needs native Cairo and Pango libraries installed first.

Topics

#graphics#canvas#vector-graphics#svg#javascript#animation

FAQ

What is paper.js?
Paper.js is a JavaScript vector graphics scripting library that draws and manipulates paths on HTML5 Canvas in the browser or Node.js. Paper.js is a JavaScript port of Scriptographer, a vector graphics scripting tool. It provides a scene graph of paths, shapes, text, groups and symbols, and lets you create and transform them programmatically on an HTML5 Canvas element.
Is paper.js free to use? What license does it have?
paper.js is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is paper.js still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to paper.js was on Nov 6, 2026.
What can I use paper.js for?
Building interactive vector drawings or animations in the browser. Generating or processing SVG graphics in a Node.js server script. Creating canvas-based editors or diagram tools.
How do I install paper.js?
Install Paper.js from NPM in your project folder: npm install paper Import it with a bundler and call paper.setup() on a canvas element
Where can I get paper.js?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/paperjs/paper.js

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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