How to Use 2D and 3D CSS Transforms

December 29, 2013 | 31 Minute Read

Most of the time when using HTML and CSS we are simply drawing flat rectangles, rounded rectangles, or circles within 2D space. CSS Transforms allow us to alter the shape, position, rotation, and scale of html elements within both 2D and 3D space. When combined with CSS transitions, transforms can really enhance the user experience although that topic will require its own post.

Effect on Content Flow

The first item to note when using CSS Transforms is that they have no effect on the flow of content around the transformed item but they do create stacking context similar to position: relative.

Before Transform:

The dark box is floated to the right and the content simply flows around it. Both the content and the floated box are on the same layer in the stacking order.

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After Transform — transform: translate(-30%, 30%):

The only difference here is that I’ve added transform: translate(-30%, 30%). The content flow remains the same but the box is now translated(moved) and placed on a layer above the content in the stacking order.

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: translate(-30%, 30%); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: translate(-30%, 30%); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: translate(-30%, 30%); /* For Everything Else */
}

The transform Property

When using CSS Transforms you will be using the transform property. There are many different functions that can be passed to the transform property:

translate

The translate function simply translates or moves the item along the X and Y axis like the example above. Translate can use any unit of measure (%, em, px).

translateX

Translate can be applied to only the X axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: translateX(-30%); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: translateX(-30%); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: translateX(-30%); /* For Everything Else */
}

translateY

Translate can be applied to only the Y axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: translateY(30%); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: translateY(30%); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: translateY(30%); /* For Everything Else */
}

scale

The scale function simply re-sizes the item larger or smaller. Scale uses a unit-less decimal that represents a percentage of scale. In the examples below 1.2 = 120% of the original size.

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: scale(1.2); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: scale(1.2); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: scale(1.2); /* For Everything Else */
}

scaleX

Scale can be applied to only the X axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: scaleX(1.2); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: scaleX(1.2); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: scaleX(1.2); /* For Everything Else */
}

scaleY

Scale can be applied to only the Y axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: scaleY(1.2); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.2); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: scaleY(1.2); /* For Everything Else */
}

rotate

The rotate function simply rotates the item at an angle by the degrees specified. Rotate uses either degrees(deg) or radians(rad). To rotate items counter-clockwise you can simply use a negative value.

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: rotate(45deg); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: rotate(45deg); /* For Everything Else */
}

skew

The skew function turns the item in at an angle by the degrees specified. Skew uses degrees(deg).

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: skew(10deg, 10deg); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: skew(10deg, 10deg); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: skew(10deg, 10deg); /* For Everything Else */
}

skewX

Skew can be applied to only the X axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: skewX(10deg); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: skewX(10deg); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: skewX(10deg); /* For Everything Else */
}

skewY

Skew can be applied to only the Y axis if needed

.example__transformItem {
    -ms-transform: skewY(10deg); /* For IE9 */
    -webkit-transform: skewY(10deg); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: skewY(10deg); /* For Everything Else */
}

The transform-origin Property

When using the transform property it will be applied based on the center(50% 50% 0) of the item. To change this you can explicitly specify the transform-origin. This property works on the X and Y axis as well as the Z axis for 3D transforms. In the example below you can see the transformed item with the transform-origin changed to 10% 30%:

.example__transformItem {
    /* For IE9 */
    -ms-transform: rotate(45deg);
    -ms-transform-origin: 10% 30%;
 
    /* For Chrome & Safari */
    -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); 
    -webkit-transform-origin: 10% 30%;

    /* For Everything Else */
    transform: rotate(45deg);
    transform-origin: 10% 30%;
}

3D Transforms

Now for the really cool stuff, CSS 3D transforms. While CSS 2D transforms are nice and very useful, 3D transforms really allow us to think about our user experiences in a whole new way.

3D Functions

Just as with 2D transforms, 3D transforms use the transform property with their own set of functions.

translate3d

Translate can be applied for 3D objects. When using translate3d the values are passed in the following order (X, Y, Z) where the Z axis is the third dimension.

.example__transformItem {
    -webkit-transform: translate3d(-30%, 30%, 30px); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: translate3d(-30%, 30%, 30px); /* For Everything Else */
}

translateZ

Translate can be applied to only the Z axis if needed using transform: translateZ(value);

scale3d

Scale can be applied for 3D objects. When using scale3d the values are passed in the following order (X, Y, Z) where the Z axis is the third dimension.

.example__transformItem {
    -webkit-transform: scale3d(1.2, 1.2, 1.2); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: scale3d(1.2, 1.2, 1.2); /* For Everything Else */
}

scaleZ

Scale can be applied to only the Z axis if needed using transform: scaleZ(value);

rotate3d

Rotate can be applied for 3D objects. When using rotate3d the values are passed in the following order (X, Y, Z, angle) where the Z axis is the third dimension.

.example__transformItem {
    -webkit-transform: rotate3d(1, 1, 0,5, 45deg); /* For Chrome & Safari */
    transform: rotate3d(1, 1, 0.5, 45deg); /* For Everything Else */
}

rotateZ

Rotate can be applied to only the Z axis if needed using transform: rotateZ(value);

The perspective Property

The perspective is used to create depth by making objects that are closer to the viewer appear larger and objects that are further away appear smaller. Items that have a value greater than zero will be larger and items that have a value less than zero will be smaller. The perspective property only applies to child items and will only apply to items that are using the transform property.

.example__cube {
    /* For Chrome & Safari */
    -webkit-perspective: 800px;
    -webkit-perspective-origin: -150px -100px;

    /* For Everything Else */
    perspective: 800px;
    perspective-origin: -150px -100px;
}

The perspective-origin Property

perspective-origin simply sets the perspective angle that the viewer is looking from. When using the perspective property it will be applied based on the center(50% 50%) of the item. To change this you can explicitly specify the perspective-origin for the X and Y axes. In the example above I used perspective-origin: -150px -100px; to clearly illustrate the 3D shape of the object. The example below demonstrates how you can change these values to achieve a new viewing perspective.

.example__cube {
    /* For Chrome & Safari */
    -webkit-perspective: 1500px;
    -webkit-perspective-origin: 400px 500px;

    /* For Everything Else */
    perspective: 1500px;
    perspective-origin: 400px 500px;
}

The backface-visibility Property

backface-visibility essentially just sets whether or not the transformed items can be seen through regardless of opacity. The property has two parameters: visible and hidden. The default is visible, but when set to hidden you cannot see through the panes of the cube below.

.example__cubePane {
    -webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; /* For Chrome & Safari */
    backface-visibility: hidden; /* For Everything Else */
}

Browser Support

The transform property has good browser support working in all modern browsers using the “-ms-“ prefix for IE9 and “-webkit-“ prefix for Chrome and Safari. 3D transforms are not supported in Internet Explorer 9 and below.

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Brian Treese