2D and 3D Transformation

2D Transformation

CSS3 transforms enables to translate, rotate, scale, and skew elements. A transformation is an effect that lets an element change shape, size and position. CSS3 supports 2D and 3D transformations. The 2D transformation methods present are

  • translate()
  • rotate()
  • scale()
  • skewX()
  • skewY()
  • matrix()

The translate() Method – The translate() method moves an element from its current position (according to the parameters given for the X-axis and the Y-axis). The following example moves the <div> element 50 pixels to the right, and 100 pixels down from its current position:

div {

-ms-transform: translate(50px,100px); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: translate(50px,100px); /* Safari */

transform: translate(50px,100px);

}

The rotate() Method – The rotate() method rotates an element clockwise or counter-clockwise according to a given degree. The following example rotates the <div> element clockwise with 20 degrees

div {

-ms-transform: rotate(20deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: rotate(20deg); /* Safari */

transform: rotate(20deg);

}

Using negative values will rotate the element counter-clockwise. The following example rotates the <div> element counter-clockwise with 20 degrees, as

div {

-ms-transform: rotate(-20deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: rotate(-20deg); /* Safari */

transform: rotate(-20deg);

}

The scale() Method – The scale() method increases or decreases the size of an element (according to the parameters given for the width and height). The following example increases the <div> element to be two times of its original width, and three times of its original height, as

div {

-ms-transform: scale(2,3); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: scale(2,3); /* Safari */

transform: scale(2,3);

}

The following example decreases the <div> element to be half of its original width and height, as

div {

-ms-transform: scale(0.5,0.5); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: scale(0.5,0.5); /* Safari */

transform: scale(0.5,0.5);

}

The skewX() Method – The skewX() method skews an element along the X-axis by the given angle. The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis, as

div {

-ms-transform: skewX(20deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: skewX(20deg); /* Safari */

transform: skewX(20deg);

}

The skewY() Method – The skewY() method skews an element along the Y-axis by the given angle. The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the Y-axis, as

div {

-ms-transform: skewY(20deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: skewY(20deg); /* Safari */

transform: skewY(20deg);

}

The skew() Method – The skew() method skews an element along the X and Y-axis by the given angles. The following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis, and 10 degrees along the Y-axis, as

div {

-ms-transform: skew(20deg, 10deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: skew(20deg, 10deg); /* Safari */

transform: skew(20deg, 10deg);

}

If the second parameter is not specified, it has a zero value. So, the following example skews the <div> element 20 degrees along the X-axis, as

div {

-ms-transform: skew(20deg); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: skew(20deg); /* Safari */

transform: skew(20deg);

}

The matrix() Method – The matrix() method combines all the 2D transform methods into one. The matrix() method take six parameters, containing mathematic functions, which allows you to rotate, scale, move (translate), and skew elements, as

div {

-ms-transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0); /* IE 9 */

-webkit-transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0); /* Safari */

transform: matrix(1, -0.3, 0, 1, 0, 0);

}

The lists of all the 2D transform properties and functions, are as

Property Description
transform Applies a 2D or 3D transformation to an element
transform-origin Allows you to change the position on transformed elements
matrix(n,n,n,n,n,n) Defines a 2D transformation, using a matrix of six values
translate(x,y) Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the X- and the Y-axis
translateX(n) Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the X-axis
translateY(n) Defines a 2D translation, moving the element along the Y-axis
scale(x,y) Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the elements width and height
scaleX(n) Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the element’s width
scaleY(n) Defines a 2D scale transformation, changing the element’s height
rotate(angle) Defines a 2D rotation, the angle is specified in the parameter
skew(x-angle,y-angle) Defines a 2D skew transformation along the X- and the Y-axis
skewX(angle) Defines a 2D skew transformation along the X-axis
skewY(angle) Defines a 2D skew transformation along the Y-axis

3D Transformation

CSS3 enables formatting of elements using 3D transformations. The 3D transformation methods, are

  • rotateX()
  • rotateY()
  • rotateZ()

The rotateX() Method – The rotateX() method rotates an element around its X-axis at a given degree, as

div {

-webkit-transform: rotateX(150deg); /* Safari */

transform: rotateX(150deg);

}

The rotateY() Method – The rotateY() method rotates an element around its Y-axis at a given degree, as

div {

-webkit-transform: rotateY(130deg); /* Safari */

transform: rotateY(130deg);

}

The rotateZ() Method – The rotateZ() method rotates an element around its Z-axis at a given degree, as

div {

-webkit-transform: rotateZ(90deg); /* Safari */

transform: rotateZ(90deg);

}

The 3D transform properties, are as

Property Description
transform Applies a 2D or 3D transformation to an element
transform-origin Allows you to change the position on transformed elements
transform-style Specifies how nested elements are rendered in 3D space
perspective Specifies the perspective on how 3D elements are viewed
perspective-origin Specifies the bottom position of 3D elements
backface-visibility Defines whether or not an element should be visible when not facing the screen

The 3D Transform Methods, are as

Function Description
matrix3d (n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n,n) Defines a 3D transformation, using a 4×4 matrix of 16 values
translate3d(x,y,z) Defines a 3D translation
translateX(x) Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the X-axis
translateY(y) Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the Y-axis
translateZ(z) Defines a 3D translation, using only the value for the Z-axis
scale3d(x,y,z) Defines a 3D scale transformation
scaleX(x) Defines a 3D scale transformation by giving a value for the X-axis
scaleY(y) Defines a 3D scale transformation by giving a value for the Y-axis
scaleZ(z) Defines a 3D scale transformation by giving a value for the Z-axis
rotate3d(x,y,z,angle) Defines a 3D rotation
rotateX(angle) Defines a 3D rotation along the X-axis
rotateY(angle) Defines a 3D rotation along the Y-axis
rotateZ(angle) Defines a 3D rotation along the Z-axis
perspective(n) Defines a perspective view for a 3D transformed element
Go To- Certified CSS3 Developer Tutorial

Get industry recognized certification – Contact us

Menu