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Topic: css

New Project: rotate3Di jQuery Plugin

published:
2009.03.11
topics:
css
javascript
tools

One of the things I've been spending quite a bit of time on lately has been my new project: rotate3Di, an effect plugin for jQuery. This plugin enables "3D" isometric perspective rotation and animation via CSS transformations. I'm happy to announce the release of version 0.9 today.

Rotate3Di Project

This plugin is somewhat ahead of its time. Not in the sense that I am any sort of visionary, but in the fact that I didn't wait for Firefox 3.1 to be in wide use. Because I've chosen to use native CSS transformations to produce the visual effect, you will currently only see the "3D" perspective using WebKit/Safari or Firefox 3.1 beta. (Update: Supported now in Safari, Chrome, Firefox 3.5+, IE9+, and Opera)

Firefox 3.0 and Internet Explorer are not presently supported, but it does seem within the realm of possibility using SVG and proprietary IE CSS Filters. Though, having gone down this road in IE once before, I will say the behavior is quite different due to element clipping/resizing, a different transform origin, and speed issues.

When the true full 3D perspective transformations move from iPhone Mobile Safari into the desktop WebKit/Safari, I will introduce support for those effects into this plugin as well.

Basic usage of this plugin is very similar to the jQuery animate() method. A usage example and more on what I learned from this project, including jQuery's custom animation system, after the jump.


Patching jQuery css() Method to Support 'transform'

published:
2009.02.22
topics:
css
javascript

I thought it might be nice if jQuery's css() method would internally reconcile browser differences with CSS Transforms just like it reconciles differences with for example the opacity property. I am currently supporting CSS Transforms in WebKit/Safari/Chrome, Firefox 3.5+, IE9, and Opera. Usage example and code after the jump.


New Project: Birdmanizer

published:
2009.02.18
topics:
css
javascript

I started a new project just for kicks: the Birdmanizer. It is a tool which loads any website and animates it into your browser view using the "cinema newspaper" (or perhaps "spinning vinyl") style CSS effect I mentioned in my earlier blog post on CSS Transforms. I was inspired by the cut scenes in the original Batman TV series, as well as the cut scenes from the Harvey Birdman cartoon series — where the project gets its name and audio clip.


Birdmanizer

published:
2009.02.18
topics:
css
javascript

This tool will transform any website into an animated cut scene inspired by the original Batman TV series and the Harvey Birdman cartoon series. WebKit/Safari browsers only for now — it is a work in progress.


Fun with CSS Transforms in Firefox and Webkit

published:
2009.02.17
topics:
css
javascript
mobile

WebKit based browsers like Safari have had CSS Transforms for quite awhile now, allowing developers to skew, translate, rotate, and scale HTML elements or the entire page with CSS alone. The Firefox 3.1 betas also now have CSS transformations. These CSS properties can also be animated with JavaScript, although finding documentation for how to do it in Firefox 3.1 was a bit of a hassle. Let me show you how it is done.

Update: CSS Transforms are now available in Safari, Chrome, Firefox 3.5+, IE9+, and Opera. Check out my patch that enables setting and animating CSS Transforms with jQuery.