Super Cool CSS Flip Effect with Webkit Animation

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There’s some seriously cool transform and animation effects available through the webkit engine that can really spice up the web experiences for users with the Safari browser. Here’s a quick look at how the rotateY property can produce a flip effect, and how it can be used to create a super cool Transformers themed top trumps design.

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Safari browser required to experience the animated Webkit flip effect.

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The example I’ve put together shows how the flip effect can be used to reveal information as if flipping over on a card. Hover over the Optimus Prime and Megatron top trump cards to see their scores. Now, let’s take a look at how it was made.

The HTML

<div id="transformers-rule">
	<div class="container megatron">
		<div class="card">
			<div class="face front">
				
			</div>
			<div class="face back">
			
			</div>
	 	</div>
	</div>
</div>

The HTML is pretty simple, it’s basically made up of a couple of <div> elements to form containers for each card.

<div class="face front">
	<img src="megatron.png" alt="Megatron CSS flip effect" />
</div>
<div class="face back">
	<h2>Megatron</h2>
	<img src="decepticons.png" alt="Decepticons logo CSS flip effect" />
	<p>Megatron is the primary antagonist and leader of the evil Decepticons.</p>
	
	<dl>
		<dt>Skill</dt>
		<dd>7</dd>
		
		<dt>Power</dt>
		<dd>8</dd>
		
		<dt>Agility</dt>
		<dd>5</dd>
		
		<dt>Bravery</dt>
		<dd>7</dd>
		
		<dt>Speed</dt>
		<dd>4</dd>
	</dl>
</div>

The front and rear face of the cards are split into two more divs and the relevant content placed inside them.
On the front is a single image, whereas on the back is the complete spec for each character. A <h2> creates a title, paragraph element and image for a brief description, then the scores are listed out in a definition list <dl>.

The CSS

.megatron {
	float: left; position: absolute; top: 30px; left: 20px;
}
	.megatron .front {
		
	}
	.megatron .back {
		width: 284px; height: 372px; padding: 20px;
		background: #a3a3a3 url(texture.png); 
	}
		.megatron .back h2 {
			width: 287px; height: 42px; margin: 0 auto 20px auto;
			background: url(megatron-title.png); text-indent: -9999px; 
		}
		.megatron img {
			float: right;
		}
		.megatron p {
			float: left; width: 185px; margin: 0 0 20px 0;
			font-size: 17px; line-height: 28px; color: #4c4c4c; 
		}

The background of the card is first given a repeating grey texture, then each of the HTML elements is styled up. The h2 is replaced with an image of the same text but with some added Photoshop effects. The font-size and colour is set on the paragraph elements and they’re floated alongside the Autobots and Decepticons logos.

.megatron dl {
	font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold; 
	line-height: 40px; color: #717171;
	width: 264px; padding: 5px 10px; overflow: hidden; 
	background: #cfcfcf url(gradient.png) repeat-y;
	-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 5px #888;
	text-shadow: 0 1px 1px #f5f5f5;
}
	.megatron dl dt {
		float: left; clear: both;
	}
	.megatron dl dd {
		float: right;
	}

In order to display the character specs side by side, the definition title (dt) and definition description (dd) are floated left and right respectively. The definition list element (dl) itself is given the gradient background and text styling, which is inherited down to the dt and dd.

The webkit animation

.container {
	width: 324px; height: 412px;
	-webkit-perspective: 1000;
}

.card {
	width: 324px; height: 412px;
	border: 8px solid #fff;	
	-webkit-transform-style: preserve-3d;
	-webkit-transition: 0.5s;
}

In order to get the whole thing working a bunch of webkit animation and transform properties are brought into play. Starting at the top, the container divs are given a -webkit-perspective of 1000 to add some realism to the flip motion, otherwise it all seems a little flat. Next, -webkit-transform-style: preserve-3d; and -webkit-transition: 0.5s; are added to the card div. The preserve-3d transform style simply ensures that child elements follow the three dimensional motion rather than staying flat and the transition value of 0.5s sets the speed of the overall effect.

.container:hover .card {
	-webkit-transform: rotateY(180deg);				
}

.face {
position: absolute;
-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;
}

When the card is hovered by the mouse, a webkit transform of rotateY(180deg) is added, which rotates the object 180 degrees on the Y axis. -webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; is another fancy webkit property that is put to use on the face of each card. This ensures the opposite side of the card is no longer visible, without this the object would simply flip into a mirror image rather than display the other side.

The full HTML

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The full CSS

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View the demo

Be sure to show DeviantArt user UdonCrew some love for their awesome Transformers concept art.