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koloNatalie
koloNatalie

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Pure CSS Shimmer Effect: Recreate a 3D-Inspired Light Swipe

#webdev #css #frontend #tutorial

Why Pure CSS for Animation?

As a developer with a background in Visual Engineering, my first rule is: if CSS can handle the animation, use CSS. The "shimmer" or "light swipe" effect is a perfect example. Relying on CSS Transitions and Transforms keeps the animation on the GPU, ensuring maximum performance and a smoother frame rate without blocking the main JavaScript thread. This technique is perfect for drawing attention to cards, buttons, or calls-to-action.

The Essential HTML Foundation

You need one parent element, which acts as the canvas, to contain the image and the overlay. The shimmer will be created within this container.

<div class="shimmer-container">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Image with shimmer effect">
  <div class="image-overlay">
  </div>
</div>
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The key rule for the parent is to establish a positioning context for the shimmer: position: relative;.

Creating the Shimmer Magic with ::after

The shimmer is not an image. It's a simple, invisible, angled rectangle created using the :after pseudo-element. This element uses a gradient to simulate light.

The Initial CSS Setup 

.shimmer-container::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 50%; /* The width of the "shine" */
  height: 100%;
}
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The Visual Tricks: Skew & Gradient

  • The Angled Look transform: skewX() To make the movement look more dynamic and less like a straight line, we tilt the element. skewX(-25deg) creates the illusion of a sweeping light ray.

  • The Soft Glow linear-gradient: The gradient makes the light softly fade in and out. It transitions from transparent white to semi-opaque white.

.shimmer-container::after {

    /* ... (initial setup) */

    transform: skewX(-25deg) translateX(-200%);
    background: linear-gradient(to right, 
        hsla(0, 0%, 100%, 0) 0%,
        hsla(0, 0%, 100%, 0) 100%
    );
    transition: transform 0.6s ease;
}
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Animating with :hover

To trigger the effect, use the :hover state combined with a transform transition.

How it works: When the user hovers, the translateX value changes from its initial off-screen position -200% to a position that pushes it completely across and off the right side 300%. The browser handles this change smoothly over 0.6 seconds, leveraging the GPU.

.shimmer-container:hover::after {
  /* Swipe across and off-screen right */
  transform: skewX(-25deg) translateX(300%);
}
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Compounding Effects

In my original project, I layered other transitions on the same :hover state to create a rich, cohesive visual effect:

  • Image zoom. Used transform: scale(1.1); on the <img> tag.
  • Image darkening. Used filter: brightness(0.6); on the <img> to make the text overlay pop.
  • Text entrance. Animated the overlay text using transform: translateY() and opacity.

All these effects trigger instantly and run smoothly in parallel due to the power of CSS.

Now It's Your Turn

Pure CSS is a powerful tool for visual engineers. By understanding pseudo-elements and transitions, you can create dynamic effects with zero performance cost.

💡 Source code for this project: GitHub repo

Feel free to drop a comment and show me where you use the shimmer effect! Or start discussion in my discord community.

P.S.: I’m currently seeking my first long-term Junior Frontend role where I can apply my 6+ years of AR / 3D and Visual design experience to build clean and visually engaging web apps.
If you value a developer who blends design thinking with engineering discipline, let's connect.

Top comments (1)

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kolonatalie profile image
koloNatalie •

I actually implemented such shimmer trick in my capstone study project recently, it really elevates the card design. I'm hoping my mentors appreciate the GPU-performance detail!😊