perspective

Summary

The perspective CSS property determines the distance between the z=0 plane and the user in order to give to the 3D-positioned element some perspective. Each 3D element with z>0 becomes larger; each 3D-element with z<0 becomes smaller. The strength of the effect is determined by the value of this property.

Part of the 3D-elements that are behind the user, i.e. that their z-axis coordinate is greater than the value of the perspective CSS property are not drawn.

The vanishing point is by default placed at the center of the element, but its position can be changed using the perspective-origin property.

Using this property with a value different than 0 and none creates a new stacking context.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
perspective: none;

/* <length> values */
perspective: 20px;  
perspective: 3.5em;

/* Global values */
perspective: inherit;
perspective: initial;
perspective: unset;

Values

none

Is a keyword indicating that no perspective transform has to be applied.

<length>

Is a <length> giving the distance from the user to the z=0 plane. It is used to apply a perspective transform to the element and its content. If it 0 or a negative value, no perspective transform is applied.

Formal syntax

none | <length>

Examples

Three cubes

HTML Content

<table>
   <tbody>
      <tr>
         <th><code>perspective: 250px;</code>
         </th>
         <th><code>perspective: 350px;</code>
         </th>
         <th><code>perspective: 500px;</code>
         </th>
      </tr>
      <tr>
         <td>
            <div class="container">
               <div class="cube pers250">
                  <div class="face front">1</div>
                  <div class="face back">2</div>
                  <div class="face right">3</div>
                  <div class="face left">4</div>
                  <div class="face top">5</div>
                  <div class="face bottom">6</div>
               </div>
            </div>
         </td>
         <td>
            <div class="container">
               <div class="cube pers350">
                  <div class="face front">1</div>
                  <div class="face back">2</div>
                  <div class="face right">3</div>
                  <div class="face left">4</div>
                  <div class="face top">5</div>
                  <div class="face bottom">6</div>
               </div>
            </div>
         </td>
         <td>
            <div class="container">
               <div class="cube pers500">
                  <div class="face front">1</div>
                  <div class="face back">2</div>
                  <div class="face right">3</div>
                  <div class="face left">4</div>
                  <div class="face top">5</div>
                  <div class="face bottom">6</div>
               </div>
            </div>
         </td>
      </tr>
   </tbody>
</table>

CSS Content

/* Shorthand classes for different perspective values */
.pers250 {
    perspective: 250px;
    -webkit-perspective: 250px;
}
.pers350 {
    perspective: 350px;
    -webkit-perspective: 350px;
}
.pers500 {
    perspective: 500px;
    -webkit-perspective: 500px;
}

/* Define the container div, the cube div, and a generic face */
 .container {
   width: 200px;
   height: 200px;
   margin: 75px 0 0 75px;
   border: none;
}
.cube {
   width: 100%;
   height: 100%;
   backface-visibility: visible;
   perspective-origin: 150% 150%;
   transform-style: preserve-3d;
   -webkit-backface-visibility: visible;
   -webkit-perspective-origin: 150% 150%;
   -webkit-transform-style: preserve-3d;
}
.face {
   display: block;
   position: absolute;
   width: 100px;
   height: 100px;
   border: none;
   line-height: 100px;
   font-family: sans-serif;
   font-size: 60px;
   color: white;
   text-align: center;
}

/* Define each face based on direction */
 .front {
   background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
   transform: translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: translateZ(50px);
}
.back {
   background: rgba(0, 255, 0, 1);
   color: black;
   transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px);
}
.right {
   background: rgba(196, 0, 0, 0.7);
   transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}
.left {
   background: rgba(0, 0, 196, 0.7);
   transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}
.top {
   background: rgba(196, 196, 0, 0.7);
   transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px)
}
.bottom {
   background: rgba(196, 0, 196, 0.7);
   transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
   -webkit-transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

/* Make the table a little nicer */
th, p, td {
   background-color: #EEEEEE;
   padding: 10px;
   font-family: sans-serif;
   text-align: left;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Using CSS Transforms