33 CSS Card Hover Effects 16 / 33
Spotlight
A minimalist case-study card where a soft light and a matching border highlight follow the cursor across a dark surface.
The code
<div class="card-16">
<article class="card-16__card" data-card-16="root">
<div class="card-16__inner">
<div class="card-16__row">
<span>CASE STUDY</span>
<span>2025</span>
</div>
<h2 class="card-16__title">Quiet<br><em>Interfaces</em></h2>
<p class="card-16__desc">A design system built on restraint. The light follows you because attention should follow intent.</p>
<span class="card-16__foot">— READ THE ESSAY</span>
</div>
</article>
</div> <div class="card-16">
<article class="card-16__card" data-card-16="root">
<div class="card-16__inner">
<div class="card-16__row">
<span>CASE STUDY</span>
<span>2025</span>
</div>
<h2 class="card-16__title">Quiet<br><em>Interfaces</em></h2>
<p class="card-16__desc">A design system built on restraint. The light follows you because attention should follow intent.</p>
<span class="card-16__foot">— READ THE ESSAY</span>
</div>
</article>
</div>@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Instrument+Serif:ital@0;1&family=Geist+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');
.card-16, .card-16 *, .card-16 *::before, .card-16 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.card-16 {
min-height: 460px;
display: grid;
place-items: center;
background: #08080a;
font-family: 'Geist Mono', monospace;
padding: 2rem;
}
.card-16__card {
--card-16-x: 50%;
--card-16-y: 50%;
position: relative;
width: 340px;
height: 440px;
border-radius: 18px;
background: #101014;
cursor: pointer;
overflow: hidden;
border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
}
.card-16__card::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
background: radial-gradient(
300px circle at var(--card-16-x) var(--card-16-y),
rgba(120, 200, 255, 0.18),
transparent 60%
);
opacity: 0;
transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
z-index: 1;
}
.card-16__card:hover::before { opacity: 1; }
.card-16__card::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
border-radius: inherit;
padding: 1px;
background: radial-gradient(
250px circle at var(--card-16-x) var(--card-16-y),
rgba(120,200,255,0.6),
transparent 50%
);
-webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) content-box, linear-gradient(#000 0 0);
-webkit-mask-composite: xor;
mask-composite: exclude;
opacity: 0;
transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
z-index: 2;
}
.card-16__card:hover::after { opacity: 1; }
.card-16__inner {
position: relative;
z-index: 3;
height: 100%;
padding: 2.4rem;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
justify-content: space-between;
color: #d7dbe2;
}
.card-16__row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
font-size: 0.72rem;
letter-spacing: 0.1em;
color: #6a7080;
}
.card-16__title {
font-family: 'Instrument Serif', serif;
font-size: 3.4rem;
line-height: 0.95;
color: #f3f5f9;
}
.card-16__title em { color: #78c8ff; }
.card-16__desc {
font-size: 0.82rem;
line-height: 1.65;
color: #8e94a3;
}
.card-16__foot {
font-size: 0.72rem;
color: #6a7080;
letter-spacing: 0.12em;
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.card-16__card::before,
.card-16__card::after {
transition: none !important;
}
} @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Instrument+Serif:ital@0;1&family=Geist+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');
.card-16, .card-16 *, .card-16 *::before, .card-16 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.card-16 {
min-height: 460px;
display: grid;
place-items: center;
background: #08080a;
font-family: 'Geist Mono', monospace;
padding: 2rem;
}
.card-16__card {
--card-16-x: 50%;
--card-16-y: 50%;
position: relative;
width: 340px;
height: 440px;
border-radius: 18px;
background: #101014;
cursor: pointer;
overflow: hidden;
border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
}
.card-16__card::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
background: radial-gradient(
300px circle at var(--card-16-x) var(--card-16-y),
rgba(120, 200, 255, 0.18),
transparent 60%
);
opacity: 0;
transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
z-index: 1;
}
.card-16__card:hover::before { opacity: 1; }
.card-16__card::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
border-radius: inherit;
padding: 1px;
background: radial-gradient(
250px circle at var(--card-16-x) var(--card-16-y),
rgba(120,200,255,0.6),
transparent 50%
);
-webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) content-box, linear-gradient(#000 0 0);
-webkit-mask-composite: xor;
mask-composite: exclude;
opacity: 0;
transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
z-index: 2;
}
.card-16__card:hover::after { opacity: 1; }
.card-16__inner {
position: relative;
z-index: 3;
height: 100%;
padding: 2.4rem;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
justify-content: space-between;
color: #d7dbe2;
}
.card-16__row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
font-size: 0.72rem;
letter-spacing: 0.1em;
color: #6a7080;
}
.card-16__title {
font-family: 'Instrument Serif', serif;
font-size: 3.4rem;
line-height: 0.95;
color: #f3f5f9;
}
.card-16__title em { color: #78c8ff; }
.card-16__desc {
font-size: 0.82rem;
line-height: 1.65;
color: #8e94a3;
}
.card-16__foot {
font-size: 0.72rem;
color: #6a7080;
letter-spacing: 0.12em;
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.card-16__card::before,
.card-16__card::after {
transition: none !important;
}
}(() => {
const root = document.querySelector('.card-16');
if (!root) return;
const c = root.querySelector('[data-card-16="root"]');
if (!c) return;
c.addEventListener('mousemove', (e) => {
const r = c.getBoundingClientRect();
c.style.setProperty('--card-16-x', `${e.clientX - r.left}px`);
c.style.setProperty('--card-16-y', `${e.clientY - r.top}px`);
});
})(); (() => {
const root = document.querySelector('.card-16');
if (!root) return;
const c = root.querySelector('[data-card-16="root"]');
if (!c) return;
c.addEventListener('mousemove', (e) => {
const r = c.getBoundingClientRect();
c.style.setProperty('--card-16-x', `${e.clientX - r.left}px`);
c.style.setProperty('--card-16-y', `${e.clientY - r.top}px`);
});
})();