10 CSS Parallax Effects 03 / 10

CSS Sticky Parallax Sections

Five-chapter sticky-scroll narrative.

CSS + JS MIT licensed
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The code

<div class="plx-03">

  <div class="plx-03__progress" id="plx03-progress"></div>

  <div class="plx-03__dots" id="plx03-dots">
    <div class="plx-03__dot is-active"></div>
    <div class="plx-03__dot"></div>
    <div class="plx-03__dot"></div>
    <div class="plx-03__dot"></div>
    <div class="plx-03__dot"></div>
  </div>

  <!-- Chapter 1 -->
  <div class="plx-03__chapter plx-03__chapter--1">
    <div class="plx-03__sticky">
      <div class="plx-03__bg" data-bg></div>
      <div class="plx-03__shape" data-shape></div>
      <div class="plx-03__grid" data-grid>
        <svg viewBox="0 0 1440 900" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
          <defs><pattern id="g1" width="60" height="60" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><path d="M60 0L0 0 0 60" fill="none" stroke="#c084fc" stroke-width="1"/></pattern></defs>
          <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#g1)"/>
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="plx-03__content" data-content>
        <div class="plx-03__num">01</div>
        <div class="plx-03__text">
          <span class="plx-03__label">Concept · Vision</span>
          <h2 class="plx-03__heading">Where does an <i>idea</i> begin?</h2>
          <p class="plx-03__body">Every landmark design starts with a restless question. We trace the edges of possibility before a single line is drawn, mapping the territory of what could exist.</p>
          <span class="plx-03__pill">Explore Origins</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Chapter 2 -->
  <div class="plx-03__chapter plx-03__chapter--2">
    <div class="plx-03__sticky">
      <div class="plx-03__bg" data-bg></div>
      <div class="plx-03__shape" data-shape></div>
      <div class="plx-03__grid" data-grid>
        <svg viewBox="0 0 1440 900" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
          <defs><pattern id="g2" width="40" height="40" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><circle cx="20" cy="20" r="0.8" fill="#34d399"/></pattern></defs>
          <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#g2)"/>
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="plx-03__content" data-content>
        <div class="plx-03__num">02</div>
        <div class="plx-03__text">
          <span class="plx-03__label">Research · Systems</span>
          <h2 class="plx-03__heading">Structure is the <i>silent</i> language.</h2>
          <p class="plx-03__body">Beneath every fluid interaction is an architecture of intent. We build systems that behave with purpose — grids that breathe, type scales that sing, spacing that creates rhythm.</p>
          <span class="plx-03__pill">See the System</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Chapter 3 -->
  <div class="plx-03__chapter plx-03__chapter--3">
    <div class="plx-03__sticky">
      <div class="plx-03__bg" data-bg></div>
      <div class="plx-03__shape" data-shape></div>
      <div class="plx-03__grid" data-grid>
        <svg viewBox="0 0 1440 900" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
          <defs><pattern id="g3" width="30" height="30" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><path d="M15 0L30 15L15 30L0 15Z" fill="none" stroke="#fb7185" stroke-width="0.6"/></pattern></defs>
          <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#g3)"/>
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="plx-03__content" data-content>
        <div class="plx-03__num">03</div>
        <div class="plx-03__text">
          <span class="plx-03__label">Craft · Emotion</span>
          <h2 class="plx-03__heading">Design should make you <i>feel</i> something.</h2>
          <p class="plx-03__body">The best interfaces don't just work — they make you feel cared for. Every micro-interaction is a tiny handshake, a signal that someone thought deeply about your experience.</p>
          <span class="plx-03__pill">Feel the Craft</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Chapter 4 -->
  <div class="plx-03__chapter plx-03__chapter--4">
    <div class="plx-03__sticky">
      <div class="plx-03__bg" data-bg></div>
      <div class="plx-03__shape" data-shape></div>
      <div class="plx-03__grid" data-grid>
        <svg viewBox="0 0 1440 900" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
          <defs><pattern id="g4" width="80" height="80" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><path d="M0 40 H80 M40 0 V80" stroke="#60a5fa" stroke-width="0.4" fill="none"/><circle cx="40" cy="40" r="2" fill="#60a5fa" opacity="0.5"/></pattern></defs>
          <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#g4)"/>
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="plx-03__content" data-content>
        <div class="plx-03__num">04</div>
        <div class="plx-03__text">
          <span class="plx-03__label">Technology · Precision</span>
          <h2 class="plx-03__heading">Code is a <i>creative</i> material.</h2>
          <p class="plx-03__body">We treat the browser as a canvas. CSS transforms become choreography. JavaScript becomes conversation. The medium itself becomes a means of expression.</p>
          <span class="plx-03__pill">Read the Code</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Chapter 5 -->
  <div class="plx-03__chapter plx-03__chapter--5">
    <div class="plx-03__sticky">
      <div class="plx-03__bg" data-bg></div>
      <div class="plx-03__shape" data-shape></div>
      <div class="plx-03__grid" data-grid>
        <svg viewBox="0 0 1440 900" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
          <defs><pattern id="g5" width="50" height="50" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><path d="M25 0L50 25L25 50L0 25Z" fill="none" stroke="#fbbf24" stroke-width="0.5"/></pattern></defs>
          <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#g5)"/>
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="plx-03__content" data-content>
        <div class="plx-03__num">05</div>
        <div class="plx-03__text">
          <span class="plx-03__label">Legacy · Future</span>
          <h2 class="plx-03__heading">The best work <i>outlasts</i> its moment.</h2>
          <p class="plx-03__body">Trends are temporary. We pursue the permanent — the design decisions that will feel right in twenty years, that age like a well-edited sentence, never a marketing slogan.</p>
          <span class="plx-03__pill">Begin Something</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

</div>
*, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }

.plx-03 {
  --c1: #1a0a2e;
  --c2: #0d2818;
  --c3: #1f0a0a;
  --c4: #0a1a2e;
  --c5: #1a1a0a;
  --text: #f0ede8;
  --acc1: #c084fc;
  --acc2: #34d399;
  --acc3: #fb7185;
  --acc4: #60a5fa;
  --acc5: #fbbf24;
  font-family: 'DM Sans', sans-serif;
  background: #080510;
  color: var(--text);
}

/* Each "chapter" is a tall scroll trigger */
.plx-03__chapter {
  position: relative;
  height: 300vh;
}

/* The sticky panel */
.plx-03__sticky {
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  height: 100vh;
  overflow: hidden;
}

/* Background fill per chapter */
.plx-03__bg {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  will-change: transform;
}

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__bg { background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 30% 70%, #4c1d95 0%, #1a0a2e 60%); }
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__bg { background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 70% 30%, #064e3b 0%, #0d2818 60%); }
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__bg { background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 50%, #7f1d1d 0%, #1f0a0a 60%); }
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__bg { background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 20% 80%, #1e3a5f 0%, #0a1a2e 60%); }
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__bg { background: radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 20%, #78350f 0%, #1a1a0a 60%); }

/* Abstract shape / illustration per chapter */
.plx-03__shape {
  position: absolute;
  will-change: transform;
  border-radius: 50%;
  filter: blur(1px);
}

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__shape {
  width: 520px; height: 520px;
  right: -80px; bottom: -80px;
  background: conic-gradient(from 0deg, #c084fc, #818cf8, #c084fc);
  opacity: 0.25;
}
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__shape {
  width: 460px; height: 460px;
  left: -60px; top: -60px;
  background: conic-gradient(from 120deg, #34d399, #059669, #34d399);
  border-radius: 40% 60% 70% 30%;
  opacity: 0.3;
}
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__shape {
  width: 500px; height: 500px;
  right: 10%;
  /* Vertical centering uses calc() on the top property instead
     of transform: translateY(-50%) — the JS parallax handler
     clobbers style.transform with translateY() rotate() on every
     scroll, which would erase the centering and drop the blob
     off the bottom of the panel. */
  top: calc(50% - 250px);
  background: conic-gradient(from 240deg, #fb7185, #e11d48, #fb7185);
  border-radius: 30% 70% 40% 60%;
  opacity: 0.25;
}
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__shape {
  width: 440px; height: 440px;
  left: 5%; bottom: 5%;
  background: conic-gradient(from 60deg, #60a5fa, #2563eb, #60a5fa);
  border-radius: 60% 40% 30% 70%;
  opacity: 0.3;
}
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__shape {
  width: 480px; height: 480px;
  right: -40px; top: -40px;
  background: conic-gradient(from 180deg, #fbbf24, #d97706, #fbbf24);
  border-radius: 45% 55%;
  opacity: 0.28;
}

/* Grid lines — parallax at different speed */
.plx-03__grid {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  will-change: transform;
  opacity: 0.07;
}
.plx-03__grid svg { width: 100%; height: 100%; }

/* Content layer */
.plx-03__content {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  padding: 60px;
  will-change: transform;
}

/* Number */
.plx-03__num {
  font-family: 'Fraunces', serif;
  font-size: clamp(160px, 22vw, 280px);
  font-weight: 900;
  line-height: 1;
  opacity: 0.06;
  position: absolute;
  right: 40px;
  bottom: 20px;
  letter-spacing: -0.05em;
}

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__num { color: var(--acc1); }
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__num { color: var(--acc2); }
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__num { color: var(--acc3); }
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__num { color: var(--acc4); }
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__num { color: var(--acc5); }

/* Text block */
.plx-03__text {
  max-width: 600px;
  z-index: 2;
}

.plx-03__label {
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: 0.3em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
  padding: 5px 14px;
  border: 1px solid;
  border-radius: 2px;
  opacity: 0.7;
}

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__label { color: var(--acc1); border-color: var(--acc1); }
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__label { color: var(--acc2); border-color: var(--acc2); }
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__label { color: var(--acc3); border-color: var(--acc3); }
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__label { color: var(--acc4); border-color: var(--acc4); }
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__label { color: var(--acc5); border-color: var(--acc5); }

.plx-03__heading {
  font-family: 'Fraunces', serif;
  font-size: clamp(36px, 6vw, 80px);
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.05;
  margin-bottom: 24px;
}

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__heading i { font-style: italic; color: var(--acc1); }
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__heading i { font-style: italic; color: var(--acc2); }
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__heading i { font-style: italic; color: var(--acc3); }
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__heading i { font-style: italic; color: var(--acc4); }
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__heading i { font-style: italic; color: var(--acc5); }

.plx-03__body {
  font-size: 16px;
  font-weight: 300;
  line-height: 1.75;
  color: rgba(240,237,232,0.6);
  max-width: 480px;
  margin-bottom: 36px;
}

.plx-03__pill {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 12px 32px;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 500;
  letter-spacing: 0.1em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  border-radius: 100px;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: transform 0.2s;
}
.plx-03__pill:hover { transform: scale(1.04); }

.plx-03__chapter--1 .plx-03__pill { background: var(--acc1); color: #1a0a2e; }
.plx-03__chapter--2 .plx-03__pill { background: var(--acc2); color: #0d2818; }
.plx-03__chapter--3 .plx-03__pill { background: var(--acc3); color: #1f0a0a; }
.plx-03__chapter--4 .plx-03__pill { background: var(--acc4); color: #0a1a2e; }
.plx-03__chapter--5 .plx-03__pill { background: var(--acc5); color: #1a1a0a; }

/* Progress bar */
.plx-03__progress {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  height: 2px;
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #c084fc, #34d399, #fb7185, #60a5fa, #fbbf24);
  z-index: 100;
  width: 0%;
  transition: width 0.1s linear;
}

/* Chapter indicator dots */
.plx-03__dots {
  position: fixed;
  right: 20px;
  top: 50%;
  transform: translateY(-50%);
  z-index: 100;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 12px;
}

.plx-03__dot {
  width: 8px;
  height: 8px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2);
  transition: all 0.3s;
}
.plx-03__dot.is-active {
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.9);
  transform: scale(1.5);
}

/* Clip edge for stacking illusion */
.plx-03__sticky {
  clip-path: inset(0);
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .plx-03__content { padding: 30px; }
  .plx-03__num { font-size: 120px; right: 20px; bottom: 10px; }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .plx-03__bg, .plx-03__shape, .plx-03__grid, .plx-03__content { transform: none !important; }
  .plx-03__progress { transition: none; }
}
(() => {
  const root = document.querySelector('.plx-03');
  if (!root) return;

  const progress = document.getElementById('plx03-progress');
  const dots = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.plx-03__dot'));
  const chapters = Array.from(root.querySelectorAll('.plx-03__chapter'));

  let ticking = false;

  function onScroll() {
    if (ticking) return;
    ticking = true;
    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
      const sy = window.scrollY;
      const totalH = document.documentElement.scrollHeight - window.innerHeight;

      // Progress bar
      if (progress) progress.style.width = (sy / totalH * 100) + '%';

      // Per-chapter parallax
      chapters.forEach((ch, i) => {
        const rect = ch.getBoundingClientRect();
        const viewH = window.innerHeight;

        // dot indicator
        if (rect.top < viewH * 0.5 && rect.bottom > viewH * 0.5) {
          dots.forEach(d => d.classList.remove('is-active'));
          if (dots[i]) dots[i].classList.add('is-active');
        }

        // Only compute if near viewport
        if (rect.bottom < -viewH || rect.top > viewH * 2) return;

        const bg = ch.querySelector('[data-bg]');
        const shape = ch.querySelector('[data-shape]');
        const grid = ch.querySelector('[data-grid]');
        const content = ch.querySelector('[data-content]');

        // Progress through sticky: 0 at entry, 1 at exit
        const stickyProgress = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, -rect.top / (ch.offsetHeight - viewH)));

        if (bg) bg.style.transform = `scale(${1 + stickyProgress * 0.08}) translateY(${stickyProgress * -30}px)`;
        if (shape) shape.style.transform = `translateY(${stickyProgress * -60}px) rotate(${stickyProgress * 20}deg)`;
        if (grid) grid.style.transform = `translateY(${stickyProgress * 40}px)`;
        if (content) content.style.transform = `translateY(${stickyProgress * -20}px)`;
      });

      ticking = false;
    });
  }

  window.addEventListener('scroll', onScroll, { passive: true });
  onScroll();
})();

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