Businesses use free animation software to create explainer videos for their website. Websites need movies because they attract attention, increase customer retention, improve SEO ranking, and help funnel projects. Free animation software is so important because making explainer videos for your website is usually very, very expensive. This is an example of a more creative way to use animations to build the pace of your presentation. Use Animations to Present Your Data Dynamically. By now, it should be easy to make a whole chart appear using an animation, but the true capacity of using animations with data is to pace how the chart is presented. 3 Ways to Use Animation on Your Website From color changing buttons to looping video and GIFs, website animation is a design trend that can work for a wide range of websites and delight your visitors. In this article, we'll walk you through the easiest ways to add popular animations to your website. Note: because websites are built on various platforms that handle code differently, we'll introduce the most universal approach using Animate.css and then explain a simple alternative using PageCloud, where no code is required. Proponents of animation in web design will tell you that it injects a sense of motion, generating a dynamic and flowing user experience. On top of that, animation has been a major web design trend over the last years, which means that your visitors will somehow expect to see them on your pages. The opponents, on the other hand, will argue that.
CSS Animations
CSS allows animation of HTML elements without using JavaScript or Flash!
In this chapter you will learn about the following properties:
@keyframes
animation-name
animation-duration
animation-delay
animation-iteration-count
animation-direction
animation-timing-function
animation-fill-mode
animation
Browser Support for Animations
The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the property.
Property | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
@keyframes | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-name | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-duration | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-delay | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-iteration-count | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-direction | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-timing-function | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation-fill-mode | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
animation | 43.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 30.0 |
What are CSS Animations?
An animation lets an element gradually change from one style to another.
You can change as many CSS properties you want, as many times you want.
To use CSS animation, you must first specify some keyframes for the animation.
Keyframes hold what styles the element will have at certain times.
The @keyframes Rule
When you specify CSS styles inside the @keyframes
rule, the animation will gradually change from the current style to the new style at certain times.
To get an animation to work, you must bind the animation to an element.
The following example binds the 'example' animation to the
Example
@keyframes example {
from {background-color: red;}
to {background-color: yellow;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
Note: The animation-duration
property defines how long time an animation should take to complete. If the animation-duration
Using text edit for leaflet mac. property is not specified, no animation will occur, because the default value is 0s (0 seconds).
In the example above we have specified when the style will change by using the keywords 'from' and 'to' (which represents 0% (start) and 100% (complete)).
It is also possible to use percent. By using percent, you can add as many style changes as you like.
The following example will change the background-color of the
Example
@keyframes example {
0% {background-color: red;}
25% {background-color: yellow;}
50% {background-color: blue;}
100% {background-color: green;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
The following example will change both the background-color and the position of the
Example
@keyframes example {
0% {background-color:red; left:0px; top:0px;}
25% {background-color:yellow; left:200px; top:0px;}
50% {background-color:blue; left:200px; top:200px;}
75% {background-color:green; left:0px; top:200px;}
100% {background-color:red; left:0px; top:0px;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
Delay an Animation
The animation-delay
property specifies a delay for the start of an animation.
The following example has a 2 seconds delay before starting the animation:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-delay: 2s;
}
Negative values are also allowed. If using negative values, the animation will start as if it had already been playing for N seconds.
In the following example, the animation will start as if it had already been playing for 2 seconds:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-delay: -2s;
}
Set How Many Times an Animation Should Run
The animation-iteration-count
property specifies the number of times an animation should run.
The following example will run the animation 3 times before it stops:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-iteration-count: 3;
}
The following example binds the 'example' animation to the
Example
@keyframes example {
from {background-color: red;}
to {background-color: yellow;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
Note: The animation-duration
property defines how long time an animation should take to complete. If the animation-duration
Using text edit for leaflet mac. property is not specified, no animation will occur, because the default value is 0s (0 seconds).
In the example above we have specified when the style will change by using the keywords 'from' and 'to' (which represents 0% (start) and 100% (complete)).
It is also possible to use percent. By using percent, you can add as many style changes as you like.
The following example will change the background-color of the
Example
@keyframes example {
0% {background-color: red;}
25% {background-color: yellow;}
50% {background-color: blue;}
100% {background-color: green;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
The following example will change both the background-color and the position of the
Example
@keyframes example {
0% {background-color:red; left:0px; top:0px;}
25% {background-color:yellow; left:200px; top:0px;}
50% {background-color:blue; left:200px; top:200px;}
75% {background-color:green; left:0px; top:200px;}
100% {background-color:red; left:0px; top:0px;}
}
/* The element to apply the animation to */
div {
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
}
Delay an Animation
The animation-delay
property specifies a delay for the start of an animation.
The following example has a 2 seconds delay before starting the animation:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-delay: 2s;
}
Negative values are also allowed. If using negative values, the animation will start as if it had already been playing for N seconds.
In the following example, the animation will start as if it had already been playing for 2 seconds:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-delay: -2s;
}
Set How Many Times an Animation Should Run
The animation-iteration-count
property specifies the number of times an animation should run.
The following example will run the animation 3 times before it stops:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-iteration-count: 3;
}
The following example uses the value 'infinite' to make the animation continue for ever:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-iteration-count: infinite;
}
Run Animation in Reverse Direction or Alternate Cycles
The animation-direction
property specifies whether an animation should be played forwards, backwards or in alternate cycles.
The animation-direction property can have the following values:
normal
- The animation is played as normal (forwards). This is defaultreverse
- The animation is played in reverse direction (backwards)alternate
- The animation is played forwards first, then backwardsalternate-reverse
- The animation is played backwards first, then forwards
The following example will run the animation in reverse direction (backwards):
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-direction: reverse;
}
The following example uses the value 'alternate' to make the animation run forwards first, then backwards:
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-iteration-count: 2;
animation-direction: alternate;
}
The following example uses the value 'alternate-reverse' to make the animation run backwards first, then forwards:
Example
3 Ways To Use Animation On Your Website For A
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
position: relative;
background-color: red;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 4s;
animation-iteration-count: 2;
animation-direction: alternate-reverse;
}
Specify the Speed Curve of the Animation
The animation-timing-function
property specifies the speed curve of the animation.
The animation-timing-function property can have the following values:
ease
- Specifies an animation with a slow start, then fast, then end slowly (this is default)linear
- Specifies an animation with the same speed from start to endease-in
- Specifies an animation with a slow startease-out
- Specifies an animation with a slow endease-in-out
- Specifies an animation with a slow start and endcubic-bezier(n,n,n,n)
- Lets you define your own values in a cubic-bezier function
The following example shows the some of the different speed curves that can be used:
Example
#div2 {animation-timing-function: ease;}
#div3 {animation-timing-function: ease-in;}
#div4 {animation-timing-function: ease-out;}
#div5 {animation-timing-function: ease-in-out;}
Specify the fill-mode For an Animation
CSS animations do not affect an element before the first keyframe is played or after the last keyframe is played. The animation-fill-mode property can override this behavior.
The animation-fill-mode
property specifies a style for the target element when the animation is not playing (before it starts, after it ends, or both).
The animation-fill-mode property can have the following values:
none
- Default value. Animation will not apply any styles to the element before or after it is executingforwards
- The element will retain the style values that is set by the last keyframe (depends on animation-direction and animation-iteration-count)backwards
- The element will get the style values that is set by the first keyframe (depends on animation-direction), and retain this during the animation-delay periodboth
- The animation will follow the rules for both forwards and backwards, extending the animation properties in both directions
The following example lets the
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background: red;
position: relative;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 3s;
animation-fill-mode: forwards;
}
The following example lets the
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background: red;
position: relative;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 3s;
animation-delay: 2s;
animation-fill-mode: backwards;
}
The following example lets the
Example
width: 100px;
height: 100px;
background: red;
position: relative;
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 3s;
animation-delay: 2s;
animation-fill-mode: both;
}
Animation Shorthand Property
The example below uses six of the animation properties:
Example
animation-name: example;
animation-duration: 5s;
animation-timing-function: linear;
animation-delay: 2s;
animation-iteration-count: infinite;
animation-direction: alternate;
}
The same animation effect as above can be achieved by using the shorthand animation
property:
Example
animation: example 5s linear 2s infinite alternate;
}
Test Yourself with Exercises!
CSS Animation Properties
The following table lists the @keyframes rule and all the CSS animation properties:
Property | Description |
---|---|
@keyframes | Specifies the animation code |
animation | A shorthand property for setting all the animation properties |
animation-delay | Specifies a delay for the start of an animation |
animation-direction | Specifies whether an animation should be played forwards, backwards or in alternate cycles |
animation-duration | Specifies how long time an animation should take to complete one cycle |
animation-fill-mode | Specifies a style for the element when the animation is not playing (before it starts, after it ends, or both) |
animation-iteration-count | Specifies the number of times an animation should be played |
animation-name | Specifies the name of the @keyframes animation |
animation-play-state | Specifies whether the animation is running or paused |
animation-timing-function | Specifies the speed curve of the animation |
Is your website everything that you think it could be? In a sense, nothing is ever as good as it could be. In fact, the very idea of potential reminds us that there is always room for improvement. Brainstorm ideas about your website when you have time between clients or meetings. You'll be surprised at the ideas you will come up with. This blog will educate you on how to include Animation and Video in your website.
Importance of video advertising
One of the benefits of using video on website is to increase engagement and activity on your site is through the use of animation and online video. In this resource guide, we are going to look at some of the most effective ways to start using these powerful elements within your own content and site design today.
The Curse of Permanent Potential
There is a new idea of 'permanent potential' that plagues some business owners and online entrepreneurs because it means that they never take action on the things that could mean the difference between success and failure. If you want something to happen in the future, you must take action today that will lead you toward your goal. Little steps, seemingly insignificant toward the higher goal, will lead you, one step at a time to what you want.
Only by taking action on an idea, goal, or dream, can you begin to see the results of something that you want to achieve in the future. It's fine to have a plan. But only by implementing the plan can you hope to hold the dream you have for the future as a real thing.
3 Ways To Use Animation On Your Website Step By Step
If you have always wanted to make your website awesome, but you're not sure how to do it, one way to do this is to include animation and video on your site.
Grabbing Their Attention
When you include animated video on your site, you will draw the attention of people who hardly noticed your site before. Placing the video in the middle of your page will lead to even more potential leads. Once you place an animated video on your site, it's up to you on whether it has what it takes to close the deal.
Using Social Media
Don't forget the power of social media to connect to your target audience. Make sure and offer a share button to your Facebook and other social media accounts to allow people to share your video content with others. This will allow you to expand your potential audience beyond your website audience and into the social media audience, which includes millions of people who are hungry for good video content.
Start with a great video.
The most important thing you can do to improve your site with animated video is to start with a great video. Angry birdspotato games game. When you create a professional video that appeals to your target audience, you will be able to connect to the people that are most likely to purchase from you. Also, you will create a following of people who will be eager to see what you will do next.
Creating a Video Series
When you create a video animation series, you are going a step further than just creating one video. By creating a series, you are creating a need to return to your site to see what you will do next. This is the same technique that Hollywood producers have used for decades to increase interest in a concept. They simply create a weekly series, create a hook, and find sponsors to promote their idea. This usually results in increased revenue for their studio and higher rankings for their network.
Why video marketing is so powerful: Creating a 'Hook'
Creating a hook for your content is one of the most important things you must do to capture the attention of your intended audience. How you do this is up to you, but below are a few ways that others have found successful.
- Set up the situation to grab attention.– Like a daytime serial that hooks people from day to day, you need to come up with a situation that will capture their attention. You can use your central characters to present the hook by laying out the situation at the beginning of the video.
- Give facts or statistics.– Starting your video with an interesting statistic can open the door to increasing the motivation of your target audience. Make the fact or statistic something that you know your audience will be interested in knowing, not just a random fact or statistic. Make the statistic the hook that you will expound upon within the rest of the video.
- Create interesting characters.– With video animation, you have the full creative freedom that allows you to create interesting characters that can present the script in an interesting way. Just like in a TV drama involving real people,
you need to find a way to connect to your audience with your main characters. Get your audience to care about what happens to your main characters in order to have a successful video series. - Present a problem and solve it.– If you want to capture your audience's attention, present a problem that they can relate to. Then use the rest of the episode or explainer video to solve the problem. Don't forget to lead into your call to action at the end of the video by leading them to act on your offer.
Including a call to action
Make sure to include the call to action on your website as well as within your video. It's fine to add the action that you want your viewers to do within your video, but you will also want to incorporate it into your website with a visible link that people can click on for more information. Creating an actionable result is the ultimate goal of a good website.
Using a simple phrase such as 'find out more' can go a long way toward inciting action from your call to action. It's simpler than you might think but it must be included to take advantage of the opportunity.
About the Design
3 Ways To Use Animation On Your Website Using
When it comes to the design of your website, you should start with a user-friendly interface and platform that is easy to use and not confusing to your target audience. Remember that you are presenting your 'sales pitch' for your brand through your website. Therefore, your website should be easy to use, and your navigation should lead customers to your options without technical errors.
This involves creating a site that is responsive as well as easy to use. With so many components involved, this process can be confusing. When you feel overwhelmed at knowing what you should include and how to put it all together, contact us.
Our advanced design team can help you include a number of different components for your website including
- 2D and 3D animation
- Infographics
- Professional video integration
- Social media integration
- Multiple platform options
Getting Started
3 Ways To Use Animation On Your Website For Beginners
If you are ready to start creating an original video or animation to increase your leads and conversions, contact us. At Animated Video, we have years of experience helping business owners make a connection with their target audience while creating hype for their brand. Contact us for a free estimate, and we'll get started right away on your website. Having a great website is the first step you must take to creating the best experiences for your target audience.
Getting their attention is half the battle. The rest is up to you.