How to flip any background image using CSS? Is it possible?
currenty I'm using this arrow image in a background-image of li in css
On :visited I need to flip this arrow horizontally. I can do this to make another image of arrow BUT I'm just curious to know is it possible to flip the image in CSS for :visited
5 Answers
You can flip it horizontally with CSS...
a:visited {
-moz-transform: scaleX(-1);
-o-transform: scaleX(-1);
-webkit-transform: scaleX(-1);
transform: scaleX(-1);
filter: FlipH;
-ms-filter: "FlipH";
}
If you want to flip vertically instead...
a:visited {
-moz-transform: scaleY(-1);
-o-transform: scaleY(-1);
-webkit-transform: scaleY(-1);
transform: scaleY(-1);
filter: FlipV;
-ms-filter: "FlipV";
}
I found I way to flip only the background not whole element after seeing a clue to flip in Alex's answer. Thanks alex for your answer
HTML
<div class="prev"><a href="">Previous</a></div>
<div class="next"><a href="">Next</a></div>
CSS
.next a, .prev a {
width:200px;
background:#fff
}
.next {
float:left
}
.prev {
float:right
}
.prev a:before, .next a:before {
content:"";
width:16px;
height:16px;
margin:0 5px 0 0;
background:url() no-repeat 0 0;
display:inline-block
}
.next a:before {
margin:0 0 0 5px;
transform:scaleX(-1);
}
See example here
According to w3schools:
The transform property is supported in Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, and Opera. Internet Explorer 9 supports an alternative, the -ms-transform property (2D transforms only). Safari and Chrome support an alternative, the -webkit-transform property (3D and 2D transforms). Opera supports 2D transforms only.
This is a 2D transform, so it should work, with the vendor prefixes, on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and IE9+.
Other answers used :before to stop it from flipping the inner content. I used this on my footer (to vertically-mirror the image from my header):
HTML:
<footer>
<p><a href="page">Footer Link</a></p>
<p>© 2014 Company</p>
</footer>
CSS:
footer {
background:url(/img/headerbg.png) repeat-x 0 0;
/* flip background vertically */
-webkit-transform:scaleY(-1);
-moz-transform:scaleY(-1);
-ms-transform:scaleY(-1);
-o-transform:scaleY(-1);
transform:scaleY(-1);
}
/* undo the vertical flip for all child elements */
footer * {
-webkit-transform:scaleY(-1);
-moz-transform:scaleY(-1);
-ms-transform:scaleY(-1);
-o-transform:scaleY(-1);
transform:scaleY(-1);
}
So you end up flipping the element and then re-flipping all its children. Works with nested elements, too.
For what it's worth, for Gecko-based browsers you can't condition this thing off of :visited due to the resulting privacy leaks. See
You can flip both vertical and horizontal at the same time
-moz-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
-o-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
-webkit-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
And with the transition property you can get a cool flip
-webkit-transition: transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
-moz-transition: transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
-o-transition: transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
transition: transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
transition-property: transform;
transition-duration: .4s;
transition-timing-function: ease-out;
transition-delay: 0ms;
Actually it flips the whole element, not just the background-image
SNIPPET
function flip(){
var myDiv = document.getElementById('myDiv');
if (myDiv.className == 'myFlipedDiv'){
myDiv.className = '';
}else{
myDiv.className = 'myFlipedDiv';
}
}#myDiv{
display:inline-block;
width:200px;
height:20px;
padding:90px;
background-color:red;
text-align:center;
-webkit-transition:transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
-moz-transition:transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
-o-transition:transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
transition:transform .4s ease-out 0ms;
transition-property:transform;
transition-duration:.4s;
transition-timing-function:ease-out;
transition-delay:0ms;
}
.myFlipedDiv{
-moz-transform:scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
-o-transform:scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
-webkit-transform:scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
transform:scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1);
}<div id="myDiv">Some content here</div>
<button onclick="flip()">Click to flip</button>
