frames/skills/frames-animation/rules/scale-swap-transition.md

name, description, metadata

name	description	metadata
scale-swap-transition	Coordinated shrink-out + spring pop-in morph-like transition between two elements — no SVG path interpolation needed.	tags transition, morph, scale, swap, spring, pop

Scale-Swap Transition

Simulates a "morph" between two DOM elements by overlapping exit and entrance scale animations. Lighter weight than card-morph-anchor.md (which morphs container dimensions — use that for SHAPE changes; this rule is for SAME-shape state swaps) and easier than SVG path interpolation.

At a single trigger, two coordinated tweens fire:

1. Outgoing: scale 1.0 → EXIT_SCALE + opacity 1 → 0, fast power2.in (rushing away).
2. Incoming: scale EXIT_SCALE → 1.0 + opacity 0 → 1, back.out(BOUNCE_FACTOR) (arriving with weight).

A small OVERLAP window during which both are mid-tween creates the morph illusion; the incoming sits on top via z-index so the outgoing's fade-tail doesn't bleed through.

Recipe

<!-- Both cards position: absolute; inset: 0 in one fixed-size wrapper — same
     footprint, same transform-origin: 50% 50%. Incoming starts opacity: 0,
     transform: scale(EXIT_SCALE), z-index above the outgoing. -->
<div class="swap-wrap">
  <div class="card outgoing" id="outgoing">{outgoingIcon} {outgoingLabel}</div>
  <div class="card incoming" id="incoming">
    {incomingIcon} {incomingLabel}
    <div class="sub" id="sub">{incomingSubline}</div>
  </div>
</div>

// Outgoing: shrink + fade fast
tl.to(
  "#outgoing",
  { scale: EXIT_SCALE, opacity: 0, duration: EXIT_DUR, ease: "power2.in" },
  TRIGGER,
);

// Incoming: pops in with overshoot, starting OVERLAP before the exit finishes
tl.to(
  "#incoming",
  { scale: 1.0, opacity: 1, duration: ENTER_DUR, ease: `back.out(${BOUNCE_FACTOR})` },
  TRIGGER + EXIT_DUR - OVERLAP,
);

// Inner content reveals AFTER the incoming settles
tl.fromTo(
  "#sub",
  { opacity: 0, y: SUB_REVEAL_Y_PX },
  { opacity: 1, y: 0, duration: SUB_REVEAL_DUR, ease: "power3.out" },
  TRIGGER + EXIT_DUR + SUB_REVEAL_DELAY,
);

Variations

• Delayed inner content reveal — the classic pattern above: morph the container, then reveal inner text once it settles; the 0.2–0.4 s gap lets the eye land on the new shape before reading.
• Triple swap (3-state cycle) — chain A→B→C with triggers TRIGGER_AB / TRIGGER_BC; each transition is its own tween pair, the previous incoming becoming the next outgoing. State-evolution narratives (early → mid → final labels).
• Color-shift transition (no scale) — for a flat morph between same-shape states, drop the scale and keep opacity + a brief background hue tween; less dramatic, more product-UI tone.

Values

token	range	notes
TRIGGER	≥ outgoing settled + a presence-dwell	the outgoing must "land" before transforming
EXIT_DUR	0.3–0.5 s
ENTER_DUR	0.45–0.7 s	longer than EXIT_DUR so the overshoot can settle
OVERLAP	0.1–0.2 s	>0.3 s both are clearly visible together (no morph); <0.05 s leaves a visible empty gap
EXIT_SCALE	0.6–0.8	smaller exits feel dramatic but risk reading as "vanish" instead of "morph"
BOUNCE_FACTOR	1.4 soft · 1.8 firm · 2.2 cartoony
SUB_REVEAL_DELAY	0.2–0.4 s	reveals during the morph compete with the swap for attention
BRAND_REVEAL_AT	< TRIGGER	context (brand, eyebrow) sets the stage early; revealed AT the swap it competes with the headline beat

Critical Constraints

• Incoming z-index ABOVE outgoing — otherwise the outgoing's fade-tail (opacity 0.3–0.5) bleeds through and double-exposes the frame.
• Both elements share transform-origin: 50% 50% — different origins make the morph read as one thing teleporting elsewhere.
• Bouncy ease ONLY on the incoming — outgoing power2.in, incoming back.out; reversed, the swap feels mechanical.
• Both cards position: absolute; inset: 0 in the same fixed-size wrapper (sized to fit both states; the wrap never resizes).
• Don't display: none the outgoing after the fade — leave it at opacity: 0 so layout doesn't reflow.
• Inner content reveals after the container settles; climax dwell ≥ 1 s after the final state + subline land.

See also

press-release-spring (a button press TRIGGERS the swap — cause and effect) · card-morph-anchor (shape-changing alternative) · reactive-displacement (when the replacement should read as a causal collision) · sine-wave-loop (idle breathing on the final state).