HTML&CSS · December 20, 2023

Css Basic: mask-mode

CSS Basics: mask-mode

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a powerful tool that allows web developers to control the visual appearance of their websites. One of the lesser-known CSS properties is mask-mode, which provides a way to apply masks to elements. In this article, we will explore the basics of mask-mode and how it can be used to enhance the design of your website.

What is mask-mode?

mask-mode is a CSS property that determines how an element's mask is displayed. A mask is an image or a gradient that is used to selectively show or hide parts of an element. It is similar to the concept of a stencil, where the mask acts as a template for the element's visibility.

The mask-mode property accepts several values:

  • alpha: The mask is treated as an alpha mask, where the transparency of the mask determines the visibility of the element.
  • luminance: The mask is treated as a luminance mask, where the brightness of the mask determines the visibility of the element.
  • match-source: The mask is treated as a direct copy of the source image, where the pixel values of the mask are used to determine the visibility of the element.

How to use mask-mode

To apply a mask to an element, you need to define both the mask image and the mask-mode property. Here's an example:

.masked-element {
  mask-image: url('mask.png');
  mask-mode: alpha;
}

In the example above, the mask-image property specifies the URL of the mask image, and the mask-mode property is set to alpha. This means that the transparency of the mask image will determine the visibility of the element.

You can also use gradients as masks. Here's an example:

.masked-element {
  mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, black, transparent);
  mask-mode: luminance;
}

In this example, a linear gradient is used as the mask. The gradient starts with black at the top and transitions to transparent at the bottom. The mask-mode property is set to luminance, which means that the brightness of the gradient will determine the visibility of the element.

Browser support

It's important to note that the mask-mode property is not supported in all browsers. As of now, it is supported in modern versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. However, it is not supported in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge.

Conclusion

mask-mode is a powerful CSS property that allows you to apply masks to elements, selectively showing or hiding parts of them. By using masks, you can create visually stunning effects and enhance the design of your website. While mask-mode is not supported in all browsers, it is worth considering if you want to take your web design to the next level.

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