`scale3d()` CSS function

The scale3d() CSS function defines a transformation that resizes an element in 3D space. Because the amount of scaling is defined by a vector [sx, sy, sz], it can resize different dimensions at different scales. Its result is a <transform-function> data type.

transform: scale3d(1, 1, 1);

transform: scale3d(1.3, 1.3, 1.3);

transform: scale3d(0.5, 1, 1.7);

transform: scale3d(-1.4, 0.4, 0.7);

<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="transition-all" id="example-element">
    <div class="face front">1</div>
    <div class="face back">2</div>
    <div class="face right">3</div>
    <div class="face left">4</div>
    <div class="face top">5</div>
    <div class="face bottom">6</div>
  </div>
</section>

#default-example {
  background: linear-gradient(skyblue, khaki);
  perspective: 800px;
  perspective-origin: 150% 150%;
}

#example-element {
  width: 100px;
  height: 100px;
  perspective: 550px;
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
}

.face {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  position: absolute;
  backface-visibility: inherit;
  font-size: 60px;
  color: white;
}

.front {
  background: rgb(90 90 90 / 0.7);
  transform: translateZ(50px);
}

.back {
  background: rgb(0 210 0 / 0.7);
  transform: rotateY(180deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.right {
  background: rgb(210 0 0 / 0.7);
  transform: rotateY(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.left {
  background: rgb(0 0 210 / 0.7);
  transform: rotateY(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.top {
  background: rgb(210 210 0 / 0.7);
  transform: rotateX(90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

.bottom {
  background: rgb(210 0 210 / 0.7);
  transform: rotateX(-90deg) translateZ(50px);
}

This scaling transformation is characterized by a three-dimensional vector. Its coordinates define how much scaling is done in each direction. If all three coordinates are equal, the scaling is uniform (isotropic) and the aspect ratio of the element is preserved (this is a homothetic transformation).

When a coordinate value is outside the [-1, 1] range, the element grows along that dimension; when inside, it shrinks. If it is negative, the result is a point reflection in that dimension. A value of 1 has no effect.

Syntax

scale3d(sx, sy, sz)

Values

• sx
  • : Is a <number> representing the abscissa (horizontal, x-component) of the scaling vector.
• sy
  • : Is a <number> representing the ordinate (vertical, y-component) of the scaling vector.
• sz
  • : Is a <number> representing the z-component of the scaling vector.

Cartesian coordinates on ℝ^2	Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ^2	Cartesian coordinates on ℝ^3	Homogeneous coordinates on ℝℙ^3
This transformation applies to the 3D space and can't be represented on the plane.		$$\left( \begin{array}{ccc} sx & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & sy & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & sz \end{array} \right)$$	$$\left( \begin{array}{cccc} sx & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & sy & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & sz & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array} \right)$$

Formal syntax

Examples

Without changing the origin

HTML

<div>Normal</div>
<div class="scaled">Scaled</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 80px;
  height: 80px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.scaled {
  transform: perspective(500px) scale3d(2, 0.7, 0.2) translateZ(100px);
  background-color: pink;
}

Result

Translating the origin of the transformation

HTML

<div>Normal</div>
<div class="scaled">Scaled</div>

CSS

div {
  width: 80px;
  height: 80px;
  background-color: skyblue;
}

.scaled {
  transform: perspective(500px) scale3d(2, 0.7, 0.2) translateZ(100px);
  transform-origin: left;
  background-color: pink;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• transform
• <transform-function>
• scaleZ()
• translate3d()
• rotate3d()
• Individual transform properties:
  • translate
  • scale
  • rotate