Creating a Thumbnail Flow Animation with GSAP MotionPath
This experiment was inspired by a motion study shared by Rron Berisha. While recreating the idea for the web, I became interested in how GSAP’s MotionPath plugin could be used to create fluid transitions between different gallery states using only a few control points.
This experiment was inspired by a motion study shared by Rron Berisha. While recreating the idea for the web, I became interested in how GSAP’s MotionPath plugin could be used to create fluid transitions between different gallery states using only a few control points.
In this tutorial, we’ll build a simple proof-of-concept image gallery where a stack of overlapping thumbnails expands into a vertical image strip that reveals a featured image. The gallery itself isn’t intended to be fully functional. Instead, the goal is to explore how a small amount of motion-path logic can create a surprisingly organic transition.
In this tutorial, we’ll build a simple proof-of-concept image gallery where a stack of overlapping thumbnails expands into a vertical image strip that reveals a featured image. The gallery itself isn’t intended to be fully functional. Instead, the goal is to explore how a small amount of motion-path logic can create a surprisingly organic transition.
The effect relies on GSAP’s MotionPath plugin, allowing each thumbnail to follow a curved trajectory rather than moving directly from one position to another. By defining only a couple of points per image, we can create motion that feels much more dynamic than a standard position tween.
The effect relies on GSAP’s MotionPath plugin, allowing each thumbnail to follow a curved trajectory rather than moving directly from one position to another. By defining only a couple of points per image, we can create motion that feels much more dynamic than a standard position tween.
HTML Structure
HTML Structure
The HTML is intentionally minimal. We have an open button, a featured image container, and a collection of thumbnail elements.
The HTML is intentionally minimal. We have an open button, a feature...