I have successfully implemented the parallaxing background effect several times before on Codepen and in small, experimental projects.
My go-to tutorial for this technique is this one by Keith Clark.
Here is the structure outlined in the tutorial:
<div class="parallax">
<div class="parallax__layer parallax__layer--back">
...
</div>
<div class="parallax__layer parallax__layer--base">
...
</div>
</div>
Key CSS properties mentioned in the tutorial:
.parallax {
...
perspective: 1px;
}
.parallax__layer--base {
transform: translateZ(0);
}
.parallax__layer--back {
transform: translateZ(-1px);
}
In essence, the .parallax element adds a sense of depth perception, enabling a 3D viewing experience.
The foreground layer .parallax__layer--base remains at its original position (z-axis: 0), while the background layer .parallax__layer--back slightly recedes along the z-axis.
As you scroll within the .parallax element, the layers' movement creates a visually appealing parallax effect.
However, what if we want to apply this effect on a larger, multi-section webpage?
<div class='home'>
...
<div class="parallax">
<div class="parallax__layer parallax__layer--back">
...
</div>
<div class="parallax__layer parallax__layer--base">
...
</div>
</div>
...
</div>
The CSS and markup structure remain unchanged. Now, as you scroll through the .home section, not the .parallax, the 3D space illusion still applies—albeit confined to the .perspective element's scope.
Is there a method to extend this perspective to the children or grandchildren of the homepage, or must each page division be individually segmented into foreground and background components to maintain the parallax effect?