Parallax is a difference in the in the apparent position of an object viewed along different lines of sight. The term derives from the Greek word parallaxis, meaning alteration. In web design, the parallax effect is a relatively new trend. The effect itself has been around for a while, but lately is becoming more used and talked about.
The Parallax effect or parallax scrolling in web design is the technique that features layered images that move around the website in different speeds/perspectives creating a nice and interesting 3D illusion. We gathered some examples of websites using the parallax effect to inspire you. This effect certainly makes scrolling around websites an interesting experience.
cultural solutions uk
Campaign Monitor is Hiring
International Watch Co
Nike Better World
Old Pulteney Row to the Pole
Webdesign Karlsruhe
YEBO Creative
Head2Heart
Len M
iutopi
Drupalcon Denver 2012
Ben the Body Guard
Fingerbilliards
Kisko Labs
Guy Vernes
Netlash-bSeen
Egopop Creative Studio
Jan Ploch
Web is Beautiful
unfold
manufacture d’essai
Wow, nice collection! Thanks for sharing! Keep up the good work! 🙂
I love Head2Heart, really beautifully done. Thanks for the inspiring collection.
A really fantastic list showing a really intelligent and impressive style of web design. I would love to learn more about how to do this, if anyone knows of any discussions or possible tutorials I could have a go at I would be really grateful. I’m a big fan of Cultural Solutions and YEBO Creative and I love the way unfold appears to be sliding diagonally.
Some tutorials:
http://www.ianlunn.co.uk/blog/code-tutorials/recreate-nikebetterworld-parallax/
http://www.tutorialshock.com/tutorials/single-page-portfolio-vertical-parallax-jquery-css/
http://thinkvitamin.com/design/how-to-recreate-silverbacks-parallax-effect/
I love these, I didn’t even know what Parallax meant until this post.
I agree with Head2Heart, that’s a really nice one. Iutopi is my fav I love the grainy vector artwork and the scrolling effect works so well with the diving theme. The site design makes you want to scroll through all of the content and reach the bottom!
I haven’t worked may way through the whole list yet, but the awful user experience of the first few – viewed in Chrome and Firefox 4 on Linux – offer a compelling argument against ever doing this.
I love the Parallax scrolling when I am on my desktop with two 25″ monitors, But on an ipad, almonst none of these designs worked. I wonder who these designerrs are aiming at?
These are wonderful!
I remember first seeing parallax scrolling in “Shadow of the Beast” on the Amiga. I didn’t think I’d still be getting excited about it 20 years later!
I LOVED “Shadow of the Beast!” 🙂
now, back on topic…
Webdesign Karlsruhe intrigued me a great deal. Basing the scrolling on mouse movement was a little disconcerting at first, but proved rather effective once you get the hang of it.
Check this site out aswell: http://www.moodsofnorway.com
Hmm… pretty similar to this post a few weeks ago.
Very nice collection of websites. If you’re interested in such sites using paralax to render compelling effects, I’m sure you will want to check this full HTML5 Comics created by the French studio “Steaw Webdesign” :
http://www.nevermindthebullets.com/
You can also create your own comics, and share with friends 😉
Enjoy !
/CL
Totally agree with Chris Ovenden. I couldn’t get through the first few. Distracting and glitchy. The idea itself, if done in a subtle way where it doesn’t detract from the content, isn’t bad, but the reality is just awful. I would never use this in a design.
Really cool! I didn´t know what it meant until I found this post.
Not mentioned, but example as well: http://www.sheepy.me (with depth illusion)
Realy good one, not mentioned here is BeerCamp … if you keep scrolling on the beer camp site you get the inception spinning top.
The very first one looks amazing.. really a unique design! Parallax is indeed the hippy trend now.
I’ve been browsing different sites for modern design ideas, i was wondering why i haven’t got to your site at the first place. Your collections are cool. I’m trying to browse most of your design to learn more.
You’re site is now bookmarked! thank you for sharing your ideas.
Graham
info@jdesign.net.au
Super!
To be honest, except for maybe head2heart, they were all horrible in user experience.
Not sure these were the best in the bunch to pick from to show what parallax is all about. It would be better to see them in less evasive examples.
This new Lars Von Trier site for Melancholia does a nice job of parallax scrolling too.
http://www.melancholiathemovie.com/
Thanks Giselle for this article. But please fix the name of our website. Its Iutopi. not Iutopia. Thanks again
Sorry for that! Just updated.
These are all great examples and really cool websites! Great inspiration.
Really cool special effect! I did run into the sites like that a few times in the past, but had no idea how it’s called. Thanks for an inspiring round up and the tutorials in the comment section. Really appreciate it!
Many beautiful examples that help the designer to quickly come up with ideas for your new design. Sure, thanks for this nice article
wow!
I didn’t even know what Parallax meant until before this post, very different and very creative concepts. I loved the designs and layouts.
So, what’s the final verdict? The UX’ers vs. the designers
Thank you for the crazy creativity, yes we have to be crazy to make creative work like this, i looooooove it
This site also has parallax scrolling http://www.jtypevan.com/ The vans change every time you go to a different page. I love the way they bounce along!
This is a step backwards. They may look pretty but it just doesn’t work.It’s that never ending search for gimmicks that destroys the UI integrity. Go easy with this….
Great collection of web sites, Before this post i dnt even heard of “parallax” word. But now its amazing to see parallax on website too. This is an amazing creation. I had spent lot of time to go through all those sites, Thans for clubbing together all parallax sites
I used this on my website header: http://beantowndesign.com Try dragging the screen to different widths, see the building and clouds move differently.
Very nice from a visual standpoint. From a usability standpoint, some are more effective than others.
Also check http://www.demodern.de/
Do you any idea how to duplicate this website scrolling feature? thanks.
Hello Friend ,
Nice Comments
I am here to know about the web designing, such as how to add two different images but make sure partition should invisible.
All of them are nice, creative and innovative but mess up with eyes and mind when u try to scroll.
It’s really wow collection.
I like it.
Thanks to share.
Check out NewZealand.com. A nice example!
The Dentsu Network site is another really nice example
http://www.dentsunetwork.com/
Wow,
good collection, great inspiration.
Check this dynamic 3D cloudy sky parallax webpage: http://bit.ly/vWDYlK
This is an awesome list! Many thanks! This is also another site that does a really good job with the parallax effect. http://www.gibsonsfinest.ca/
This is the best source on the web for inspiring digital design. Thank you so very much.
Just launched my first parallax scrolling site http://www.visconnect.de – screen adjusted and smart-phone safe 😉
with mooTools and Contao CMS
Nice, another good web design scrolling parallax for happy new year digital card : http://bit.ly/AaIDit,
Very nice parallax design!
Really nice post! Really interesting webdesign technology!
I would recomment one more site like these: http://www.webseitenfactory.de/
Great selection of Parallax scrolling effect. I launched my redesigned portfolio site with this in mind. Please check it out: http://digitaljoni.com
There are lots of cool animations and features to the site. Watch the flying airship fly by as you scroll down.
nice work ya
This is also parallax 🙂 = http://www.thisisnowexhibition.com/
looks very descrete not to much fancy, and it can be used and for some blogs and for bussines websites… Thx!
Great trend and great websites!
There’s a beautiful implementation of parallax background photography on travel magazine Peregrine’s website: http://peregrinemag.com/desert-calling-negotiating-the-edge-of-existence-in-the-namib/
Very nice 🙂