12 CSS Ripple Effects10 / 12

Pure CSSMIT licensed

CSS Liquid Drop Ripple Animation

Three liquid-drop simulations with physically accurate CSS morphing — each drop shape-shifts border-radius from oval to sphere on fall then squishes on impact — followed by elliptical concentric ripple rings (width and height animated separately for perspective foreshortening). Amber, indigo and rose on a warm cream background. Playfair Display + Lato.

Published

Live Demo
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This is a full-page demo — interact inside the frame above, or open it in the playground for the full-screen experience.

The code

<div class="rpl-10">
  <div class="rpl-10__header">
    <h1>Liquid Drop<br>Ripple Animation</h1>
    <p>CSS-only falling drops with elliptical surface ripple rings</p>
  </div>

  <div class="rpl-10__stage">
    <!-- Amber drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--a">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Amber</div>
    </div>

    <!-- Indigo drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--b">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Indigo</div>
    </div>

    <!-- Rose drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--c">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Rose</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="rpl-10__info">
    <p>Each drop uses a <strong>border-radius morph</strong> on fall, then elliptical <strong>scale + fade rings</strong> on impact — the perspective foreshortening is achieved by animating height and width separately. Pure CSS, no JavaScript.</p>
  </div>
</div>
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Playfair+Display:wght@400;700&family=Lato:wght@300;400;700&display=swap');

.rpl-10,
.rpl-10 *,
.rpl-10 *::before,
.rpl-10 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.rpl-10 ::selection {
  background: #fb923c;
  color: #fff;
}

.rpl-10 {
  font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
  background: linear-gradient(160deg, #fff8f0 0%, #fef3e2 50%, #fff8f0 100%);
  min-height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  gap: 64px;
  padding: 60px 24px;
  color: #2c1a08;
}

.rpl-10__header {
  text-align: center;
}

.rpl-10__header h1 {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display';
  font-size: clamp(2rem, 6vw, 3.4rem);
  font-weight: 700;
  color: #2c1a08;
  line-height: 1.1;
}

.rpl-10__header p {
  margin-top: 12px;
  color: rgba(44,26,8,0.5);
  font-weight: 300;
  font-size: 0.95rem;
  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
}
/* ─── Drop showcase ─── */

.rpl-10__stage {
  display: flex;
  gap: 56px;
  align-items: flex-end;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  justify-content: center;
}

.rpl-10__drop-group {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 16px;
}
/* The "liquid surface" */

.rpl-10__surface {
  width: 180px;
  position: relative;
}
/* The drop falling */

.rpl-10__falling-drop {
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50% 50% 50% 50% / 40% 40% 60% 60%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
  background: radial-gradient(circle at 35% 30%, rgba(255,255,255,0.8), currentColor 60%);
  box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 4px rgba(255,255,255,0.5), inset -2px -2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
  animation: rpl-10-fall linear infinite;
}
/* Ripple circles on surface */

.rpl-10__ripple-set {
  position: relative;
  height: 60px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.rpl-10__r {
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  animation: rpl-10-ring ease-out infinite;
}

@keyframes rpl-10-fall {
  0% {
    top: -50px;
    height: 12px;
    width: 10px;
    opacity: 0;
  }

  40% {
    opacity: 1;
  }

  80% {
    top: -8px;
    height: 14px;
    width: 10px;
    opacity: 1;
    border-radius: 50% 50% 50% 50% / 40% 40% 60% 60%;
  }

  85% {
    top: -4px;
    height: 8px;
    width: 16px;
    opacity: 1;
    border-radius: 50%;
  }

  90% {
    top: 0;
    height: 4px;
    width: 20px;
    opacity: 0.7;
  }

  100% {
    top: 0;
    height: 0;
    width: 22px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}
/* DROP A — amber */

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #f59e0b;
  width: 12px;
  animation-duration: 2.2s;
  animation-delay: 0s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(245,158,11,0.7);
  animation-duration: 2s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 0.5s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 0.8s;
  border-color: rgba(245,158,11,0.45);
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 1.1s;
  border-color: rgba(245,158,11,0.2);
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__label {
  color: #d97706;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-timing-function: ease-out;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  --max: 100px;
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-a {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 100px;
    height: 40px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-a;
}
/* DROP B — indigo */

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #6366f1;
  width: 14px;
  animation-duration: 2.8s;
  animation-delay: 0.6s;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(99,102,241,0.7);
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 1.2s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 1.6s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
  border-color: rgba(99,102,241,0.4);
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 2.0s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
  border-color: rgba(99,102,241,0.18);
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-b {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 120px;
    height: 50px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-b;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__label {
  color: #4f46e5;
}
/* DROP C — rose */

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #ec4899;
  width: 10px;
  animation-duration: 1.8s;
  animation-delay: 1.1s;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(236,72,153,0.7);
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 1.6s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 1.9s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
  border-color: rgba(236,72,153,0.4);
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 2.2s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
  border-color: rgba(236,72,153,0.18);
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-c {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 80px;
    height: 32px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-c;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__label {
  color: #db2777;
}
/* Surface line */

.rpl-10__line {
  width: 100%;
  height: 2px;
  border-radius: 1px;
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, currentColor, transparent);
  opacity: 0.3;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__line {
  color: #f59e0b;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__line {
  color: #6366f1;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__line {
  color: #ec4899;
}

.rpl-10__label {
  font-size: 0.72rem;
  letter-spacing: 0.15em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  opacity: 0.7;
}
/* Info text */

.rpl-10__info {
  max-width: 520px;
  text-align: center;
}

.rpl-10__info p {
  font-size: 0.95rem;
  line-height: 1.7;
  color: rgba(44,26,8,0.5);
  font-weight: 300;
}

.rpl-10__info strong {
  color: #2c1a08;
  font-weight: 700;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .rpl-10__falling-drop,
    .rpl-10__r {
    animation: none !important;
    opacity: 0.3;
  }
}
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any coding assistant. The block below is pre-framed with everything the AI needs to integrate this demo into your project — markup, styles, scoping notes, and the source URL. Hit Copy and paste straight into your chat.
Here's a working CSS Ripple Effect from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: CSS Liquid Drop Ripple Animation
Source: https://codefronts.com/motion/css-ripple-designs/css-liquid-drop-ripple-animation/

Three liquid-drop simulations with physically accurate CSS morphing — each drop shape-shifts border-radius from oval to sphere on fall then squishes on impact — followed by elliptical concentric ripple rings (width and height animated separately for perspective foreshortening). Amber, indigo and rose on a warm cream background. Playfair Display + Lato.
## HTML
```html
<div class="rpl-10">
  <div class="rpl-10__header">
    <h1>Liquid Drop<br>Ripple Animation</h1>
    <p>CSS-only falling drops with elliptical surface ripple rings</p>
  </div>

  <div class="rpl-10__stage">
    <!-- Amber drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--a">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Amber</div>
    </div>

    <!-- Indigo drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--b">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Indigo</div>
    </div>

    <!-- Rose drop -->
    <div class="rpl-10__drop-group rpl-10__group--c">
      <div class="rpl-10__surface">
        <div class="rpl-10__falling-drop"></div>
        <div class="rpl-10__ripple-set">
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
          <div class="rpl-10__r"></div>
        </div>
        <div class="rpl-10__line"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="rpl-10__label">Rose</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="rpl-10__info">
    <p>Each drop uses a <strong>border-radius morph</strong> on fall, then elliptical <strong>scale + fade rings</strong> on impact — the perspective foreshortening is achieved by animating height and width separately. Pure CSS, no JavaScript.</p>
  </div>
</div>
```
## CSS
```css
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Playfair+Display:wght@400;700&family=Lato:wght@300;400;700&display=swap');

.rpl-10,
.rpl-10 *,
.rpl-10 *::before,
.rpl-10 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.rpl-10 ::selection {
  background: #fb923c;
  color: #fff;
}

.rpl-10 {
  font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
  background: linear-gradient(160deg, #fff8f0 0%, #fef3e2 50%, #fff8f0 100%);
  min-height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  gap: 64px;
  padding: 60px 24px;
  color: #2c1a08;
}

.rpl-10__header {
  text-align: center;
}

.rpl-10__header h1 {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display';
  font-size: clamp(2rem, 6vw, 3.4rem);
  font-weight: 700;
  color: #2c1a08;
  line-height: 1.1;
}

.rpl-10__header p {
  margin-top: 12px;
  color: rgba(44,26,8,0.5);
  font-weight: 300;
  font-size: 0.95rem;
  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
}
/* ─── Drop showcase ─── */

.rpl-10__stage {
  display: flex;
  gap: 56px;
  align-items: flex-end;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  justify-content: center;
}

.rpl-10__drop-group {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 16px;
}
/* The "liquid surface" */

.rpl-10__surface {
  width: 180px;
  position: relative;
}
/* The drop falling */

.rpl-10__falling-drop {
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50% 50% 50% 50% / 40% 40% 60% 60%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
  background: radial-gradient(circle at 35% 30%, rgba(255,255,255,0.8), currentColor 60%);
  box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 4px rgba(255,255,255,0.5), inset -2px -2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
  animation: rpl-10-fall linear infinite;
}
/* Ripple circles on surface */

.rpl-10__ripple-set {
  position: relative;
  height: 60px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.rpl-10__r {
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  animation: rpl-10-ring ease-out infinite;
}

@keyframes rpl-10-fall {
  0% {
    top: -50px;
    height: 12px;
    width: 10px;
    opacity: 0;
  }

  40% {
    opacity: 1;
  }

  80% {
    top: -8px;
    height: 14px;
    width: 10px;
    opacity: 1;
    border-radius: 50% 50% 50% 50% / 40% 40% 60% 60%;
  }

  85% {
    top: -4px;
    height: 8px;
    width: 16px;
    opacity: 1;
    border-radius: 50%;
  }

  90% {
    top: 0;
    height: 4px;
    width: 20px;
    opacity: 0.7;
  }

  100% {
    top: 0;
    height: 0;
    width: 22px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}
/* DROP A — amber */

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #f59e0b;
  width: 12px;
  animation-duration: 2.2s;
  animation-delay: 0s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(245,158,11,0.7);
  animation-duration: 2s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 0.5s;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 0.8s;
  border-color: rgba(245,158,11,0.45);
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 1.1s;
  border-color: rgba(245,158,11,0.2);
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__label {
  color: #d97706;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-timing-function: ease-out;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  --max: 100px;
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-a {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 100px;
    height: 40px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-a;
}
/* DROP B — indigo */

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #6366f1;
  width: 14px;
  animation-duration: 2.8s;
  animation-delay: 0.6s;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(99,102,241,0.7);
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 1.2s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 1.6s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
  border-color: rgba(99,102,241,0.4);
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 2.0s;
  animation-duration: 2.4s;
  border-color: rgba(99,102,241,0.18);
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-b {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 120px;
    height: 50px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-b;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__label {
  color: #4f46e5;
}
/* DROP C — rose */

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__falling-drop {
  color: #ec4899;
  width: 10px;
  animation-duration: 1.8s;
  animation-delay: 1.1s;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r {
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(236,72,153,0.7);
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(1) {
  animation-delay: 1.6s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(2) {
  animation-delay: 1.9s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
  border-color: rgba(236,72,153,0.4);
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r:nth-child(3) {
  animation-delay: 2.2s;
  animation-duration: 1.6s;
  border-color: rgba(236,72,153,0.18);
}

@keyframes rpl-10-ring-c {
  0% {
    width: 0;
    height: 0;
    opacity: 0.9;
  }

  100% {
    width: 80px;
    height: 32px;
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__r {
  animation-name: rpl-10-ring-c;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__label {
  color: #db2777;
}
/* Surface line */

.rpl-10__line {
  width: 100%;
  height: 2px;
  border-radius: 1px;
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, currentColor, transparent);
  opacity: 0.3;
}

.rpl-10__group--a .rpl-10__line {
  color: #f59e0b;
}

.rpl-10__group--b .rpl-10__line {
  color: #6366f1;
}

.rpl-10__group--c .rpl-10__line {
  color: #ec4899;
}

.rpl-10__label {
  font-size: 0.72rem;
  letter-spacing: 0.15em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  opacity: 0.7;
}
/* Info text */

.rpl-10__info {
  max-width: 520px;
  text-align: center;
}

.rpl-10__info p {
  font-size: 0.95rem;
  line-height: 1.7;
  color: rgba(44,26,8,0.5);
  font-weight: 300;
}

.rpl-10__info strong {
  color: #2c1a08;
  font-weight: 700;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .rpl-10__falling-drop,
    .rpl-10__r {
    animation: none !important;
    opacity: 0.3;
  }
}
```

Techniques used in this demo

radial-gradient()MDN ↗@keyframesMDN ↗clamp()MDN ↗

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