20 Tailwind CSS Image Hover Effects
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All 20 in 20 Tailwind CSS Image Hover Effects

  1. 01Tailwind Image Hover Zoom In Card
  2. 02Tailwind Hover Reveal Text Over Image
  3. 03Tailwind E-Commerce Product Image Swap on Hover
  4. 04Tailwind Grid Image Blur Overlay Text Hover
  5. 05Tailwind Card Slide Up Caption on Hover
  6. 06Tailwind Grayscale to Color Image Hover
  7. 07Tailwind Image Color Overlay Tint on Hover
  8. 08Tailwind Neumorphic Image Card Hover Effect
  9. 09Tailwind Glassmorphism Overlay on Image Hover
  10. 10Tailwind Glowing Neon Border Image Hover
  11. 11Tailwind Image Clip-Path Transition Hover
  12. 12Tailwind Image Tilt 3D Perspective Hover
  13. 13Tailwind Shining Light Glare Image Hover
  14. 14Tailwind Image Split Transition Hover
  15. 15Tailwind Image Ripple Animation Hover
  16. 16Tailwind Circular Team Profile Avatar Hover
  17. 17Tailwind Fullscreen Background Image Hover
  18. 18Tailwind Masonry Gallery Zoom Hover
  19. 19Tailwind Image Icon Reveal Center Hover
  20. 20Tailwind Image Card Flip 3D Animation Hover
Pure TailwindMIT licensed

Tailwind Masonry Gallery Zoom Hover

Column-based masonry where the responsive column count is the whole layout: columns-2 sm:columns-3 plus break-inside-avoid on each item. The CSS version needs a media query to change column count; here it is one breakpoint prefix, which is the kind of edit this port makes trivial.

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The code

<section class="tih-18 w-full min-h-svh bg-tih18-bg font-tih18-sans px-6 py-8" aria-label="Masonry gallery zoom hover demo">
  <div class="columns-2 sm:columns-3 gap-3 w-full max-w-195 mx-auto">
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-a/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_310),oklch(0.35_0.18_298),oklch(0.55_0.24_295))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Cosmos</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-b/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.2_0.04_190),oklch(0.42_0.09_165),oklch(0.7_0.15_163))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Flora</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-c/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.18_0.03_60),oklch(0.45_0.11_60),oklch(0.78_0.16_72))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Desert</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-d/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.08_265),oklch(0.33_0.14_262),oklch(0.62_0.19_260))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Ocean</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-e/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.16_0.06_350),oklch(0.4_0.18_5),oklch(0.65_0.22_15))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Bloom</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-f/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.19_0.03_230),oklch(0.32_0.06_240),oklch(0.6_0.12_215))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Ice</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-g/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_285),oklch(0.31_0.14_280),oklch(0.5_0.2_275))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Mystic</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-h/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.2_0.05_150),oklch(0.35_0.09_150),oklch(0.8_0.16_145))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Forest</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-i/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_310),oklch(0.35_0.18_298),oklch(0.55_0.24_295))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Stars</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
  </div>
</section>
@import "tailwindcss";

@theme {
  --color-tih18-bg: #08080c;
  --color-tih18-bg: oklch(0.12 0.008 285);
  --color-tih18-text: #f1f5f9;
  --color-tih18-text: oklch(0.96 0.005 250);
  --color-tih18-muted: #64748b;
  --color-tih18-muted: oklch(0.58 0.035 255);
  --color-tih18-acc: #f43f5e;
  --color-tih18-acc: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  --font-tih18-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
  --ease-tih18: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94);
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as in the markup's
   w-full min-h-svh, so the stage is correctly sized before the browser build compiles. */

.tih-18 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
}

.tih-18 ::selection {
  background: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  color: #fff;
}

Setup — do this once per project

Skip this if your project already runs Tailwind v4.

1Load Tailwind
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@tailwindcss/browser@4"></script>

Compiles in the browser — perfect for a CodePen or a quick test, not for production.

2Add the stylesheetRequiredthe @theme block is what makes the custom utilities exist
@import "tailwindcss";

@theme {
  --color-tih18-bg: #08080c;
  --color-tih18-bg: oklch(0.12 0.008 285);
  --color-tih18-text: #f1f5f9;
  --color-tih18-text: oklch(0.96 0.005 250);
  --color-tih18-muted: #64748b;
  --color-tih18-muted: oklch(0.58 0.035 255);
  --color-tih18-acc: #f43f5e;
  --color-tih18-acc: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  --font-tih18-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
  --ease-tih18: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94);
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as in the markup's
   w-full min-h-svh, so the stage is correctly sized before the browser build compiles. */

.tih-18 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
}

.tih-18 ::selection {
  background: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  color: #fff;
}
3Fonts used by this demooptional — skip if you have your own type stack
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Space+Grotesk:wght@400;500;600;700&family=JetBrains+Mono:wght@400;500;600&display=swap">

What changed in the port

Which parts became utilities, which stayed CSS, and why.

  • columns: 3 plus a media query becomes columns-2 sm:columns-3 — the responsive column count the CSS version lists as a customization is a one-token edit here.
  • The padding-top: 140% ratio hack is replaced by aspect-[5/7] and friends, which is both the modern property and a readable ratio.
  • Eight __img--x photo rules become eight bg-[image:url(…),linear-gradient(…)] utilities, each next to the card it paints.
  • Semantic markup came along for free: <figure> and <figcaption> cost nothing in a utility port and make the gallery legible to assistive tech.
  • break-inside-avoid is a plain utility on each item, which puts the fragility of column layout where you can see it rather than in a shared rule.
  • motion-reduce:opacity-100 on the caption is load-bearing: the tag names live in the overlay, and with no motion they must simply be shown.
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 demo 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: Tailwind Masonry Gallery Zoom Hover
Source: https://codefronts.com/motion/tailwind-css-image-hover-effects/tailwind-masonry-gallery-zoom-hover/

Column-based masonry where the responsive column count is the whole layout: columns-2 sm:columns-3 plus break-inside-avoid on each item. The CSS version needs a media query to change column count; here it is one breakpoint prefix, which is the kind of edit this port makes trivial.
## HTML
```html
<section class="tih-18 w-full min-h-svh bg-tih18-bg font-tih18-sans px-6 py-8" aria-label="Masonry gallery zoom hover demo">
  <div class="columns-2 sm:columns-3 gap-3 w-full max-w-195 mx-auto">
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-a/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_310),oklch(0.35_0.18_298),oklch(0.55_0.24_295))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Cosmos</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-b/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.2_0.04_190),oklch(0.42_0.09_165),oklch(0.7_0.15_163))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Flora</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-c/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.18_0.03_60),oklch(0.45_0.11_60),oklch(0.78_0.16_72))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Desert</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-d/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.08_265),oklch(0.33_0.14_262),oklch(0.62_0.19_260))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Ocean</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-e/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.16_0.06_350),oklch(0.4_0.18_5),oklch(0.65_0.22_15))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Bloom</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-f/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.19_0.03_230),oklch(0.32_0.06_240),oklch(0.6_0.12_215))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Ice</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[3/2] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-g/600/400'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_285),oklch(0.31_0.14_280),oklch(0.5_0.2_275))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Mystic</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-[5/7] bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-h/600/840'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.2_0.05_150),oklch(0.35_0.09_150),oklch(0.8_0.16_145))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Forest</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
    <figure class="group relative block mb-3 break-inside-avoid overflow-hidden rounded-[10px]">
      <div class="aspect-square bg-[image:url('https://picsum.photos/seed/masonry-i/600/600'),linear-gradient(150deg,oklch(0.17_0.07_310),oklch(0.35_0.18_298),oklch(0.55_0.24_295))] bg-cover bg-center transition-transform duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:scale-108 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:group-hover:scale-100"></div>
      <figcaption class="absolute inset-0 flex items-end p-2.5 bg-linear-[to_top,oklch(0_0_0/0.7),transparent_60%] opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-400 ease-tih18 group-hover:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none motion-reduce:opacity-100"><span class="px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-[oklch(0.6_0.22_15/0.7)]">Stars</span></figcaption>
    </figure>
  </div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
@import "tailwindcss";

@theme {
  --color-tih18-bg: #08080c;
  --color-tih18-bg: oklch(0.12 0.008 285);
  --color-tih18-text: #f1f5f9;
  --color-tih18-text: oklch(0.96 0.005 250);
  --color-tih18-muted: #64748b;
  --color-tih18-muted: oklch(0.58 0.035 255);
  --color-tih18-acc: #f43f5e;
  --color-tih18-acc: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  --font-tih18-sans: 'Space Grotesk', system-ui, sans-serif;
  --ease-tih18: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94);
}
/* Root rule: the full-bleed contract, stated in CSS as well as in the markup's
   w-full min-h-svh, so the stage is correctly sized before the browser build compiles. */

.tih-18 {
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100svh;
}

.tih-18 ::selection {
  background: oklch(0.6 0.22 15);
  color: #fff;
}
```

How this works

Masonry is two utilities. columns-2 sm:columns-3 on the container and break-inside-avoid on each item. The browser distributes items top-to-bottom per column; nothing measures anything.

Aspect ratios, not padding hacks. The CSS version sizes items with padding-top: 140%. The port uses aspect-[5/7], aspect-square and aspect-[3/2] — the modern equivalent, and readable as a ratio rather than as a percentage of an unrelated dimension.

The zoom is contained twice over. The item clips it (overflow-hidden), and scale does not participate in layout, so a hovered card cannot push its column. That is what makes hover-zoom safe inside a fragile layout mode.

Make it yours

  • Column count: the columns-* pair — add lg:columns-4 for wide screens.
  • Gutters: gap-3 on the container sets the column gap; item mb-3 sets the vertical rhythm.
  • Zoom: group-hover:scale-108, or add group-hover:brightness-110.
  • Swap the placeholder photos in the bg-[image:url(…)] utilities; keep the gradient as the fallback layer.
  • For true height-sorted masonry you still need JS — columns fill top-to-bottom by design.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • CSS columns do not reorder by height. If the visual balance matters more than the DOM order, this is not the layout mode — and no utility changes that.
  • An item taller than its column can overflow in some engines; cap it with max-h-* if heights are unpredictable.
  • Firefox can show a 1px seam between columns with clipped children — a negative margin or a column rule masks it.
  • break-inside-avoid belongs on the item, not on the container. On the container it does nothing and the cards fragment.
  • Overlay reveals in a masonry grid are hover-only by nature; the tag text is inside the overlay, so motion-reduce:opacity-100 matters more here than it looks.
  • The browser CDN build compiles in the page and is for prototyping only. Ship the CLI or a plugin build.

Browser support

ChromeSafariFirefoxEdge
111+16.4+128+111+

CSS multi-column is broadly supported; column fill behaviour differs slightly between engines, which is inherent to the technique rather than to Tailwind.

Techniques used in this demo

Utilitiesfirst-class utility or variant

multi columntw ↗aspect-ratiotw ↗transitionstw ↗prefers-reduced-motiontw ↗

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