Gigantic, image-based headers are an up-to-date web-feature. It looks amazing but they are squandering space, especially on sites with large tutorials containing long text.
This site is using a simply method which transforms the header-size depending on the current page-scroll: the users scrolls down and the header is automatically transformed to a smart toolbar – i’m calling this mode (following WordPress’ fullscreen editor) “Zen” reader mode. Need a demo ? Just open an article on this site and scroll down.
To integrate this feature into you website, you need the followindd things:
- “Standard” Header Design
- “Smart/Compact” Header Design
- Javascript Page-Scroll Observer
- Optional: Amazing css3 transition
Different Header-Styles (using LESS):#
/* Basic (default) Styling */
.navbar-beyond{
height: 70px;
.transition(500ms);
}
/* Smart Styling */
.navbar-beyond-light{
height: 45px;
border-bottom: solid 1px #e7e7e7;
background-color: @color_bluegrey1 !important;
}
/* Large Navbar */
.navbar-beyond-dark{
background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.85);
border-bottom: none;
}
Scroll-Observer Script (MooTools) :#
Description: user scrolls 200px down and the header is transformed by changing the css classes
var head = document.getElement('header .navbar-beyond');
...
window.addEvent('scroll', function(){
// get current scroll
var s = this.getScroll().y;
// dark/light topnav
if (s > 200){
head.addClass('navbar-beyond-light');
head.removeClass('navbar-beyond-dark');
}else{
head.addClass('navbar-beyond-dark');
head.removeClass('navbar-beyond-light');
}
});
Header Structure (Bootstrap based example from this website)#
<!-- Fixed navbar -->
<div class="navbar navbar-default navbar-fixed-top navbar-beyond navbar-beyond-dark" role="navigation">
<div class="container container-lg">
<!-- Website Title + Mobile Nav Button !-->
<div class="navbar-header">
<button type="button" class="navbar-toggle">
<span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span>
</button>
<a class="navbar-brand" href="http://andidittrich.com">Beyond Technology<br /><span>beyond the visible world</span></a>
</div>
<!-- Navi !-->
<div class="navbar-collapse hidden-xs">
<ul id="menu-topnavi" class="nav navbar-nav navbar-right">
....
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Image -->
<div id="HeaderImage">
</div>