Thinking about using a parallax scrolling effect on your site? The effect has been gaining popularity on websites for a couple of years now and, used correctly, it can provide beautiful results. That’s why we use it on our own website!
Parallax scrolling is particularly effective in scenarios involving powerful visual galleries or linear storytelling. For example, companies and individuals alike are using parallax scrolling to bring enhanced functionality and energy to portfolios, product presentations, and dynamic storyboards.
As the Head of Front End Development at customedialabs, I work with a talented team to stay in front of the newest web trends and parallax scrolling is something we’ve been exploring for a while now. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using parallax scrolling on a website, and it’s important to consider both before jumping on the parallax bandwagon.
Pros
- It has the ability to create a dynamic, interactive user experience that can be very visually appealing.
- You can put all your content on one page so that users do not have to navigate through several different pages or wait for them to load.
- Typically, designers rely on graphics and colors to lead the users’ eye around the website. With parallax scrolling, the user can literally be led around the website in any direction the designer or UX expert wants.
Cons
- Because parallax scrolling is heavy animation it can take pages longer to load and it will not function smoothly across all browsers.
- The website should be easy to use and easy to navigate, and this can be difficult if parallax scrolling is not used correctly. Using the effect on a content-heavy site can require too much scrolling which can frustrate the user and make reading difficult.
- If your website uses parallax scrolling, it is important to know that it will not look the same on a mobile device as it does on a PC. This is not a huge problem, but the designer must know how to translate the effect from a PC to a mobile device correctly to avoid large compatibility problems.
Lastly, when designing with parallax scrolling, it is important to understand how to use it in concert with SEO which, of course, is something developers should always do. When considering how parallax scrolling will affect your website, you ultimately need to look at the whole picture, become the user, and know when less is more . . . and when more is more.
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