# lightweight-3d-effects

A skill for decorative 3D elements and micro-interactions: pseudo-3D illustrations, animated backgrounds, tilt on hover. Useful when a landing page needs depth without a full WebGL stack.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2600 installs · ★ 1133
- Author: freshtechbro
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/freshtechbro/claudedesignskills/tree/HEAD/plugins/bundles/extended-3d-scroll/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2025-11-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/lightweight-3d-effects

## What it does

The skill bundles three libraries around one job. Zdog draws flat, rounded shapes in 3D space on Canvas or SVG. Vanta.js handles animated backgrounds on top of Three.js. Vanilla-Tilt.js adds parallax tilt that follows the mouse or gyroscope.

What you get is working code: Zdog primitives (ellipse, rect, rounded rect, polygon, line, bezier curve), groups for building composite models, and three animation patterns — continuous rotation, a sine bounce, and easing a rotation angle toward a target. The Vanta.js section shows Waves and Clouds configured with colors and wave parameters.

Vanta.js needs Three.js loaded first, otherwise the background never starts — that is the usual snag. Zdog ships at roughly 28kb minified, Vanta.js with Three.js at about 120KB. If your project already runs a real 3D engine, skip these: they are for decorative depth, not for scenes.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --skill lightweight-3d-effects -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --skill lightweight-3d-effects -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --skill lightweight-3d-effects -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install freshtechbro/claudedesignskills lightweight-3d-effects
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --skill lightweight-3d-effects -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --path plugins/bundles/extended-3d-scroll/skills/lightweight-3d-effects
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add freshtechbro/claudedesignskills --skill lightweight-3d-effects -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/freshtechbro/claudedesignskills/tree/HEAD/plugins/bundles/extended-3d-scroll/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- add a pseudo-3D illustration to a landing page without a Three.js scene
- build an animated background for a hero section
- make cards tilt under the cursor
- animate a static block with a rotating shape
- assemble a composite model from simple Zdog shapes using groups

## Example prompts
- Add a Zdog pseudo-3D illustration to the landing page: a spinning cube built from rects
- Set up a Vanta.js Waves background for the hero section with color 0x23153c
- Add parallax tilt to the product cards with Vanilla-Tilt.js

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 89e201ad08855159
````text
---
name: lightweight-3d-effects
description: Lightweight 3D effects for decorative elements and micro-interactions using Zdog, Vanta.js, and Vanilla-Tilt.js. Use this skill when adding pseudo-3D illustrations, animated backgrounds, parallax tilt effects, decorative 3D elements, or subtle depth effects without heavy frameworks. Triggers on tasks involving Zdog pseudo-3D, Vanta.js backgrounds, Vanilla-Tilt parallax, card tilt effects, hero section animations, or lightweight landing page visuals. Ideal for performance-focused designs.
---

# Lightweight 3D Effects Skill

## Overview

This skill combines three powerful libraries for decorative 3D elements and micro-interactions:
- **Zdog**: Pseudo-3D engine for designer-friendly vector illustrations
- **Vanta.js**: Animated 3D backgrounds powered by Three.js/p5.js
- **Vanilla-Tilt.js**: Smooth parallax tilt effects responding to mouse/gyroscope

## When to Use This Skill
- Add decorative 3D illustrations without heavy frameworks
- Create animated backgrounds for hero sections
- Implement subtle parallax tilt effects on cards/images
- Build lightweight landing pages with visual depth
- Add micro-interactions that enhance UX without performance impact

## Zdog - Pseudo-3D Illustrations

### Core Concepts

Zdog is a pseudo-3D engine that renders flat, round designs in 3D space using Canvas or SVG.

**Key Features:**
- Designer-friendly declarative API
- Small file size (~28kb minified)
- Canvas or SVG rendering
- Drag rotation built-in
- Smooth animations

### Basic Setup

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/zdog@1/dist/zdog.dist.min.js"></script>
  <style>
    .zdog-canvas {
      display: block;
      margin: 0 auto;
      background: #FDB;
      cursor: move;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <canvas class="zdog-canvas" width="240" height="240"></canvas>

  <script>
    let isSpinning = true;

    let illo = new Zdog.Illustration({
      element: '.zdog-canvas',
      zoom: 4,
      dragRotate: true,
      onDragStart: function() {
        isSpinning = false;
      },
    });

    // Add shapes
    new Zdog.Ellipse({
      addTo: illo,
      diameter: 20,
      translate: { z: 10 },
      stroke: 5,
      color: '#636',
    });

    new Zdog.Rect({
      addTo: illo,
      width: 20,
      height: 20,
      translate: { z: -10 },
      stroke: 3,
      color: '#E62',
      fill: true,
    });

    function animate() {
````
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First 2442 of 22880 bytes. © freshtechbro · MIT · https://github.com/freshtechbro/claudedesignskills/tree/HEAD/plugins/bundles/extended-3d-scroll/skills/lightweight-3d-effects/SKILL.md

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