How to make shapes with CSS

It's pretty easy to makes shapes with only a small amount of HTML and some CSS. We have super simple options like border-radius, we've got slightly more complicated things we can do with pseudo elements, and if you need some really unique shapes, we can use clip-path.
Border radius is nice for making some very simple shapes, and it's very easy to do. I don't explore it too much in this video, but it's a nice option that has awesome browser support.
Pseudo elements also have awesome browser support, and they allow us to make some rather complicated shapes with only CSS if you're up to the task! In this video, I make a chevron type thing with them.
For the really complicated shapes, clip-path is the answer. You can create literally any shape you want, the only thing to watch out for is browser support. It's not terrible, but there are some places where it won't work, so make sure whatever you're using it for isn't an essential design element, but something which can fail gracefully.
CodePen from this video: codepen.io/kevinpowell/pen/bv...
Clip-path website: bennettfeely.com/clippy/
Clip-path browser support: caniuse.com/#search=clip-path
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[@Mwtorres89]

This video is GOLD. Thank you, Kevin. We need these types of simplified videos more often.

[@anad6448]

You're such a great communicator! Thanks for breaking things down so nicely!

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

You're* Yee ^_^

[@timkimdesign]

display: grid; place-items: center; Ahhhhhhh, simple and easy. Thank you.

[@fuseteam]

"if you find this 6 months from now" me coming 2 years later: i wonder how good it is now

[@achalsankat7898]

Lol, I just thought the same buddy! XD

[@robertjustineduardo3395]

so.. is it? XD

[@fuseteam]

@@robertjustineduardo3395 appears pretty solid if we drop IE like a rock xD

[@naveenvenkateshk]

me seeing this for the first time 3 years after the video was posted.

[@HorizonHuntxr]

@@naveenvenkateshk same, I'm pretty sure browser support is now very good

[@WingedDestinyX]

I am an iOS dev and I just started getting into building websites again (love to do front-end work). Your videos are gold! Thanks a lot :D

[@trungbuichi7864]

I was desparate of trying to create different shapes by border combine with transparent and then I found this. What a badass vid! Thanks a bunch!!

[@brandon5058]

you're literally the css god i have been looking for! my css skills have gone through the roof since I am doing the cssbattles with your videos. *THANKYOU!*

[@jnoah7537]

I was looking all over for this type of CSS Tut! You sir are the best!!!! 👍🏽 Thanks a lot for the knowledge. I'm going to be trying this out to expand my css arsenal

[@typingmasterpro6762]

I have seen your lot of videos and this one is helped me a lot than others. Nice little work you have put in this video. Thanks, mate.

[@nathanb5241]

Oh my god. Place-items? are you kidding me? how have I not seen that. There's gold information for css learners from beginning to end here. Ty. Subbed.

[@geralt9036]

11:14 thank you for that! That's all I needed for this video Thanks! You're the only dev that's helping me to get to know around

[@Fabian-_-]

Exactly what I searched for long! Thank you so much :D

[@abdessadekelaasri8862]

The best Teacher ever!! I have seen a lot of your videos and I don't think anyone loves CSS more than you do : )

[@marvinschulze6152]

great video men! I haven't seen any video about css as good in the last month

[@nevildst]

Awesome work, Kevin. Thanks for everything :)

[@recursionError344]

Looked everywhere for a good explanation of polygon coordinates! Thank you :D

[@KevinPowell]

Glad that this helped you out!

[@teppichkuchen8606]

Hello Kevin, thanks for that input! :) I have one hint for you: you can also centering things with "top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%);". Its very useful and crossbrowser compatible. Keep up the good work!

[@KevinPowell]

For sure, I use that a lot! I do like that we don't have to with flex and grid, but as you mentioned, that has better browser support :)

[@dustinpoissant]

If im centering text in a fixed height container just use line-height: 100px and text-align: center

[@williampelletiervslol1949]

is .one a div? cause now im rlly confuse about the emojji and the fack tht you wrote place-item: center; and the circle goes right in the middle of the emojji

[@williampelletiervslol1949]

nvm tried something and it work

[@williampelletiervslol1949]

emojji is just a h1/6 lol

[@ricardopassos1180]

I could feel what you felt when you used the calc function and everything worked as expected. In addition, your "strategy" in your last example gave me some insights on how to use the calc() function.

[@christinejurewicz3057]

Just what I needed for something I ran into recently. Thank you!

[@KevinPowell]

Awesome, glad the timing was good Christine!

[@01RobPwr]

Ha I was just thinking the other day “how the hell do I do different shapes” and was going to have a look this weekend and what pops up, your video! Perfect 🙂

[@KevinPowell]

Hah, that's awesome, glad my timing was so good Rob!

[@southgecko3653]

Thank you for this video. This has been incredibly helpful

[@fpgroups]

It is like a magician revealing tricks of the trade! Nice work.

[@spaceghost7807]

Thanks man! I needed this!

[@adanedhelbg]

Just binged a few videos of yours - awesome work, man. Can't wait to see more from you :)

[@KevinPowell]

So glad you're enjoying my content Kaloyan!

[@akashbond862]

I love your method of explaining things, thanks!!!

[@BasicMike]

A really fantastic explaination of how to make shapes with CSS. I hope you'll produce a more extensive explaination on what you can do with clip-path and the difference between clip-path and clip-rule.

[@chandrakant6283]

Absolutely amazing information. I find clip-path fascinating to use in my design, it's just the browser support that keeps me from abusing it to form complex shapes.

[@betheprogrammer5359]

thanks kevin for unique shapes

[@ARTICFR0ST]

Thanks for this, was looking around for it.

[@Melvin420x12]

Thanks for the video, loved it! It's so sad that we won't learn these kinds of things in the study I'm doing. ( Graphics Design ). It's all so incredibly basic stuff that you could learn in less than a month but spread in 3 years. Thanks to people like you I can step up my game without depending on my study and learn more than the basic properties!

[@KevinPowell]

Really glad that I've been able to help Melvin! In Graphic Design, how much of what you're studying is dealing with the web specifically?

[@ben-cb5er]

When it comes to anything related to css you are god lol 🙌 thank you! Great video and please do more on grid layouts 🙏

[@martalost]

Great video, your voice sees to be created to make educational videos, so good! I already used your tips this on my website and I love the effects. Thanks!

[@Glow0110]

so many useful gems in this video

[@fhkodama]

Kevin, you are awesome! Congratulations on your incredible work and to being such a nice guy! :)

[@lizalizaveta1882]

Wow, now I know how they do it, gonna try . Thank you!

[@anishadhikari3690]

This channel is GEM. Thank you so much :) :)

[@thefaredevil]

Brilliant video! Very informative and to the point

[@mosescodes3677]

Thank you kevin! we love your contents please keep up with good work

[@MarkOhanesian]

Kevin, this is one of the best CSS tutorials I've ever watched! Thank you so much.

[@vonshitz]

Hi Kevin, first of all thanks for all your great content. I'm learning so much from you! I recently found a video where i found a different way to make shapes using a chrome extension called shapes where you can manipulate images and copy paste the paramaters into your code. this works very nice with shape-outside and then pasting in the polygon paramaters.

[@atwarwithlife]

such a lifesaver. thank you!

[@Konstantah888]

Very useful video, thanks a lot! Gonna try it out on my projects.

[@adamwright8050]

Thanks a lot :) I’ve been trying to find a simple way to get the exact angle you are using on the background clip path in the first section so I can slide a logo coming from behind it and then back behind it on scroll. Thanks a lot dude nice vid! 👍👍👍👍

[@unfairracing8113]

awesome tutorial as always, thank you

[@AlexGeekly]

Really like this one! Thanks 😀

[@syberiaok]

Super cool and well explained! Thanks!!

[@tristanforward9094]

Thanks Kevin your note about content: ""; is super helpful!

[@swatichoudhary1008]

You videos are really worthy.Learnt so much and still learning.Thank you

[@SamuelRamirezTijuana]

I like You and I love what you do... so I'm becoming a Patron of yours. Hope more people show their admiration to your work and gratitude for you knowledge sharing by being patrons also. Keep it up Kevin.

[@KevinPowell]

Thanks so much Samuel! Very appreciated!

[@hossam_okasha]

I was lucky to find this channel!! thank you, Kevin.

[@KevinPowell]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@incinerator7146]

just the perfect video i've been looking for ! your channel's amazing

[@RussDnB]

Very cool tips. Thank you Kevin :)

[@mddurulislam6021]

Thanks for these wonderful videos.

[@44turtlepower]

Thanks, Kevin! Very cool, and very helpful.

[@raphaelandrade555]

Thank you, man! Helped a lot, i owe you a coffee

[@onihonker]

Thank you for this video. I learned something new and it was easy to understand.

[@preetamvarun9219]

Thanks for the tutorial!

[@CarlosGomes-yc3nm]

This is so amazing! Thanks!

[@thewisecoder4128]

Great work! You got my subscribe!

[@josevalente1667]

Very very good! I have learned a lot!

[@larry.lam.]

Amazing, thank you !

[@siarotleahmae8180]

This is so great for a beginner like me Kevin.

[@Harpagophytum67]

Thank you for your response on the other video. On this one speak to you much more calmly. Keep going, you're doing a good job.

[@blackpurple9163]

Please continue this series, doesn't matter if it's 5 minutes or 10 or 15, your choice, but bring these back

[@ShadiMuhammad]

Thanks a lot Kevin, I like your tutorials too much. keep going. 👌

[@KevinPowell]

So glad to hear that!

[@XexusNH]

First time using code pen, that's a nice site. I added in a slow infinite animation and a transform rotate (100deg 80deg) to make the smile move back and forth. Silly, but fun :) I've been watching your videos for a few weeks now, makes me interested in web design again.

[@narayanarao4bsnl]

Learned something new..... Thank You...!

[@terrap0b_ps995]

Kevin is my go to guy for CSS always!

[@AshishKumar-ed1ru]

Awesome man, you are my mentor you show so much efforts towards teaching has those topics that are faded away in process of learning web development and design. Thanks a ton !!

[@KevinPowell]

No problem at all, super glad to have been able to help 😁

[@lambo-ca]

Thanks for the last one.

[@theartofwarren]

Awesome! Great explanation!

[@pradipktimsina8695]

you are such a genius... love your work...

[@ahmmadawshaf]

Awesome content! keep it up!

[@Devronization]

Fantastic video. Thanks a lot.

[@nellywasti3290]

Thank you so much for your way of teaching i really enjoy it .. Thank you

[@Alessandro-nq3tm]

I've just discovered your channel thank you for your work is amazing

[@chamnil8666]

cool stuff.Thank you sir.

[@AntonSlavik]

Awesome! I'm crap and making things look nice (in the 2010s) and I design my own business website once every year or so, which always looks.... boxy. This helps a lot.

[@dimtodim]

great job man :) very helpful

[@moizkhalid2714]

wow. Your Videos Are So Informative. Love your Videos.

[@aleksandarv.1459]

Keep up the good work!

[@airlobster2]

clip-path is awesome! I also discovered another cool thing: I needed to created a down-arrow shape which also needs to stretch vertically. obviously I used an arrow shape polygon. however, the arrow's triangle part looks horrible when stretched. So....here is what I've done: clip-path: polygon( 20% 0%, 80% 0%, 80% calc(100% - 15px), 100% calc(100% - 15px), 50% 100%, 0% calc(100% - 15px), 20% calc(100% - 15px) ); works like a charm!

[@nikhiltyagi1080]

Thank you so much! Best channel on youtube!!

[@KevinPowell]

Thanks Nikhil!

[@SahilSinghal1998]

I am going to be a fan of yours .... Its so amazing . 😍

[@blokche_dev]

Great tips and tricks, as always I should say! Thanks!

[@KevinPowell]

Glad you liked it :D

[@SuperIraq1234]

Thank you for this video.

[@jacquesduplessis6175]

Nice video, thanks!

[@jamesrosemary2932]

The use of calc() was clever ;)

[@shreyasrajagopal4433]

Cool stuff!

[@markystudio14]

This what I am looking for 🤩😍😍

[@tr7343]

Well Done. thanks man.😻😻

[@mann3604]

Very helpful! Thanks a lot

[@KevinPowell]

No problem at all Mann :D

[@TheSatheeshmca]

Great learning, thanks for such a wonderful video ☺️👍👌👌👌

[@alirezazakeri84]

thank you bro that was really cool

[@usmanabid7950]

Well Done Bro!

[@carolmckay5152]

OoOoOoooo, calc in clip-path, so clever!

[@Sammorris207]

thank you!

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[@sonamuhialdeen7866]

Very useful tutorial

[@agamdeepsingh001]

Nice video sir, it helped me a lot. Thanks 👍👍