Masked Reveal

name: masked-reveal
description: Create masked staggered word reveals on scroll with GSAP ScrollTrigger. Use when headings, hero copy, section titles, or editorial text should reveal word-by-word through an overflow mask as they enter the viewport.

Masked Reveal

Use When

• A headline or short text block needs a premium reveal on scroll.
• Words should rise through an invisible mask with a staggered sequence.
• The project already uses GSAP or needs ScrollTrigger-based motion.

Motion Defaults

• Trigger: start when the text top reaches 82% of the viewport.
• Duration: 0.7s to 0.9s.
• Stagger: 0.025s to 0.045s per word.
• Offset: yPercent: 110 to 0.
• Ease: power3.out or expo.out.
• Replay: reveal once by default.

HTML

<h1 class="masked-reveal" data-masked-reveal>
  Design systems that feel alive from the first scroll.
</h1>

CSS Mask

.masked-reveal {
  visibility: visible;
}

html.js .masked-reveal[data-masked-reveal] {
  visibility: hidden;
}

html.js .masked-reveal.is-split {
  visibility: visible;
}

.masked-reveal .word-mask {
  display: inline-block;
  overflow: hidden;
  vertical-align: top;
}

.masked-reveal .word {
  display: inline-block;
  transform: translateY(110%);
  will-change: transform;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  html.js .masked-reveal[data-masked-reveal] {
    visibility: visible;
  }

  .masked-reveal .word {
    transform: none;
  }
}

GSAP ScrollTrigger

This helper avoids the paid SplitText plugin and keeps spaces intact.

document.documentElement.classList.add("js");
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger);

function escapeHTML(value) {
  return value
    .replace(/&/g, "&")
    .replace(/</g, "&lt;")
    .replace(/>/g, "&gt;")
    .replace(/"/g, "&quot;")
    .replace(/'/g, "&#039;");
}

function splitMaskedReveal(element) {
  if (element.dataset.maskedRevealReady === "true") return;

  const text = element.textContent.trim();
  element.setAttribute("aria-label", text);
  element.innerHTML = text
    .split(/(\s+)/)
    .map((part) => {
      if (!part.trim()) return part;
      return `<span class="word-mask" aria-hidden="true"><span class="word">${escapeHTML(part)}</span></span>`;
    })
    .join("");
  element.dataset.maskedRevealReady = "true";
  element.classList.add("is-split");
}

function initMaskedReveals(selector = "[data-masked-reveal]") {
  if (window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) return;

  document.querySelectorAll(selector).forEach((element) => {
    splitMaskedReveal(element);
    const words = element.querySelectorAll(".word");

    gsap.set(element, { autoAlpha: 1 });
    gsap.fromTo(
      words,
      { yPercent: 110 },
      {
        yPercent: 0,
        duration: 0.8,
        ease: "power3.out",
        stagger: 0.035,
        scrollTrigger: {
          trigger: element,
          start: "top 82%",
          once: true,
        },
      }
    );
  });
}

initMaskedReveals();

React Cleanup Pattern

useLayoutEffect(() => {
  const ctx = gsap.context(() => {
    initMaskedReveals("[data-masked-reveal]");
  }, rootRef);

  return () => ctx.revert();
}, []);

Taste Rules

• Use on short headlines, labels, and section intros; avoid long paragraphs.
• Keep the vertical offset clean. Do not combine with blur unless the style explicitly calls for it.
• Stagger by word, not letter, for a calmer editorial feel.
• Initialize after fonts are loaded if line wrapping is critical.
• Use ScrollTrigger.refresh() after late-loading images or layout shifts.
• Do not split text that contains links, buttons, or meaningful inline markup.

Quick Checks

• Text is hidden before GSAP initializes, then becomes visible with autoAlpha: 1.
• Screen readers get the original full text through aria-label.
• Spaces between words are preserved.
• Reduced-motion users see static text.
• ScrollTrigger is cleaned up in SPA routes.