Synthwave Sun Loader
The striped 80s sunset: a gradient sun whose lower half is cut into bands that keep sliding down. Two mask layers do it, a solid top half plus repeating stripes with an animated position.
Also known as: retro sunset animation, outrun sun css, vaporwave loader.
HTML
<div class="ldr-synthwave-sun" role="status" aria-label="Loading"><span></span></div>
CSS
.ldr-synthwave-sun {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
filter: drop-shadow(0 0 calc(var(--s) / 8) color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 55%, transparent));
}
.ldr-synthwave-sun span {
--band: calc(var(--s) / 8);
--stripes: repeating-linear-gradient(#000 0 calc(var(--band) * 0.62), transparent calc(var(--band) * 0.62) var(--band));
display: block;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
border-radius: 50%;
background: linear-gradient(oklch(from var(--c) calc(l + 0.2) c calc(h + 190)), oklch(from var(--c) l c calc(h + 80)) 50%, var(--c));
-webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 0 / 100% 48% no-repeat, var(--stripes) 0 0 / 100% var(--band);
mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) 0 0 / 100% 48% no-repeat, var(--stripes) 0 0 / 100% var(--band);
animation: ldr-synthwave-sun-sink 0.9s linear infinite;
}
@keyframes ldr-synthwave-sun-sink {
from { -webkit-mask-position: 0 0, 0 0; mask-position: 0 0, 0 0; }
to { -webkit-mask-position: 0 0, 0 var(--band); mask-position: 0 0, 0 var(--band); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-synthwave-sun, .ldr-synthwave-sun *, .ldr-synthwave-sun::before, .ldr-synthwave-sun::after, .ldr-synthwave-sun *::before, .ldr-synthwave-sun *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}Customizing this loader
- Color: set
--ldr-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Size: set
--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing64px. - Speed: change the duration on the
animationshorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Accessibility: the root carries
role="status"and anaria-labelso screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.