CSS3 Transition: Different transition for *IN* and *OUT* (or returning from transitioned state)

Question

Original Question... updated working code below:

I have a loading image which comes up during an ajax load event. The image shows/hides by adding or removing a "loading" class to the body element. Currently, the loading image animates background-size from 0 to 100%, and fades in the opacity (vice versa for the 'return' transition).

What I want to accomplish, though, is to have the background-size transition happen instantly (not transition) on the fade out, so:

• Fade in: opacity from 0 to 1 in .2s, background size from 0 to 100% in .2s

• Fade out: opacity from 1 to 0 in .2s, background size from 100% to 0 should happen instantly

  #loader {
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      position: fixed;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      z-index: -1;
      opacity: 0;
      -moz-opacity: 0;
      transition: all .2s ease-in-out
  }
  
  
  #loader .image {
      width: 400px;
      height: 138px;
      display: block;
      position: absolute;
      z-index: 2000; 
      top: 50%; 
      left: 50%; 
      margin: 0;
      background: url(assets/images/loading.png) no-repeat;
      background-size: 0 0;
      transition: all .2s ease-in-out;
      -webkit-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
      -moz-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
      -o-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
      animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate
  }
  
  .loading #loader {z-index: 1000; background-color: rgba(255,255,255,.7)}
  
  .loading #loader .image {
      background-size: 100% 100%; 
      margin: -69px 0 0 -200px;
      transition: opacity .2s ease-in-out
  }
  

I've changed transition property for this selector .loading #loader .image to "opacity" rather than "all", but it still performs the background-size transition.

Does anyone know how to achieve the different fade in and fade out transitions described above with css3? Thanks!

---

Updated Working Code

The issue was breaking out the individual properties (margin, background) into a comma separated list. I believe using transition: all will prevent you from being able to do different IN and OUT transitions.

#loader {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    position: fixed;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    z-index: -1;
    opacity: 0;
    -moz-opacity: 0;
    .transition(opacity,.4s);
}

#loader .image {
    width: 400px;
    height: 138px;
    display: block;
    position: absolute;
    z-index: 2000; 
    top: 50%; 
    left: 50%; 
    margin: 0;
    background: url(assets/images/loading.png) no-repeat;
    background-size: 0 0;

    -webkit-transition: margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -moz-transition: margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -o-transition: margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -ms-transition: margin .4s ease-in-out;
    transition: margin .4s ease-in-out;

    -webkit-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
    -moz-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
    -o-animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate;
    animation: pulse 400ms ease-out infinite alternate
}

.loading #loader {z-index: 1000; background-color: rgba(255,255,255,.7)}

.loading #loader .image {
    background-size: 100% 100%; 
    margin: -69px 0 0 -200px;

    -webkit-transition: background .4s ease-in-out, margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -moz-transition: background .4s ease-in-out, margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -o-transition: background .4s ease-in-out, margin .4s ease-in-out;
    -ms-transition: background .4s ease-in-out, margin .4s ease-in-out;
    transition: background .4s ease-in-out, margin .4s ease-in-out;
}

Solution

Here is a simplified test case:

div {
    background: blue;
    opacity: 0;
    transition: opacity 2s ease-in-out;
}

div.loading {
    opacity: 1;
    background: red;
    transition: opacity 2s ease-in-out, background 1s ease-in;
}

Notice how the opacity fades the same in and out, but the background only fades in, and immediately turns blue on fade out.

I used :hover as an example, but it should work the same when adding and removing classes with JavaScript.

Demo

If you'd like a more specific example please provide a reduced test case on dabblet or Jsfiddle.

Comments

[ThinkingStiff]

+1 Yes. This is the right way. Break out into classes and add/remove as needed. There are some issues with adding classes in Javascript with transitions that I go over here: stackoverflow.com/a/8213003/918414

[HandiworkNYC.com]

Thanks! using transition: all was the issue. I had to break out the transition properties separated by commas like you had. I've updated my working code in the answer.

[Mark]

Just to be clear - the "ease-in" transition is not what is causing a fade in and snap out. It's that the transition on background only applies on hover. Once the hover is removed there is no longer a transition on the background property at all.