Animaciones CSS3 - transform: translate (x, y) VS left(x) top(y)

Animación css3 usando transform translate y comparado a posicionamiento con left y top

Es cierto que hacer una animación variando por ejemplo atributos en vertical top y en horizontal left es una práctica común, pero puede mejorar la animación usando otro método. Si usamos transform: translate (x, y). Usando translate hay que dar las unidades entre paréntesis del desplazamiento en horizontal primero y vertical segundo.

Quizá no sea muy notable la diferencia, pero todo lo que se pueda mejorar una animación sin costar mucho tiempo, merece la pena. Hay otras propiedades, según he ido leyendo y no probado por mi mismo, que también se mejoran usando "transform". Dejo el código de las dos animaciones (sin añadir los "vendor" para todos los navegadores).

@keyframes animationOne {
    0% {
        opacity:1;
        transform: translate(0,30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg) ;
        box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50,65,66,0.9); }
    50% {
        transform: translate(120px,110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2) ;
        box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50,65,66,0.5); }
    100% {
        opacity:1;
        transform: translate(300px,150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg) ;
        box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50,65,66,0.9); }
}

@keyframes animationTwo {
    0% {
        top:220px;
        left:30px;
        opacity:1;
        transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg) ;
        box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50,65,66,0.9); }
    50% {
        top:300px;
        left:150px;
        transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2) ;
        box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50,65,66,0.5); }
    100% {
        top:340px;
        left:330px;
        opacity:1;
        transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg) ;
        box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50,65,66,0.9); }
}

Código completo

.relativo {
        position: relative;
        height: 420px;
        background-color: #bbb;
}

.elemento1,
.elemento2 {
        position: absolute;
        left: 30px;
        padding: 10px;
        background-color: rgba(231, 175, 54, 1);
        color: rgba(253, 251, 208, 1);
        box-shadow: rgba(50, 65, 66, 1);
        font-size: 20px;
        font-family: arial;
        text-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 1);
}

.elemento1 {
        top: 30px;
        animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        animation-direction: alternate;
        animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*when the spec is finished*/
        -webkit-animation: animationOne linear 15s;
        -webkit-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -webkit-animation-direction: alternate;
        -webkit-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*Chrome 16+, Safari 4+*/
        -moz-animation: animationOne linear 15s;
        -moz-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -moz-animation-direction: alternate;
        -moz-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*FF 5+*/
        -o-animation: animationOne linear 15s;
        -o-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -o-animation-direction: alternate;
        -o-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*Not implemented yet*/
        -ms-animation: animationOne linear 15s;
        -ms-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -ms-animation-direction: alternate;
        -ms-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*IE 10+*/
}

.elemento2 {
        top: 220px;
        animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*when the spec is finished*/
        animation-direction: alternate;
        -webkit-animation: animationTwo linear 15s;
        -webkit-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -webkit-animation-direction: alternate;
        -webkit-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*Chrome 16+, Safari 4+*/
        -moz-animation: animationTwo linear 15s;
        -moz-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -moz-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*FF 5+*/
        -moz-animation-direction: alternate;
        -o-animation: animationTwo linear 15s;
        -o-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -o-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*Not implemented yet*/
        -o-animation-direction: alternate;
        -ms-animation: animationTwo linear 15s;
        -ms-animation-iteration-count: infinite;
        -ms-animation-fill-mode: forwards;
        /*IE 10+*/
        -ms-animation-direction: alternate;
}

@keyframes animationOne {
        0% {
                opacity: 1;
                transform: translate(0, 30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                transform: translate(120px, 110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                opacity: 1;
                transform: translate(300px, 150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-webkit-keyframes animationOne {
        0% {
                opacity: 1;
                -webkit-transform: translate(0, 30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                -webkit-transform: translate(120px, 110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                opacity: 1;
                -webkit-transform: translate(300px, 150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-moz-keyframes animationOne {
        0% {
                opacity: 1;
                -moz-transform: translate(0, 30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -moz-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                -moz-transform: translate(120px, 110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                opacity: 1;
                -moz-transform: translate(300px, 150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -moz-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-o-keyframes animationOne {
        0% {
                opacity: 1;
                -o-transform: translate(0, 30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -o-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                -o-transform: translate(120px, 110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -o-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                opacity: 1;
                -o-transform: translate(300px, 150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -o-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-ms-keyframes animationOne {
        0% {
                opacity: 1;
                -ms-transform: translate(0, 30px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -ms-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                -ms-transform: translate(120px, 110px) scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -ms-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                opacity: 1;
                -ms-transform: translate(300px, 150px) rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -ms-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@keyframes animationTwo {
        0% {
                top: 220px;
                left: 30px;
                opacity: 1;
                transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                top: 300px;
                left: 150px;
                transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                top: 340px;
                left: 330px;
                opacity: 1;
                transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-webkit-keyframes animationTwo {
        0% {
                top: 220px;
                left: 30px;
                opacity: 1;
                -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                top: 300px;
                left: 150px;
                -webkit-transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                top: 340px;
                left: 330px;
                opacity: 1;
                -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-moz-keyframes animationTwo {
        0% {
                top: 220px;
                left: 30px;
                opacity: 1;
                -moz-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -moz-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                top: 300px;
                left: 150px;
                -moz-transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                top: 340px;
                left: 330px;
                opacity: 1;
                -moz-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -moz-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-o-keyframes animationTwo {
        0% {
                top: 220px;
                left: 30px;
                opacity: 1;
                -o-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -o-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                top: 300px;
                left: 150px;
                -o-transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -o-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                top: 340px;
                left: 330px;
                opacity: 1;
                -o-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -o-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

@-ms-keyframes animationTwo {
        0% {
                top: 220px;
                left: 30px;
                opacity: 1;
                -ms-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -ms-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
        50% {
                top: 300px;
                left: 150px;
                -ms-transform: scaleX(1.2) scaleY(1.2);
                -ms-box-shadow: 0px 0px 60px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.5);
        }
        100% {
                top: 340px;
                left: 330px;
                opacity: 1;
                -ms-transform: rotate(0deg) scaleX(1) scaleY(1) skewX(0deg) skewY(0deg);
                -ms-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(50, 65, 66, 0.9);
        }
}

Conforme descubra mejoras en las animaciones con CSS3 y merezcan la pena, las iré publicando.