The Complete Production SOP: How to Deploy and Run GSAP Flip Plugin Seamless Layout Morphs in Autonomous AI Agents

---
name: "gsap-flip-layout-transitions"
description: "Morph elements seamlessly between layout states and DOM parents using GSAP Flip."
metadata:
  author: "GreenSock"
  version: "1.0.0"
  runtime_compatibility:
    - "codex"
    - "claude-code"
    - "cursor"
    - "windsurf"
triggers:
  - "morph elements with gsap flip"
  - "animate grid reorder gsap"
  - "record flip state gsap"
permissions:
  fs_read: true
  fs_write: "workspace"
  shell_exec: false
  net_access: false
---

# GSAP Flip Plugin Seamless Layout Morphs

Leverages First-Last-Invert-Play (FLIP) technique with GSAP Flip plugin: capturing element layout states, reordering DOM grids, filtering card categories, and morphing without layout jumps.

## When to Invoke
Invoke this skill whenever you need to:
- morph elements with gsap flip
- animate grid reorder gsap
- record flip state gsap

## Execution SOP & Rules
1. Register plugin explicitly: gsap.registerPlugin(Flip);
2. Record layout before DOM change: const state = Flip.getState(targets, { props: 'backgroundColor,borderRadius' }).
3. Modify DOM structure or toggle CSS classes, then trigger Flip.from(state, { duration: 0.6, ease: 'power2.out', absolute: true }).
4. Include nested children with nested: true when inner text or images must scale smoothly without distortion.
5. Wrap operations in gsap.context() or use useGSAP() hook in React/Next.js to guarantee clean garbage collection on unmount.

import { gsap } from 'gsap';
import { Flip } from 'gsap/Flip';

// Ensure Flip is registered exactly once across client bundles
if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
  gsap.registerPlugin(Flip);
}

export { gsap, Flip };

import { gsap, Flip } from '../lib/gsap-setup';

export function filterItems(category: string): void {
  const cards = document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('.grid-card');
  
  // Step 1: Capture pre-mutation state
  const state = Flip.getState(cards);
  
  // Step 2: Mutate layout / visibility
  cards.forEach(card => {
    const match = category === 'all' || card.dataset.category === category;
    card.style.display = match ? 'block' : 'none';
  });
  
  // Step 3: Animate inverted transforms
  Flip.from(state, {
    duration: 0.5,
    ease: 'power2.inOut',
    absolute: true,
    onEnter: elements => gsap.fromTo(elements, { opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }, { opacity: 1, scale: 1, duration: 0.3 }),
    onLeave: elements => gsap.to(elements, { opacity: 0, scale: 0.8, duration: 0.3 })
  });
}

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('grid items morph without layout shift', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/gallery');
  const firstCard = page.locator('.grid-card').first();
  const initialBox = await firstCard.boundingBox();
  
  await page.click('button[data-filter="marketing"]');
  
  // Verify elements are transformed smoothly rather than snapping
  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
  const midAnimTransform = await firstCard.evaluate(el => window.getComputedStyle(el).transform);
  expect(midAnimTransform).not.toBe('none');
});