React Fuzzy Text Effect
Canvas-based text effect that creates fuzzy, distorted text with hover interactions. Perfect for glitchy, cyberpunk-style typography.
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Most text effects are limited to CSS transforms that feel predictable and static. This component creates dynamic fuzzy distortion effects using canvas rendering with pixel-level manipulation, making text feel alive and cyberpunk-inspired.
Canvas-based fuzzy distortion
Text that creates dynamic fuzzy effects with hover intensity control:
Built with TypeScript for React applications, using HTML5 Canvas for pixel-perfect text rendering and real-time distortion effects with mouse interaction detection.
Installation
npx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/fuzzy-text.json
npx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/fuzzy-text.json
pnpm dlx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/fuzzy-text.json
bunx shadcn@latest add https://www.shadcn.io/registry/fuzzy-text.json
Usage
import FuzzyText from "@/components/text/fuzzy-text";
<div className="flex items-center justify-center min-h-screen w-full p-4 sm:p-8 bg-black">
<div className="relative w-full flex items-center justify-center px-4 sm:px-12">
<FuzzyText
fontSize="clamp(3rem, 12vw, 8rem)"
fontWeight={900}
color="#ffffff"
enableHover={true}
baseIntensity={0.18}
hoverIntensity={0.5}
>
shadcn/ui
</FuzzyText>
</div>
</div>;
Why CSS effects aren't enough
Traditional text effects rely on CSS filters or transforms—static approaches that can't create the dynamic, pixel-level distortion that makes text feel truly glitchy. Basic blur or skew effects lack the random, organic quality that makes cyberpunk aesthetics compelling.
This React component uses HTML5 Canvas to render text with pixel-perfect control, creating fuzzy distortion by randomly shifting horizontal slices of the text. The effect responds to hover states with increased intensity, making typography feel interactive and alive.
The key insight: canvas-based effects enable pixel-level control. When text distortion happens at the individual pixel level with random variations, it creates more convincing glitch effects than CSS alone can achieve.
Features
- Real-time canvas rendering with pixel-level text distortion and horizontal slice manipulation
- Interactive hover detection with customizable base and hover intensity levels
- Responsive font sizing with clamp support and automatic text measurement calculations
- Custom font family and weight support with proper font loading detection
- Touch device compatibility with preventDefault handling for mobile interactions
- Performance optimized with requestAnimationFrame and proper cleanup mechanisms
- Free open source component compatible with Next.js and shadcn/ui design systems
API Reference
FuzzyText
Canvas-based fuzzy text component with hover interactions.
Prop | Type | Default | Description |
---|---|---|---|
children | React.ReactNode | - | Text content to display |
fontSize | number | string | 'clamp(2rem, 8vw, 8rem)' | Font size (px number or CSS string) |
fontWeight | string | number | 900 | Font weight value |
fontFamily | string | 'inherit' | Font family name |
color | string | '#fff' | Text fill color |
enableHover | boolean | true | Enable hover intensity changes |
baseIntensity | number | 0.18 | Base distortion intensity (0-1) |
hoverIntensity | number | 0.5 | Hover distortion intensity (0-1) |
Intensity Levels
Distortion effect intensity settings:
Level | Range | Visual Effect | Best For |
---|---|---|---|
Subtle | 0.05-0.2 | Light fuzz, readable | Body text, subtle accents |
Medium | 0.2-0.4 | Noticeable glitch | Headers, emphasis text |
Heavy | 0.4-0.8 | Strong distortion | Display text, dramatic effects |
Extreme | 0.8-1.0 | Maximum chaos | Artistic, abstract displays |
Font Configuration
Typography customization options:
Property | Type | Effect | Example |
---|---|---|---|
fontSize | string | Responsive sizing | 'clamp(2rem, 8vw, 8rem)' |
fontWeight | number | Text thickness | 100 (thin) to 900 (black) |
fontFamily | string | Typeface | 'Inter' , 'Roboto Mono' |
color | string | Text color | '#ffffff' , 'rgb(255,0,0)' |
Common gotchas
Canvas not rendering: The component waits for font loading to complete. If using custom fonts, ensure they're properly loaded via CSS @font-face or Google Fonts before the component mounts.
Performance issues on mobile: Canvas rendering with pixel manipulation is computationally intensive. Consider reducing intensity values or disabling the effect on low-powered devices using media queries or user agent detection.
Text appears blurry: Canvas elements need proper scaling for high-DPI displays. The component handles this automatically, but custom styling might interfere with pixel ratio calculations.
Hover detection not working: The component calculates interactive areas based on text bounding boxes. Very italic fonts or extreme letter spacing might affect hover detection accuracy. Test with your specific font choices.
Memory leaks with frequent rerenders: The component includes proper cleanup mechanisms, but frequent prop changes can cause performance issues. Consider memoizing props or limiting re-renders when possible.
Integration with other components
Perfect for hero sections with dramatic typography or accent elements in Card layouts. The glitchy aesthetic works excellently in dark themes and cyberpunk-inspired designs where high contrast makes the effect most visible.
For creative interfaces, combine with Badge components for glitchy status indicators or Button components with matching aesthetic. The component pairs well with other text effects for layered typography and works beautifully in Dialog modals for dramatic reveals.
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