Using JQuery animate I would like to operate with css classes, defined somewhere in .css file, not to have to give all styles params to jquery.animate() explicitly.
I can create a fake (e.g. invisible) element with such a class, read its css properties and give them to jquery.animate() - does anybody know a better way?
The jQueryUI provides a extension to animate function that allows you to animate css class.
edit: Example here
There are also methods to add/remove/toggle class which you might also be interested in.
Weston Ruther built a similar thing using the WebKit proposal for css transitions:
http://weston.ruter.net/projects/jquery-css-transitions/
This implementation might be useful for you.
Check out James Padolsey's animateToSelector
Intro: This jQuery plugin will allow you to animate any element to styles specified in your stylesheet. All you have to do is pass a selector and the plugin will look for that selector in your StyleSheet and will then apply it as an animation.
In many cases you're better off using CSS transitions for this, and in old browsers the easing will simply be instant. Most animations (like fade in/out) are very trivial to implement and the browser does all the legwork for you. https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/CSS/transition
