diff --git a/frontend/src/css/main.css b/frontend/src/css/main.css
index 2f6302a..829708e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/css/main.css
+++ b/frontend/src/css/main.css
@@ -274,16 +274,14 @@
    ============================================================= */
 
 /* Element appear animation keyframes - Safari optimized */
+/* Note: element-fade-in must NOT include transform as it conflicts with
+   element positioning (translate(-50%, -50%)) causing position shift */
 @-webkit-keyframes element-fade-in {
   from {
     opacity: 0;
-    -webkit-transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
-    transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
   }
   to {
     opacity: 1;
-    -webkit-transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
-    transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useElementEffects.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useElementEffects.ts
index 7c2b0f1..a3fd828 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useElementEffects.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useElementEffects.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * handles state-based style application via JavaScript events.
  */
 
-import { useCallback, useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import type { CSSProperties } from 'react';
 import {
   buildHoverStyle,
@@ -83,13 +83,20 @@ export function useElementEffects(
     isClickPersisted: false,
   });
 
+  // Track previous resetKey to avoid running on initial mount
+  const prevResetKeyRef = useRef(resetKey);
+
   // Reset reveal state and click-persisted state when resetKey changes (e.g., page navigation)
+  // Only run when resetKey actually CHANGES, not on initial mount (to avoid re-render during animation)
   useEffect(() => {
-    setState((prev) => ({
-      ...prev,
-      isRevealed: false,
-      isClickPersisted: false,
-    }));
+    if (prevResetKeyRef.current !== resetKey) {
+      setState((prev) => ({
+        ...prev,
+        isRevealed: false,
+        isClickPersisted: false,
+      }));
+      prevResetKeyRef.current = resetKey;
+    }
   }, [resetKey]);
 
   const onMouseEnter = useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/elementEffects.ts b/frontend/src/lib/elementEffects.ts
index a22262d..ea13b77 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/elementEffects.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/elementEffects.ts
@@ -113,13 +113,58 @@ export type EffectPropName = (typeof EFFECT_PROPS)[number];
 
 /**
  * Build base transition style for smooth state changes.
+ * Uses specific properties instead of 'all' to avoid affecting positioning transforms.
  */
 export function buildTransitionStyle(
   effects: Partial<ElementEffectProperties>,
 ): CSSProperties {
   const duration = normalizeDuration(effects.hoverTransitionDuration) || '0.2s';
+
+  // Build list of properties to transition based on what's configured
+  const transitionProps: string[] = [];
+
+  // Always include opacity if any effect might change it
+  if (
+    effects.hoverOpacity ||
+    effects.focusOpacity ||
+    effects.activeOpacity ||
+    effects.hoverReveal
+  ) {
+    transitionProps.push('opacity');
+  }
+
+  // Include transform only for scale effects (not positioning)
+  if (effects.hoverScale || effects.focusScale || effects.activeScale) {
+    transitionProps.push('transform');
+  }
+
+  // Background color
+  if (effects.hoverBackgroundColor || effects.activeBackgroundColor) {
+    transitionProps.push('background-color');
+  }
+
+  // Text color
+  if (effects.hoverColor) {
+    transitionProps.push('color');
+  }
+
+  // Box shadow
+  if (effects.hoverBoxShadow || effects.focusBoxShadow) {
+    transitionProps.push('box-shadow');
+  }
+
+  // Outline
+  if (effects.focusOutline) {
+    transitionProps.push('outline');
+  }
+
+  // If no specific properties, return empty (no transition needed)
+  if (transitionProps.length === 0) {
+    return {};
+  }
+
   return {
-    transition: `all ${duration} ease`,
+    transition: transitionProps.map((p) => `${p} ${duration} ease`).join(', '),
   };
 }