div#animationArea { position: relative; } #placeholder { width: 255px; filter:alpha(opacity=100); -moz-opacity:100; opacity:100; // must specify opacity, else IE throws an error /* height:300px; */ } .fader, #placeholderSwap { /* [if IE]> filter:alpha(opacity=0); <![endif] */ filter:alpha(opacity=0); -moz-opacity:0; opacity:0; width: 255px; /* height:300px; */ position: absolute; top:0 ; left: 0; } p#dummy { width:10px; }