Question

Is possible to animate() the width of an element making a smooth center animation?

I mean animate making the element fixed on itself centered on himself x coordinates?

if i do :

<a class="animate">hey</a>
$('.animate').animate({'width':'+=1%'},500);

it works but the element is animated on the right and not from the center of himself

Answer 1

Yes, you’ll have to move the element also.

<a class="animate" style="display:block; width:300px; border:1px solid #000; position:fixed; top:50px; left:50px;">hey</a>
jQuery(".animate").animate({'width':'0px', 'left':'200px'});

http://jsfiddle.net/7Ysbg/

New Information

So you mean something like this: http://jsfiddle.net/7Ysbg/2/

jQuery(".animate").click( function(){
    var w = jQuery(".animate").width();
    var new_w = jQuery(".animate").width()*1.5;
    var left = jQuery(".animate").offset().left - ((new_w - w)/2);
    jQuery(".animate").animate({'width':new_w+'px', 'left':left+'px'}, 'fast');
});