CSS — Lesson 15

Shadows & Effects

Adding depth with box shadows, text shadows, and filters.

By Majed Qandeel · Jul 26, 2026 · Lesson 15 of 15

Shadows & Effects

Shadows and filters add depth, dimension, and visual polish to your designs.

Box Shadow

.card { box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } /* x offset, y offset, blur, spread, color */ .elevated { box-shadow: 0 4px 12px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.15); } /* Inset shadow */ .pressed { box-shadow: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); }

Text Shadow

.heading { text-shadow: 1px 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); }

CSS Filters

.blur { filter: blur(4px); } .grayscale { filter: grayscale(100%); } .bright { filter: brightness(1.2); } .contrast { filter: contrast(150%); } .sepia { filter: sepia(80%); }

Transition + Shadow Hover

.card { box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease; } .card:hover { box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); }
Tip: Use subtle shadows for depth and larger shadows for elevated elements. Combine shadows with transitions for polished hover effects.

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