Dynamic Drive CSS Library- CSS Drop Shadows

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CSS Library: DIVs and containers: Here

CSS Drop Shadows

Author: Dynamic Drive

This examples shows how to add a drop shadow to any container element using only CSS (no images). It does this by wrapping the desired content in a DIV with its background color set to the desired shadow color. The content itself is relatively positioned and shifted slightly upwards and to the left to expose the shadow. A "master" DIV that surrounds the entire markup is also relatively positioned, but shifted to the right and downwards to return the entire markup to its original position on the page. The result is a rather rigid- but instant- shadow.

IE 6 has difficultly handling nested relatively positioned elements (yada), so instead of letting IE6 ruin the fun for everyone else, we'll just use conditional HTML to hide the effect in that browser. IE7 is spared for finally learning proper CSS.

Note: If you're applying the shadow to an image, like in the second example below, you should give ".shadowcontainer" an explicit height reflecting that of the image's.

Demo:

Some title
Some text here. Some text here.
Some text here. Some text here.
Some text here. Some text here.
Some text here. Some text here.

The CSS:

<!-- Hide entire CSS code from IE6 -->
<![if !IE 6]>

<style type="text/css">

.shiftcontainer{
position: relative;
left: 5px; /*Number should match -left shadow depth below*/
top: 5px; /*Number should match -top shadow depth below*/
}

.shadowcontainer{
width: 300px; /* container width*/
background-color: #d1cfd0;
}

.shadowcontainer .innerdiv{
/* Add container height here if desired */
background-color: white;
border: 1px solid gray;
padding: 6px;
position: relative;
left: -5px; /*shadow depth*/
top: -5px; /*shadow depth*/
}

</style>

<![endif]>

The HTML:

<div class="shiftcontainer">
<div class="shadowcontainer">
<div class="innerdiv">
<b>Some title</b> <br />
Some text here. Some text here.<br />
Some text here. Some text here.<br />
Some text here. Some text here.<br />
Some text here. Some text here.
</div>
</div>
</div>

Code Info

Rate this code:

Date Posted: 05/07/2006

Revision History: None

Usage Terms: Click here

Your Comments (45)

Got a question or need help customizing this CSS code? Post it in the CSS Forums. If you have a comment or suggestion instead, post it in the comments section below.

Comment Pages 5 of 5 pages « First < 3 4 5

Wow, great help. I was looking for it and here you go. I got it. Thanks a lot.
http://theclickdepot.com

Posted by Jennifer on 07/16, 06:00 AM

Great site mate. Keep it up. I visit this site quite often. And really like the content. Thanks.

Posted by Keval undefinedThe Moleundefined Shah on 07/20, 01:15 AM

Great tutorial. Easiest way: http://www.dropshadowz.net/

Posted by dora on 09/30, 06:08 PM

I use IE6 and it doesn't seem to work. I read the text up there ^^ and it looks like the IE6 bug wasn't fixed yet :/
Anyway, nice effect :)

Posted by Remarque on 11/07, 08:33 AM

That's really good DD, cheers for sharing

Posted by Fredheim_Holm on 11/24, 08:00 AM

Comment Pages 5 of 5 pages « First < 3 4 5