Box shadows add depth to UI elements by simulating lighting and elevation. Well-designed shadows create visual hierarchy and make interfaces feel more tactile.
Adjust horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur, spread, color, and opacity. The Canvas preview updates in real time. Copy the CSS code when satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between blur and spread?
What is the difference between blur and spread? Blur controls how soft the shadow edge is. Spread controls how much the shadow expands.
Q: How many shadow layers should I use?
How many shadow layers should I use? 1-2 layers is usually enough. Use inset shadows for inner depth.
Q: How many box-shadow layers should I use?
How many box-shadow layers should I use? Professional designs often use 2-4 layers for depth. Start with a small tight shadow, add a medium spread shadow, and optionally add a large ambient shadow. The tool supports unlimited layers.
Q: What is the performance impact of box-shadow?
What is the performance impact of box-shadow? A few box-shadows have negligible impact. Too many blur-heavy shadows can affect scroll performance on low-end devices. The tool shows a real-time preview so you can judge before copying.
Q: Can I create inner shadows (inset)?
Can I create inner shadows (inset)? The current version focuses on outer shadows. For inner shadows, manually add the "inset" keyword to the beginning of the generated CSS box-shadow value.
CSS Named Colors & Color Psychology
The web has 148 named colors built into CSS, from Coral to Goldenrod. Beyond the code, color psychology shapes how users feel about interfaces — warm tones energize, cool tones calm, and neutrals build trust. This palette mixes CSS classics with the psychology behind them.
Coral #FF7F50Warm and friendly — popular for CTAs in lifestyle brands
Tomato #FF6347Energetic red-orange, great for urgent accents
Goldenrod #DAA520Earthy gold associated with quality and heritage
Teal #008080Balanced blue-green — calm, trustworthy, professional
Indigo #4B0082Deep violet tied to wisdom and premium brands
Crimson #DC143CBold red for passion, alerts, and strong emphasis
SlateBlue #6A5ACDSoft purple-blue common in SaaS dashboards
ForestGreen #228B22Nature and growth — the color of eco and finance brands
HotPink #FF69B4Playful and bold, the signature of youth-oriented design
Navy #000080Authority and stability — the suit-and-tie of colors
Q: What are CSS named colors?
What are CSS named colors? CSS defines 148 named colors like Coral and Goldenrod that work in any stylesheet without hex codes. They are great for prototyping but designers usually switch to hex or HSL for precise brand colors.
Q: How does color psychology affect design?
How does color psychology affect design? Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) create energy and urgency; cool colors (blue, green, teal) create calm and trust. CTAs often use warm tones while financial and health brands prefer blues and greens.