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Tailwind CSS Drop Shadow

Drop Shadow is a CSS filter effect that applies a shadow to an element, simulating the effect of light and creating a sense of depth. Unlike traditional box shadows (box-shadow), the filter: drop-shadow() property applies shadows only to the visible parts of an element. This makes it especially useful for non-rectangular shapes, images, and elements with transparency.

Tailwind CSS offers utilities to easily apply filter: drop-shadow() effects. In this guide, we'll explore how to use these utilities, conditionally apply them, customize their behavior, and combine them with other Tailwind utilities to create visually engaging designs.

ClassPropertiesExample
drop-shadow-smfilter: drop-shadow(0 1px 1px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.05));<div className="drop-shadow-sm"></div>
drop-shadowfilter: drop-shadow(0 1px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1)) drop-shadow(0 1px 1px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.06));<div className="drop-shadow"></div>
drop-shadow-mdfilter: drop-shadow(0 4px 3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.07)) drop-shadow(0 2px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.06));<div className="drop-shadow-md"></div>
drop-shadow-lgfilter: drop-shadow(0 10px 8px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.04)) drop-shadow(0 4px 3px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1));<div className="drop-shadow-lg"></div>
drop-shadow-xlfilter: drop-shadow(0 20px 13px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.03)) drop-shadow(0 8px 5px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.08));<div className="drop-shadow-xl"></div>
drop-shadow-2xlfilter: drop-shadow(0 25px 25px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.15));<div className="drop-shadow-2xl"></div>
drop-shadow-nonefilter: drop-shadow(0 0 #0000);<div className="drop-shadow-none"></div>

Overview of Drop Shadow

Adding the Drop Shadow

To apply a drop shadow to an element, simply use one of the pre-designed utilities like drop-shadow-sm, drop-shadow-md, drop-shadow-lg, etc.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
// Container with medium drop shadow applied
export default function DropShadowCard() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center justify-center">
      <div className="p-8 rounded-lg bg-white">
        <img
          className="drop-shadow-lg rounded-md"
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        />
        <h1 className="drop-shadow-lg text-xl font-bold my-4 ">Large Drop Shadow</h1>
        <p className="drop-shadow-lg">The image and text in this box are styled with a large drop shadow.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Removing the Drop Shadow

If you need to remove the drop shadow from an element, use the drop-shadow-none utility. Alternatively, if you want to remove all the filters- use the filter-none utility.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
// Shadow-free container
export default function NoShadowContainer() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center justify-center">
      <div className="p-8 rounded-lg bg-white">
        <img
          className="drop-shadow-lg filter-none rounded-md"
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        />
        <h1 className="drop-shadow-lg filter-none text-xl font-bold my-4 ">No Drop Shadow</h1>
        <p className="drop-shadow-lg filter-none">The "filter-none" utility is used to remove all the drop shadows from this box.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

States and Responsiveness

Tailwind's state and responsive modifiers let you conditionally apply drop-shadow only on certain states and breakpoints.

Hover and Focus States

To create interactive shadows that respond to user actions like hovering or focusing, use state modifiers, e.g., hover:drop-shadow-md, focus:drop-shadow-lg, etc.

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// Interactive shadow on hover
export default function InteractiveShadow() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center justify-center bg-gray-100 px-20 text-center text-lg">
      <p className="hover:drop-shadow-xl">
        Hover on this text to add drop shadow.
      </p>
    </div>
  );
}

Breakpoint Modifiers

To use drop shadow only on certain breakpoint or above, use Tailwind's responsive modifiers, e.g., sm:drop-shadow-md, sm:drop-shadow-lg, etc.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
// Responsive shadow adjustment
export default function ResponsiveShadowCard() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center justify-center bg-gray-50">
      <div className="sm:drop-shadow-md lg:drop-shadow-lg p-8 rounded-lg bg-white">
        <img
          className="sm:drop-shadow-md lg:drop-shadow-lg rounded-md w-full"
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
          alt="Responsive Example"
        />
        <h1 className="sm:drop-shadow-md lg:drop-shadow-lg text-lg font-bold mt-4">Responsive Shadow Levels</h1>
        <p className="sm:drop-shadow-md lg:drop-shadow-lg">
          This card has no shadows on small screens, medium shadows on tablets,
          and large shadows on desktops.
        </p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Custom Drop Shadow

While Tailwind's built-in utilities are versatile, there might be cases where you require more control over shadow values. Tailwind enables you to create custom shadow configurations through theme extensions or use arbitrary values directly.

Extending the Theme

Custom shadow levels can be added to the theme configuration in your Tailwind tailwind.config.js file. This is useful for maintaining consistency across your project with unique design requirements.

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import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

// Custom Shadow Configuration Example
const CustomShadowShapes = () => {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center">
      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-8 justify-center items-center">
        {/* Hexagon with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 filter drop-shadow-hexagon"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 L93.3 25 L93.3 75 L50 100 L6.7 75 L6.7 25 Z"
              className="fill-purple-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Hex</span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Star with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 filter drop-shadow-star"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 L61 35 L97 35 L68 57 L79 91 L50 70 L21 91 L32 57 L3 35 L39 35 Z"
              className="fill-indigo-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Star</span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Blob with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 filter drop-shadow-blob"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 C60 20 80 20 90 40 C100 60 80 80 60 90 C40 100 20 80 10 60 C0 40 20 20 40 10 C45 5 45 0 50 0"
              className="fill-pink-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Blob</span>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

export default CustomShadowShapes;

Using Arbitrary Values

When extending the theme is not ideal for smaller, one-off use cases, you can apply arbitrary values directly. Tailwind supports inline configuration with square brackets [].

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
// Arbitrary shadow values
export default function ArbitraryShadow() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen flex items-center">
      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-8 justify-center items-center">
        {/* Hexagon with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 filter drop-shadow-[0_4px_6px_rgba(147,51,234,0.3)]"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 L93.3 25 L93.3 75 L50 100 L6.7 75 L6.7 25 Z"
              className="fill-purple-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Hex</span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Star with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 drop-shadow-[0_4px_6px_rgba(99,102,241,0.3)]"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 L61 35 L97 35 L68 57 L79 91 L50 70 L21 91 L32 57 L3 35 L39 35 Z"
              className="fill-indigo-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Star</span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Blob with custom shadow */}
        <div className="relative">
          <svg 
            viewBox="0 0 100 100" 
            className="w-40 h-40 drop-shadow-[0_6px_8px_rgba(236,72,153,0.3)]"
          >
            <path
              d="M50 0 C60 20 80 20 90 40 C100 60 80 80 60 90 C40 100 20 80 10 60 C0 40 20 20 40 10 C45 5 45 0 50 0"
              className="fill-pink-400"
            />
          </svg>
          <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
            <span className="text-white font-bold">Blob</span>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Real World Examples

Product Showcase with Floating Cards

A modern e-commerce product grid where cards appear to float with drop shadows that intensify on hover.

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export default function ProductShowcase() {
  const products = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: "Premium Leather Backpack",
      price: "$129.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1548036328-c9fa89d128fa",
      alt: "Brown leather backpack"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: "Wireless Headphones",
      price: "$199.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1505740420928-5e560c06d30e",
      alt: "Black wireless headphones"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: "Smart Watch Pro",
      price: "$299.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1546868871-7041f2a55e12",
      alt: "Modern smartwatch"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      name: "Mechanical Keyboard",
      price: "$159.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1601445638532-3c6f6c3aa1d6",
      alt: "RGB mechanical keyboard"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      name: "Ultra HD Camera",
      price: "$899.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516035069371-29a1b244cc32",
      alt: "Professional camera"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      name: "Gaming Mouse",
      price: "$79.99",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1527814050087-3793815479db",
      alt: "Gaming mouse with RGB"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-8 p-8">
      {products.map((product) => (
        <div
          key={product.id}
          className="bg-white rounded-lg transition-all duration-300 hover:drop-shadow-2xl drop-shadow-md"
        >
          <img
            src={product.src}
            alt={product.alt}
            className="w-full h-48 object-cover rounded-t-lg"
          />
          <div className="p-4">
            <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold">{product.name}</h3>
            <p className="text-gray-600">{product.price}</p>
          </div>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Testimonial Cards with Layered Shadows

A testimonial section featuring cards with multiple layers of drop shadows for depth.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
export default function TestimonialSection() {
  const testimonials = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: "Sarah Johnson",
      role: "CEO, TechStart",
      content: "Absolutely transformed our workflow!",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1494790108377-be9c29b29330",
      alt: "Sarah Johnson profile picture"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: "Michael Chen",
      role: "Lead Developer",
      content: "Best decision we made for our team.",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507003211169-0a1dd7228f2d",
      alt: "Michael Chen profile picture"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: "Emma Williams",
      role: "Product Manager",
      content: "Incredible results in record time!",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1438761681033-6461ffad8d80",
      alt: "Emma Williams profile picture"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      name: "David Kim",
      role: "UX Designer",
      content: "User feedback has been amazing.",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500648767791-00dcc994a43e",
      alt: "David Kim profile picture"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      name: "Lisa Martinez",
      role: "Marketing Director",
      content: "Exceeded all our expectations!",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534528741775-53994a69daeb",
      alt: "Lisa Martinez profile picture"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      name: "James Wilson",
      role: "CTO, InnovateCo",
      content: "Game-changing platform for our business.",
      avatar: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1472099645785-5658abf4ff4e",
      alt: "James Wilson profile picture"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-gray-100 p-8">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
        {testimonials.map((testimonial) => (
          <div
            key={testimonial.id}
            className="bg-white p-6 rounded-lg relative drop-shadow-lg hover:drop-shadow-2xl transition-all duration-300"
          >
            <div className="absolute -top-6 left-6">
              <img
                src={testimonial.avatar}
                alt={testimonial.alt}
                className="w-12 h-12 rounded-full border-4 border-white drop-shadow-md"
              />
            </div>
            <div className="mt-8">
              <p className="text-gray-600 italic">"{testimonial.content}"</p>
              <div className="mt-4">
                <h4 className="font-semibold">{testimonial.name}</h4>
                <p className="text-sm text-gray-500">{testimonial.role}</p>
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Feature Cards with Gradient Shadows

A cards section showcasing features with gradient backgrounds and custom drop shadows.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
export default function FeatureCards() {
  const features = [
    {
      id: 1,
      title: "Cloud Storage",
      description: "Secure and scalable storage solutions",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1544441893-675973e31985",
      alt: "Cloud storage icon"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      title: "Analytics Dashboard",
      description: "Real-time data visualization",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551288049-bebda4e38f71",
      alt: "Analytics dashboard icon"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      title: "Team Collaboration",
      description: "Enhanced team productivity tools",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522071820081-009f0129c71c",
      alt: "Team collaboration icon"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      title: "API Integration",
      description: "Seamless third-party connections",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1558494949-ef010cbdcc31",
      alt: "API integration icon"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      title: "Security Features",
      description: "Enterprise-grade protection",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555949963-ff9fe0c870eb",
      alt: "Security features icon"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      title: "24/7 Support",
      description: "Round-the-clock expert assistance",
      icon: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534536281715-e28d76689b4d",
      alt: "Customer support icon"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="p-8 bg-gradient-to-br from-blue-50 to-purple-50">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-8">
        {features.map((feature) => (
          <div
            key={feature.id}
            className="bg-white rounded-xl p-6 hover:drop-shadow-[0_20px_35px_rgba(66,153,225,0.25)] drop-shadow-lg transition-all duration-300"
          >
            <div className="w-16 h-16 rounded-full overflow-hidden mb-4">
              <img
                src={feature.icon}
                alt={feature.alt}
                className="w-full h-full object-cover"
              />
            </div>
            <h3 className="text-xl font-bold mb-2">{feature.title}</h3>
            <p className="text-gray-600">{feature.description}</p>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Pricing Table with Elevated Cards

A pricing table with cards that use drop shadows to create a floating effect.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
export default function PricingTable() {
  const plans = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: "Starter",
      price: "$29",
      features: ["5 Projects", "10GB Storage", "Basic Support", "API Access"],
      popular: false
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: "Professional",
      price: "$99",
      features: ["15 Projects", "50GB Storage", "Priority Support", "API Access", "Advanced Analytics"],
      popular: true
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: "Enterprise",
      price: "$299",
      features: ["Unlimited Projects", "500GB Storage", "24/7 Support", "Custom API", "White Labeling"],
      popular: false
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      name: "Agency",
      price: "$599",
      features: ["Unlimited Projects", "1TB Storage", "Dedicated Support", "Custom Development"],
      popular: false
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      name: "Custom",
      price: "Contact",
      features: ["Custom Solutions", "Enterprise Storage", "Account Manager", "SLA Agreement"],
      popular: false
    },
  ];

  return (
    <div className="p-8 bg-gray-50">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-8">
        {plans.map((plan) => (
          <div
            key={plan.id}
            className={`bg-white rounded-lg p-6 transition-all duration-300 
              ${plan.popular 
                ? 'drop-shadow-2xl scale-105' 
                : 'drop-shadow-lg hover:drop-shadow-xl'}`}
          >
            <h3 className="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">{plan.name}</h3>
            <p className="text-4xl font-bold mb-6">{plan.price}<span className="text-sm text-gray-500">/month</span></p>
            <ul className="space-y-3">
              {plan.features.map((feature, index) => (
                <li key={index} className="flex items-center">
                  <svg className="w-4 h-4 mr-2 text-green-500" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 20 20">
                    <path fillRule="evenodd" d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z" clipRule="evenodd"/>
                  </svg>
                  {feature}
                </li>
              ))}
            </ul>
            <button className="w-full mt-6 bg-blue-600 text-white py-2 rounded-lg hover:bg-blue-700 transition-colors">
              Choose Plan
            </button>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Blog Post Cards with Dynamic Shadows

A blog post card section with shadows that respond to user interaction.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
export default function BlogPosts() {
  const posts = [
    {
      id: 1,
      title: "The Future of AI in Web Development",
      excerpt: "Exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping web development practices.",
      author: "Alex Thompson",
      date: "March 15, 2024",
      image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485827404703-89b55fcc595e",
      alt: "AI and web development concept"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      title: "Mastering CSS Grid Layout",
      excerpt: "A comprehensive guide to creating complex layouts with CSS Grid.",
      author: "Maria Garcia",
      date: "March 14, 2024",
      image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517134191118-9d595e4c8c2b",
      alt: "CSS Grid layout diagram"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      title: "Performance Optimization Techniques",
      excerpt: "Learn how to improve your website's loading speed and performance.",
      author: "John Drake",
      date: "March 13, 2024",
      image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1460925895917-afdab827c52f",
      alt: "Website performance metrics"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      title: "Modern JavaScript Frameworks",
      excerpt: "Comparing popular JavaScript frameworks for modern web development.",
      author: "Mike Wilson",
      date: "March 11, 2024",
      image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579468118864-1b9ea3c0db4a",
      alt: "JavaScript frameworks comparison"
    },
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-gray-100 p-8">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-8">
        {posts.map((post) => (
          <article
            key={post.id}
            className="group bg-white rounded-xl overflow-hidden transition-all duration-300 drop-shadow-md hover:drop-shadow-xl"
          >
            <div className="relative">
              <img
                src={post.image}
                alt={post.alt}
                className="w-full h-48 object-cover transition-transform duration-300 group-hover:scale-105"
              />
              <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-black/50 to-transparent opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:scale-105 transition-opacity duration-300" />
            </div>
            <div className="p-6">
              <h3 className="text-xl font-bold mb-2">{post.title}</h3>
              <p className="text-gray-600 mb-4">{post.excerpt}</p>
              <div className="flex justify-between items-center text-sm text-gray-500">
                <span>{post.author}</span>
                <span>{post.date}</span>
              </div>
            </div>
          </article>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Customization Examples

Layered Card Drop Shadow

This example demonstrates a custom drop shadow configuration for a product card with multiple shadow layers, creating a sophisticated depth effect.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

// App.js
export default function ProductCard() {
  return (
    <div className="flex justify-center items-center min-h-screen bg-gray-100">
      <div className="filter drop-shadow-layered bg-white rounded-xl p-6 w-80 transition-all hover:-translate-y-1">
        <img 
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1542291026-7eec264c27ff"
          alt="Product"
          className="w-full h-48 object-cover rounded-lg mb-4"
        />
        <h2 className="text-xl font-bold mb-2">Premium Sneakers</h2>
        <p className="text-gray-600 mb-4">Limited edition sports collection</p>
        <button className="w-full bg-blue-600 text-white py-2 rounded-lg">
          Add to Cart
        </button>
      </div>
    </div>
  )
}

Directional Gradient Shadow

This example implements a custom gradient drop shadow that changes based on hover state, perfect for interactive cards.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

const InteractiveCard = () => {
  return (
    <div className="group relative">
      <div className="p-6 m-4 bg-white rounded-xl transition-all drop-shadow-gradient group-hover:drop-shadow-gradient-hover">
        <img 
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1550745165-9bc0b252726f" 
          alt="Interactive" 
          className="w-full h-48 object-cover rounded-lg mb-4"
        />
        <h3 className="text-xl font-bold mb-2">Interactive Experience</h3>
        <p className="text-gray-600">Hover to see the shadow direction change</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

export default InteractiveCard;

Ambient Light Shadow

This example shows an ambient light source with dynamic shadows, perfect for creating depth in testimonial cards or pricing tables.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!
import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

const TestimonialCard = () => {
  return (
    <div className="bg-gray-50 p-8">
      <div className="bg-white rounded-2xl p-6 transition-all drop-shadow-ambient hover:drop-shadow-ambient-hover">
        <img 
          src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1494790108377-be9c29b29330" 
          alt="Avatar" 
          className="w-16 h-16 rounded-full mb-4"
        />
        <blockquote className="text-gray-700 italic mb-4">
          "This product has transformed our workflow completely. Highly recommended!"
        </blockquote>
        <div className="font-bold">Sarah Johnson</div>
        <div className="text-gray-500">CEO, TechCorp</div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

export default TestimonialCard;

Best Practices

Maintain Design Consistency

Establishing predefined shadow styles for different UI elements, such as buttons, cards, and images, prevents inconsistency. If a subtle shadow effect is used in one section, other areas should not have exaggerated shadows unless necessary for a specific purpose. By defining clear shadow guidelines, projects maintain a professional appearance without unintentional visual disparities.

Maintaining consistency also means using shadows that align with the project's overall aesthetic. Soft and diffused shadows (drop-shadow-md, drop-shadow-lg) often work well in modern, minimalist designs, while stronger shadows (drop-shadow-xl) can be used for emphasis or interactive elements. Ensuring that shadows match the intended design language avoids distracting contrasts between elements.

Another way to maintain uniformity is by defining reusable Tailwind utility classes for commonly used shadow styles. This ensures that all components adhere to the same shadow hierarchy, reducing design fragmentation. Standardizing shadows through utility classes simplifies updates and keeps the design system organized and scalable.

Optimize for Reusability

Reusable components ensure efficient shadow management across a project. Instead of applying drop-shadow-* individually, encapsulating common shadow styles within reusable components improves maintainability. This approach reduces code duplication and ensures that design updates propagate consistently throughout the project.

For instance, a Card component can have a predefined shadow style applied consistently across all instances. If a design change requires adjusting the shadow intensity, modifying the component prop updates all instances without manual changes.

Accessibility Considerations

Enhance Readability and Navigability

Drop shadows can improve readability by subtly distinguishing elements from their background. Applying drop-shadow-md to cards, tooltips, or text containers enhances visual separation, making content easier to scan. Shadows can also help guide users’ eyes toward important elements, improving navigation flow.

Ensuring shadows do not reduce legibility is crucial. Overuse of dark shadows on already dark backgrounds or too subtle a shadow on a light interface can decrease contrast. Testing different shadow strengths in various lighting conditions ensures that content remains readable for all users.

Support Accessible Interactive Elements

Interactive elements such as buttons, links, and form inputs benefit from drop shadows when used appropriately. Shadows can enhance focus states (e.g., focus:drop-shadow-lg), making interactive elements easier to identify for keyboard users.

Ensuring that shadow-enhanced elements have sufficient padding and spacing prevents accidental interactions. Buttons and links should not have shadows so large that they obscure surrounding content or interfere with adjacent interactive elements.

Additionally, animations applied to shadows should not be too sudden or dramatic, as excessive motion may cause visual discomfort for some users. Keeping shadow effects subtle and controlled ensures a comfortable user experience.

SaturateBackdrop Brightness

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