In this tutorial we are going to be creating box shadow effects with just CSS. Below is an image created in photoshop of different box shadows effects. These used to be the only way of creating this effect but thanks to CSS3 we can now do all this with just CSS.

View Demo page to see what we are going to create
CSS Box Shadow Effects Demo

Web Shadows Package

CSS Box Shadow

We are going to be using the CSS box shadow property which is one my favourite CSS properties which you will see in this tutorial how easy you can use it.

The box-shadow property allows you to easily create multiple drop shadows on box elements by specifying values for colour, size, blur and offset.

The box-shadow property accepts 2-4 options, the required options are horizontal offset and vertical offset, the two optional options are spread distance and colour.

box-shadow: horizontal vertical spread colour;

Examples

box-shadow: 10px 10px;
box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px #888;
box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 2px 2px black;
box-shadow: 10px 10px #888, -10px -10px #f4f4f4, 0px 0px 5px 5px #cc6600;

Browser Support

All of the major newest browsers support box-shadow property.

Internet Explorer 9.0 and higher
Firefox 3.5 and higher
Chrome 1 and higher
Safari 3 and higher
Opera 10.5 and higher

With many new CSS3 properties you need to prefix the property with browser specific tags.

For firefox you need to use -moz-, for chrome/safari you need to use -webkit.

The box-shadow property is no different.

For Firefox 3.5 you need to prefix with -moz-boz-shadow, but for Firefox 4.0 and higher you don’t need to use the prefix anymore.

For Chrome/safari you still need to use the -webkit-box-shadow.

For opera you don’t need to prefix the property and can just use box-shadow.

CSS Box Shadow Effect 1

CSS Box Shadow Effects1

This will create a standard box shadow effect with the shadow moved into the element to create a raised box look.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 1</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 1
 * ===============================================*/
.effect1{
	-webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 6px -6px #777;
	   -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 6px -6px #777;
	        box-shadow: 0 10px 6px -6px #777;
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 2

CSS Box Shadow Effects2

This effect will add shadows to the bottom corners of the boxes to create a lifted corner look on the boxes. This effect uses both the :before and :after properties to create new elements used for the corners.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 2</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 2
 * ===============================================*/
.effect2
{
  position: relative;
}
.effect2:before, .effect2:after
{
  z-index: -1;
  position: absolute;
  content: "";
  bottom: 15px;
  left: 10px;
  width: 50%;
  top: 80%;
  max-width:300px;
  background: #777;
  -webkit-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -moz-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  transform: rotate(-3deg);
}
.effect2:after
{
  -webkit-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(3deg);
  transform: rotate(3deg);
  right: 10px;
  left: auto;
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 3

CSS Box Shadow Effects3

This uses half of the effect approve and will add a lifted corner to the bottom left of the box.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 3</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 3
 * ===============================================*/
.effect3
{
  position: relative;
}
.effect3:before
{
  z-index: -1;
  position: absolute;
  content: "";
  bottom: 15px;
  left: 10px;
  width: 50%;
  top: 80%;
  max-width:300px;
  background: #777;
  -webkit-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -moz-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -webkit-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(-3deg);
  transform: rotate(-3deg);
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 4

CSS Box Shadow Effects4

Effect 4 will lift the corner on the bottom right of the box.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 4</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 4
 * ===============================================*/
.effect4
{
  position: relative;
}
.effect4:after
{
  z-index: -1;
  position: absolute;
  content: "";
  bottom: 15px;
  right: 10px;
  left: auto;
  width: 50%;
  top: 80%;
  max-width:300px;
  background: #777;
  -webkit-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -moz-box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  box-shadow: 0 15px 10px #777;
  -webkit-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(3deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(3deg);
  transform: rotate(3deg);
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 5

CSS Box Shadow Effects5

This is expands on the effect 2 and will increase the angle of the shadows.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 5</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 5
 * ===============================================*/
.effect5
{
  position: relative;
}
.effect5:before, .effect5:after
{
  z-index: -1;
  position: absolute;
  content: "";
  bottom: 25px;
  left: 10px;
  width: 50%;
  top: 80%;
  max-width:300px;
  background: #777;
  -webkit-box-shadow: 0 35px 20px #777;
  -moz-box-shadow: 0 35px 20px #777;
  box-shadow: 0 35px 20px #777;
  -webkit-transform: rotate(-8deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(-8deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(-8deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(-8deg);
  transform: rotate(-8deg);
}
.effect5:after
{
  -webkit-transform: rotate(8deg);
  -moz-transform: rotate(8deg);
  -o-transform: rotate(8deg);
  -ms-transform: rotate(8deg);
  transform: rotate(8deg);
  right: 10px;
  left: auto;
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 6

CSS Box Shadow Effects6

This effect will create a curved shadow at the bottom of the box.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 6</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 6
 * ===============================================*/
.effect6
{
  	position:relative;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
       -moz-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
            box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
}
.effect6:before, .effect6:after
{
	content:"";
    position:absolute;
    z-index:-1;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    -moz-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    top:50%;
    bottom:0;
    left:10px;
    right:10px;
    -moz-border-radius:100px / 10px;
    border-radius:100px / 10px;
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 7

CSS Box Shadow Effects7

This effect uses the previous effect and adds another shadow to the top of the box.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 7</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 7
 * ===============================================*/
.effect7
{
  	position:relative;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
       -moz-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
            box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
}
.effect7:before, .effect7:after
{
	content:"";
    position:absolute;
    z-index:-1;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    -moz-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    top:0;
    bottom:0;
    left:10px;
    right:10px;
    -moz-border-radius:100px / 10px;
    border-radius:100px / 10px;
}
.effect7:after
{
	right:10px;
    left:auto;
    -webkit-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
       -moz-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
        -ms-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
         -o-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
            transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
}

CSS Box Shadow Effect 8

CSS Box Shadow Effects8

The final effect will add rounded shadows to either side of the box.

The HTML

<div>
<h3>Effect 8</h3>
</div>

The CSS

.box h3{
	text-align:center;
	position:relative;
	top:80px;
}
.box {
	width:70%;
	height:200px;
	background:#FFF;
	margin:40px auto;
}
/*==================================================
 * Effect 8
 * ===============================================*/
.effect8
{
  	position:relative;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
       -moz-box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
            box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3), 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) inset;
}
.effect8:before, .effect8:after
{
	content:"";
    position:absolute;
    z-index:-1;
    -webkit-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    -moz-box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    box-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);
    top:10px;
    bottom:10px;
    left:0;
    right:0;
    -moz-border-radius:100px / 10px;
    border-radius:100px / 10px;
}
.effect8:after
{
	right:10px;
    left:auto;
    -webkit-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
       -moz-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
        -ms-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
         -o-transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
            transform:skew(8deg) rotate(3deg);
}

Demo Page

View the demo page to see all these effects.

Fonte: paulund.co.uk

Stefano Bortolamasi

Web expert

Creating Different CSS3 Box Shadows Effects

In this tutorial we are going to be creating box shadow effects with just CSS. Below is an image created in photoshop of different box shadows effects. These used to be the only way of creating this effect but thanks to CSS3 we can now do all this with just CSS.

CSS Box Shadow

Browser Support

CSS Box Shadow Effect 1

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 2

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 3

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 4

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 5

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 6

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 7

The HTML

The CSS

CSS Box Shadow Effect 8

The HTML

The CSS

Demo Page