What values make up a CSS box-shadow?

A standard CSS box-shadow is defined by 5 values: horizontal offset (X), vertical offset (Y), blur radius, spread radius, and shadow color (usually with rgba for opacity). You can also add the 'inset' keyword to place the shadow inside the container.

How do layered shadows create more realistic depth?

In natural lighting, shadows are not single harsh outlines. Stacking 2 to 4 subtle shadow layers with increasing blur and decreasing opacity creates soft, lifelike ambient occlusion similar to Stripe, Apple, and Tailwind design systems.

Can I copy Tailwind CSS classes directly?

Yes! Edita gives you both the vanilla CSS box-shadow declaration and the modern Tailwind arbitrary shadow class (e.g. shadow-[...]) ready to paste into your components.

Does the light source angle match Figma and Sketch?

Yes. Our angle dial and distance controls use standard trigonometric projection (Angle and Distance), precisely matching the behavior of design tools like Figma, Sketch, and Photoshop.

Is it safe to use Edita for sensitive files?

Absolutely. Edita processes all your files locally in your browser using WASM (WebAssembly) technology. Your documents never leave your device and are never uploaded to our servers, ensuring total privacy.

Does Edita store my data or file history?

No. We have a strict 'no-storage' policy. Once you close your browser tab, all traces of your processed files are gone. We don't track your content or keep any logs of your file data.

Why is Edita faster than other online converters?

Traditional tools require you to upload large files to a server, wait for processing, and then download them back. Edita eliminates all network lag by processing everything instantly on your own hardware.

CSS Box Shadow Generator

Interactive visual tool to design, customize, and copy modern multi-layer CSS box shadows and Tailwind classes.

Shadow Parameters

Offset X0px

Offset Y10px

Blur25px

Spread-5px

Color

Opacity15%

Shadow Type

Live Preview

Card Element

Generated Code

box-shadow: 0px 10px 25px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);

STEP 1

Pick

STEP 3

Save

Fast. Local. Effortless.

Manage your sensitive files with zero uploads. Everything happens directly in your browser.

Adjust Offsets & Blur

Fine-tune Horizontal Offset (X), Vertical Offset (Y), Blur radius, and Spread radius with precision sliders.

Set Color & Opacity

Pick your shadow tint and adjust opacity percentage to achieve soft or crisp elevation.

Copy CSS or Tailwind

Copy the cross-browser CSS box-shadow declaration or Tailwind arbitrary class in a single click.

Related Tools

Explore other useful tools to help you with your tasks.

FEATURES

Standard CSS Parameters

Direct control over Horizontal Offset (X), Vertical Offset (Y), Blur, Spread, and Opacity matching W3C CSS standards.

PRIVACY

Instant CSS & Tailwind Export

Copy cross-browser box-shadow syntax or Tailwind CSS arbitrary classes with a single click. Ready to paste directly into your codebase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our private, browser-based file tools.

Still have questions? Contact us or check our How it Works page.

What Is a CSS Box Shadow Generator?

The CSS box-shadowproperty attaches one or more drop-shadow effects around an HTML element's frame. Creating smooth, realistic shadows manually in CSS requires juggling multiple numerical parameters — horizontal offset, vertical offset, blur radius, spread distance, and color opacity.

Edita's CSS Box Shadow Generator provides an interactive, visual environment where you can position a virtual light source, fine-tune angles and distances, preview multi-layered natural shadows, and copy production-ready CSS and Tailwind CSS code in real-time.

Understanding CSS Box-Shadow Syntax

A standard CSS box shadow rule is declared using the following values:

box-shadow: [inset] <offset-x> <offset-y> <blur-radius> <spread-radius> <color>;

Offset-X: Shifts the shadow horizontally along the X-axis (positive moves right, negative moves left).
Offset-Y: Shifts the shadow vertically along the Y-axis (positive moves down, negative moves up).
Blur Radius: Controls the softness or sharpness of the shadow perimeter. Larger values yield softer, more diffuse shadows.
Spread Radius: Expands (positive values) or contracts (negative values) the shadow boundary before blurring occurs.
Color: Defines the shadow hue and transparency, typically formatted as rgba() for subtle blending.
Inset: Changes the shadow from an outer drop shadow to an inner cavity shadow within the element borders.

The Power of Multi-Layered Natural Shadows

In real-world physics, light sources produce complex light bounces and gradient penumbras. Harsh single-layer shadows often look artificial or dated. Modern design systems — like Stripe, Apple, and Tailwind UI — stack multiple comma-separated shadow layers:

Layer 1 (Key Light): A subtle, crisp shadow with short distance and tight blur to anchor the element to the surface.
Layer 2 (Ambient Light): A wide, ultra-soft shadow with high blur and low opacity to convey realistic elevation and atmosphere.

Use our curated presets or interactive controls to achieve professional, layered elevation that makes your cards, buttons, and modal dialogs feel tactile and refined.