# Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/unoplatform/uno.toolkit.ui/refs/heads/main/doc/controls/ShadowContainer.md

---
uid: Toolkit.Controls.ShadowContainer
---

# ShadowContainer

## Summary

The `ShadowContainer` provides the ability to layer multiple shadows to its content.

> [!Video https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mohQvifKF0Y]

## Package Reference

A reference to [Uno.Toolkit.Skia.WinUI](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Uno.Toolkit.Skia.WinUI) package must be added to your Uno app so you can access `ShadowContainer` class and its features.

## Remarks

Currently, the control simply mimics the shape of its content by size and by corner radius. Complicated shapes, such as text or pictures with alpha, are not yet supported.

> [!WARNING]
> In order for inset (inner) shadows to be painted on top of the background, the `ShadowContainer`'s child element should not have a `.Background` or `.Fill`(for `Shape`s), it should be omitted or set to transparent. And, the background/fill value should be instead set on the `ShadowContainer` itself.

```xml
<!-- DO -->
<utu:ShadowContainer Background="..." Shadows="...">
    <Grid>...</Grid>
</utu:ShadowContainer>

<!-- DON'T -->
<utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="...">
    <Grid Background="..." >...</Grid>
</utu:ShadowContainer>
```

### XAML

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<utu:ShadowContainer>
    <utu:ShadowContainer.Shadows>
        <utu:ShadowCollection>
            <utu:Shadow ... />
            <utu:Shadow ... />
        </utu:ShadowCollection>
    </utu:ShadowContainer.Shadows>

    <SomeControl />

</utu:ShadowContainer>
```

### Inheritance

`Object` &#8594; `DependencyObject` &#8594; `UIElement` &#8594; `FrameworkElement` &#8594; `Control` &#8594; `ContentControl` &#8594; `ShadowContainer`

### Properties

| Property   | Type               | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `Shadows`  | `ShadowCollection` | The collection of shadows that will be displayed under your control. A `ShadowCollection` can be stored in a resource dictionary to have a consistent style throughout your app. The `ShadowCollection` implements `INotifyCollectionChanged`. |

## Shadow

Dependency object representing a single shadow.

### Shadow Properties

| Property     | Type     | Description                                                                                            |
|--------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `IsInner`    | `bool`   | True if this shadow is an inner shadow (similar to `inset` of `box-shadow` in CSS).                    |
| `OffsetX`    | `double` | The X offset of the shadow.                                                                            |
| `OffsetY`    | `double` | The Y offset of the shadow.                                                                            |
| `Color`      | `Color`  | The color of the shadow. It will be multiplied by the `Opacity` property before rendering.             |
| `Opacity`    | `double` | The opacity of the shadow.                                                                             |
| `BlurRadius` | `double` | The radius of the blur that will be applied to the shadow **[0..100]**.                                |
| `Spread`     | `double` | The spread will inflate or deflate (if negative) the control shadow size **before** applying the blur. |

As mentioned `IsInner` is similar to `inset` of `box-shadow` in CSS. See the images below that illustrate its effects:

With `inset` an Inner Shadow is rendered.

![CSS box-shadow with inset](../assets/box-shadow-inset.png)

Without `inset` a Drop (outer) Shadow is rendered.

![CSS box-shadow without inset](../assets/box-shadow.png)

For more info on how `inset` works in CSS for `box-shadow`, see [`box-shadow` values](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/CSS/box-shadow#values).

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Be careful not to confuse the `Shadow` property with the `Shadows` property. The singular `Shadow` property comes from `UIElement`. To add shadows to the `ShadowContainer`, use only the `Shadows` property.

### Shadow Order

When adding shadows to the `ShadowContainer`, keep in mind that the order in which you place them matters, as shadows can overlap each other, affecting the final result. Shadows implemented last may overlap shadows added previously. See the examples below:

The following example has a red shadow and a green shadow, respectively. See that the green shadow overlaps the red shadow, since the green one was added last:

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<Page.Resources>
    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="InnerShadows">
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="50"
                    OffsetY="50"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="Red"
                    IsInner="True" />
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="-50"
                    OffsetY="-50"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="Green"
                    IsInner="True" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>
</Page.Resources>

<StackPanel>
    <utu:ShadowContainer Background="LightGray"
                         Shadows="{StaticResource InnerShadows}">
        <Grid Height="100"
              Width="100"
              CornerRadius="50" />
    </utu:ShadowContainer>
</StackPanel>
```

Result:

![Green shadow covers red](../assets/green-shadow-cover.png)

Now, let's change the shadow order and place the red shadow at the end. Note that the red shadow now overlaps the green one:

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<Page.Resources>
    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="InnerShadows">
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="-50"
                    OffsetY="-50"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="Green"
                    IsInner="True" />
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="50"
                    OffsetY="50"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="Red"
                    IsInner="True" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>
</Page.Resources>

<StackPanel>
    <utu:ShadowContainer  Background="LightGray"
                          Shadows="{StaticResource InnerShadows}">
        <Grid Height="100"
              Width="100"
              CornerRadius="50" />
    </utu:ShadowContainer>
</StackPanel>
```

Result:

![Red shadow covers green](../assets/red-shadow-cover.png)

## Usage

See how to add shadows to your controls with the following code and the result.

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<Page.Resources>
    <Color x:Key="UnoColor">#7a67f8</Color>
    <Color x:Key="UnoPink">#f85977</Color>

    <!-- You can define your shadows in the resource dictionary -->
    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Name="ButtonShadows">
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="15"
                    OffsetY="8"
                    Opacity="0.5"
                    Color="{StaticResource UnoColor}" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>
</Page.Resources>

<utu:ShadowContainer Background="White">
    <utu:ShadowContainer.Shadows>
        <!-- You can define your shadows directly -->
        <utu:ShadowCollection x:Name="Shadows">
            <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="20"
                        OffsetX="10"
                        OffsetY="10"
                        Opacity="0.5"
                        Spread="-5"
                        Color="{StaticResource UnoColor}" />
            <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="20"
                        OffsetX="-10"
                        OffsetY="-10"
                        Opacity="0.5"
                        Spread="-5"
                        Color="{StaticResource UnoPink}" />
        </utu:ShadowCollection>
    </utu:ShadowContainer.Shadows>
    <StackPanel Width="300"
                Padding="16"
                BorderThickness="1"
                CornerRadius="20"
                Spacing="16">

        <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource TitleTextBlockStyle}" Text="Add many shadows" />
        <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource BodyTextBlockStyle}" Text="You can either declare shadows directly, or put your ShadowCollection in a resource dictionary." />

        <StackPanel Margin="0,16,0,0"
                    HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                    Orientation="Horizontal"
                    Spacing="16">

            <!-- Reference to the dictionary button shadows -->
            <utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="{StaticResource ButtonShadows}">
                <Button Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                        BorderThickness="1"
                        Content="Add Shadow"
                        Foreground="White" />
            </utu:ShadowContainer>

            <!-- Reference to the dictionary button shadows -->
            <utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="{StaticResource ButtonShadows}">
                <Button Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                        BorderThickness="1"
                        Content="Remove Shadow"
                        Foreground="White" />
            </utu:ShadowContainer>
        </StackPanel>
    </StackPanel>
</utu:ShadowContainer>
```

![2 colored shadows with 2 buttons with single shadows](../assets/shadows-colors.png)

## Neumorphism

[Following neumorphism rules](https://neumorphism.io), choose one background color, 2 shadow colors, and create a cool neumorphism style.

To achieve neumorphic depth effects (instead of having a raised element, it will feel as if it was hollow or bulging), set the `IsInner` property of a shadow to `True`.

- The shadow will then be displayed *inside* the element instead of behind.
- This is equivalent to the `inset` property of the CSS `box-shadow` as mentioned previously.

## Usage

See how to integrate neumorphism into your designs with the following code and the result.

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<Page.Resources>
    <Color x:Key="UnoColor">#7a67f8</Color>

    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="NeumorphismRaising">
        <!-- Bottom right darker violet -->
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="10"
                    OffsetY="10"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="#6858d3" />
        <!-- Top left lighter violet -->
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="30"
                    OffsetX="-10"
                    OffsetY="-10"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="-5"
                    Color="#8c76ff" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>

    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="NeumorphismHollow">
        <!-- Inner top and left shadow -->
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                    IsInner="True"
                    OffsetX="5"
                    OffsetY="5"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="0"
                    Color="#6858d3" />
        <!-- Inner bottom and right shadow -->
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                    IsInner="True"
                    OffsetX="-4"
                    OffsetY="-4"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="0"
                    Color="#8c76ff" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>

    <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="NeumorphismBulging">
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                    IsInner="True"
                    OffsetX="-5"
                    OffsetY="-5"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="0"
                    Color="#6858d3" />
        <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                    IsInner="True"
                    OffsetX="4"
                    OffsetY="4"
                    Opacity="1"
                    Spread="0"
                    Color="#8c76ff" />
    </utu:ShadowCollection>
</Page.Resources>

<StackPanel Width="400"
            Margin="0,32"
            Padding="32"
            Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
            CornerRadius="30">
    <utu:ShadowContainer Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                         Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismRaising}">
        <Grid Width="300"
              Padding="20"
              CornerRadius="20">
            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                <RowDefinition Height="20" />
                <RowDefinition Height="20" />
            </Grid.RowDefinitions>

            <TextBlock FontSize="15"
                       Foreground="White"
                       Text="Neumorphism" />
            <TextBlock Grid.Row="1"
                       FontSize="12"
                       Foreground="White"
                       Text="Raising element" />
        </Grid>
    </utu:ShadowContainer>

    <utu:ShadowContainer Margin="0,60,0,0"
                         Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                         Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismHollow}">
        <TextBox Width="200"
                 Height="40"
                 Padding="15,10,15,0"
                 VerticalAlignment="Center"
                 BorderThickness="0"
                 CornerRadius="20"
                 Foreground="White"
                 PlaceholderForeground="LightGray"
                 PlaceholderText="Hollow element" />
    </utu:ShadowContainer>
    <utu:ShadowContainer Margin="0,15" Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismHollow}">
        <TextBox Width="200"
                 Height="40"
                 Padding="15,10,15,0"
                 VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
                 Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                 BorderThickness="0"
                 CornerRadius="20"
                 Foreground="White"
                 PlaceholderForeground="LightGray"
                 PlaceholderText="Hollow element" />
    </utu:ShadowContainer>

    <utu:ShadowContainer Margin="0,30" Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismBulging}">
        <Button Width="200"
                Height="40"
                Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                BorderBrush="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                Content="Bulging element"
                CornerRadius="15"
                Foreground="White" />
    </utu:ShadowContainer>

    <StackPanel Margin="0,30,0,0"
                Padding="24"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                Orientation="Horizontal"
                Spacing="16">

        <utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismRaising}">
            <Button Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                    BorderThickness="0"
                    Content="Regular"
                    Foreground="White" />
        </utu:ShadowContainer>

        <utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismRaising}">
            <Button Width="80"
                    Height="80"
                    Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                    BorderBrush="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                    Content="Circular"
                    CornerRadius="40"
                    Foreground="White" />
        </utu:ShadowContainer>

        <utu:ShadowContainer Shadows="{StaticResource NeumorphismRaising}">
            <Button Height="60"
                    Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                    BorderThickness="0"
                    Content="Bigger"
                    CornerRadius="20"
                    Foreground="White" />
        </utu:ShadowContainer>
    </StackPanel>
</StackPanel>
```

![neumorphism built with 2 shadows](../assets/shadows-neumorphism.png)

## Theme Switching support

To ensure that the Shadows feature seamlessly integrates with [Theme Switching](xref:Uno.Features.Themes), it's essential to include the shadow collection within the theme dictionary.

Here's a snippet demonstrating how to structure your theme dictionary for proper shadow support:

```xml
xmlns:utu="using:Uno.Toolkit.UI"
...

<ResourceDictionary>
    <ResourceDictionary.ThemeDictionaries>
        <ResourceDictionary x:Key="Dark">
            <Color x:Key="LightShadowColor">Pink</Color>
            <Color x:Key="ShadeShadowColor">SkyBlue</Color>

            <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="ButtonShadows">
                <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                            IsInner="True"
                            OffsetX="-5"
                            OffsetY="-5"
                            Opacity="1"
                            Spread="0"
                            Color="{StaticResource LightShadowColor}" />
                <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                            IsInner="True"
                            OffsetX="4"
                            OffsetY="4"
                            Opacity="1"
                            Spread="0"
                            Color="{StaticResource ShadeShadowColor}" />
            </utu:ShadowCollection>
        </ResourceDictionary>
        <ResourceDictionary x:Key="Light">
            <Color x:Key="LightShadowColor">Orange</Color>
            <Color x:Key="ShadeShadowColor">Green</Color>

            <utu:ShadowCollection x:Key="ButtonShadows">
                <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                            IsInner="True"
                            OffsetX="-5"
                            OffsetY="-5"
                            Opacity="1"
                            Spread="0"
                            Color="{StaticResource LightShadowColor}" />
                <utu:Shadow BlurRadius="10"
                            IsInner="True"
                            OffsetX="4"
                            OffsetY="4"
                            Opacity="1"
                            Spread="0"
                            Color="{StaticResource ShadeShadowColor}" />
            </utu:ShadowCollection>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </ResourceDictionary.ThemeDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
...

<utu:ShadowContainer Background="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
                     Shadows="{ThemeResource ButtonShadows}">
    <Button Width="200"
            Height="40"
            BorderBrush="{StaticResource UnoColor}"
            Content="Save"
            CornerRadius="15"
            Foreground="White" />
</utu:ShadowContainer>
```