# elevation-and-depth

Defines rules for shadows, border radius, and surface layering in CSS. Helps the agent style cards, modals, dropdowns, and tooltips with physical depth.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 854 installs · ★ 165
- Author: dembrandt
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/elevation-and-depth

## What it does

The skill sets an elevation scale with six tokens from `--shadow-none` to `--shadow-xl`, mapping each level to interface roles like popovers or dialogs. It prohibits heavy, dark drop shadows. For elevated white cards, the skill enforces a pairing rule. You combine the shadow with a 1px border that is 1.5x to 2x darker than the shadow tone to stop edges from washing out.

It also standardizes border radius across components. Every button variant must share the same `--radius-button` token to maintain consistency. Flat cards without a border cannot rely on a background color shift on hover; they need an elevation shadow or boundary so the highlight does not look like a stray fill. For text shadows, blur cannot exceed 2–4px with opacity under 0.30.

A text shadow cannot fix broken contrast. Palette colors must be adjusted first.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill elevation-and-depth -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/elevation-and-depth/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill elevation-and-depth -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill elevation-and-depth -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dembrandt/dembrandt-skills elevation-and-depth
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill elevation-and-depth -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --path skills/elevation-and-depth
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill elevation-and-depth -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/elevation-and-depth/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- configure design tokens for shadow depth
- fix blurry washed-out edges on white cards
- unify border-radius values across all buttons
- style modals and dropdowns with realistic physical layering

## Example prompts
- Set up shadow tokens for cards and modals in our design system
- Make this white card feel elevated without washed-out edges
- What border-radius and shadow values should I apply to this dropdown?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 272799cbf76f1628.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 272799cbf76f1628
```text
---
name: elevation-and-depth
description: Shadows and layering that lift elements above the surface. Use when designing cards, dropdowns, modals, tooltips or any floating element.
metadata:
  priority: 6
  pathPatterns:
    - "**/*.css"
    - "**/*.scss"
    - "**/tokens/**"
    - "**/theme/**"
    - "tailwind.config.*"
    - "design-system/**"
    - "components/**"
  promptSignals:
    phrases:
      - "shadow"
      - "elevation"
      - "card"
      - "border radius"
      - "depth"
      - "floating"
      - "modal"
      - "dropdown"
retrieval:
  aliases:
    - elevation
    - box shadow
    - card design
    - depth hierarchy
    - border radius
    - floating elements
  intents:
    - make a card stand out
    - design elevation system
    - set up shadow tokens
    - make hierarchy feel physical
    - style a modal or dropdown
  examples:
    - make this card feel elevated
    - set up a shadow scale for the design system
    - what border radius should cards use
---

# Elevation and Depth

Elevation uses shadow and layering to communicate that an element sits above the base surface — giving UI a sense of physical depth. Combined with border-radius, it creates the tactile quality that makes cards graspable, modals clearly floating, and dropdowns feel like they've appeared on top of content.

## The Elevation Scale

Define a small set of elevation levels as tokens. Each level maps to a specific UI role.

| Level | Token | Shadow | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | `--shadow-none` | none | Flat surface, inline elements |
| 1 | `--shadow-xs` | `0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.06)` | Subtle card, table row hover |
| 2 | `--shadow-sm` | `0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.10), 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.06)` | Card, input focus ring area |
| 3 | `--shadow-md` | `0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.08), 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.06)` | Dropdown, popover |
| 4 | `--shadow-lg` | `0 10px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.08), 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05)` | Modal, dialog, side drawer |
| 5 | `--shadow-xl` | `0 20px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.08), 0 8px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.04)` | Command palette, full-screen overlay |

Keep shadows subtle. Dark, heavy shadows feel dated and visually aggressive. Light, diffuse shadows feel modern and material.

### The "Shadow + Border" Rule
A subtle shadow on a white surface can sometimes "wash out," making the edge of a card feel fuzzy or indistinct.
- **Rule:** For elevated white cards or sections, pair the shadow with a **1px border** that is slightly darker (1.5x to 2x) than the shadow's core tone (e.g., a medium grey like `#E2E8F0` or `grey-200`).
- **Effect:** The border defines the physical boundary of the card, while the shadow provides the depth. Together, they make the component "pop" with much higher clarity than using either alone.

### Hover Needs a Defined Edge
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 272799cbf76f1628

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