Realistic CSS3 Box Shadow trick with generated content

http://www.ballyhooblog.com/realistic-css3-box-shadows/

by some1else • 16 years ago

43 12 16 years ago

ballyhooblog.com

some1else3• 16 years ago

And CSS Transforms :-)

cuchoperl• 16 years ago

Why there's a white shadow on top of the black one? Doesn't look natural.

baxter• 16 years ago

I think the reason for this is that when you move an object further away from a surface the shadow becomes less pronounced and more diffuse.

I agree that it doesn't look quite right, though.

flyosity• 16 years ago

The lighting is incorrect. The shadow makes it look like the post-it note is actually just a ring of paper. A real shadow wouldn't just magically turn white/transparent as it gets further in from the edge, especially since the part that looks odd is tucked under the paper, and, in the physical world, would be darker since it's more hidden from the light source.

I wrote a blog entry a few months ago on how to achieve realism with respect to digital light sources, maybe it'll help someone out: http://flyosity.com/tutorial/crafting-subtle-realistic-user-...

some1else3• 16 years ago

You're correct. However, I think the described technique with generated content and transforms of multiple box shadows can be used to achieve realistic simulations of lighting, like the kinds in your blog post.

The author's idea of realistic lighting effects indeed doesn't take into account the perspective of the curl on the note, and therefore looks a bit unnatural.

P.s.: Great post.

albertzeyer• 16 years ago

I prefer the "boring" shadows. They look cleaner.

nborgo• 16 years ago

Someone posted another way to do this the other day: http://matthamm.com/box-shadow-curl.html (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1988977)

It looks much nicer. Plus, calling the curl effect "realistic" is quite the exaggeration.

some1else3• 16 years ago

Great one, quite decent.

akamaka• 16 years ago

Please don't use this version of the effect. I've seen in on a couple of websites, and it seriously pains me to see it.

Because the "page" doesn't actually "curl", it looks more like background has been pushed down in places.

benradler• 16 years ago

That's a janky lookin shadow my friend!

Realistic CSS3 Box Shadow trick with generated content

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