dragoon0x CANON · Depth and Elevation
Depth communicates layering and importance. Most AI-generated UIs either flatten everything (no hierarchy) or shadow everything (visual noise). The rules below produce restrained, intentional depth.
Quantified Rules
Shadow Construction
A real shadow has multiple layers. Single-shadow elements look CSS-generated.
/* Wrong: flat, single-layer */
.card { box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); }
/* Right: layered, soft */
.card {
box-shadow:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04),
0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06),
0 16px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08);
}
| Layer | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Tight (0 1px 2px) | Defines edge contact |
| Medium (0 4px 8px) | Hints at lift |
| Wide (0 16px 32px) | Carries the perceived height |
Shadow color is never pure black. Use a tinted color from the same hue as your primary, with very low opacity.
Elevation Tokens
:root {
--elevation-0: none;
--elevation-1:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
--elevation-2:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04),
0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
--elevation-3:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04),
0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06),
0 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);
--elevation-4:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04),
0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06),
0 16px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08);
--elevation-5:
0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04),
0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06),
0 16px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08),
0 32px 64px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10);
}
| Elevation | Use case |
|---|---|
| 0 | Page background, flush content |
| 1 | Resting card, input |
| 2 | Hovered card |
| 3 | Dropdown, popover |
| 4 | Modal |
| 5 | Notification, toast (above modal) |
Maximum 5 elevation levels. More than that is noise.
Z-Index Scale
:root {
--z-base: 0;
--z-dropdown: 100;
--z-sticky: 200;
--z-fixed: 300;
--z-modal-bg: 400;
--z-modal: 410;
--z-popover: 500;
--z-tooltip: 600;
--z-toast: 700;
--z-notification: 800;
}
Rule: never use raw z-index values in components. Always reference the scale. Random z-index: 99999 is the universal sign of an unmanaged stack.
Borders vs Shadows for Separation
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Containers on a colored or off-white surface | Border (or no separation, just whitespace) |
| Containers on a pure white page | Border, very subtle shadow, or whitespace |
| Cards lifted above the page | Shadow |
| Modal above content | Shadow + dimmer overlay |
| Popover anchored to element | Shadow + small arrow |
| Sticky header | Bottom border, shadow on scroll |
| Inputs | Border (focus = border + ring) |
| Dividers between list items | Border |
Default: prefer whitespace over a border. Prefer a border over a shadow. Add depth only when the layering is meaningful.
Border Specs
| Context | Width | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Card border | 1px | --color-border (8% L darker than surface) |
| Input border (default) | 1px | --color-border |
| Input border (focused) | 1–2px + 2px ring | --color-accent |
| Input border (error) | 1–2px | --color-error |
| Section divider | 1px | --color-border |
| Heavy emphasis (rare) | 2px | --color-accent or --color-text |
Never use border: 1px solid black. Pure black borders are too heavy. Use a tinted neutral.
Border Radius
| Element | Radius | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tags, pills, status badges | 999px (full pill) | Common practice |
| Avatar (circular) | 50% | |
| Inputs | 4–8px | Material 3 (4px), HIG (10–12px) |
| Buttons | 4–10px (match inputs) | |
| Cards | 8–16px | Material 3 (12px) |
| Modals | 12–24px | |
| Image thumbnails | 4–8px | |
| Hard / brutalist | 0px | Intentional choice |
Rule: pick a radius scale and stick to it. 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 is a clean four-step scale. Don't use 7px next to 11px.
Radius Consistency
Inputs and buttons in the same form should share radius. Cards and modals can use a larger radius. Avatars are full-round. Pills are full-round. That's it.
Layering Rules
Single Source of Elevation
Each layer of the UI has one elevation. Don't elevate elements within an elevated container — that's russian doll.
| Layer | Has elevation |
|---|---|
| Page (background) | 0 |
| Cards on page | 1 |
| Things inside cards | 0 (use border or whitespace, not shadow) |
| Modal | 4 |
| Buttons inside modal | 0 (just color, no shadow) |
Modal Overlay
Modals need a dimmer behind them:
.modal-backdrop {
position: fixed;
inset: 0;
background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
backdrop-filter: blur(4px); /* optional, modern browsers */
}
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Backdrop opacity | 30–50% |
| Backdrop color | Black tinted, not pure |
| Blur (optional) | 4–12px |
Backdrop separates modal from page; modal shadow lifts modal off backdrop.
Hover Elevation Change
Cards and buttons can rise on hover:
.card {
box-shadow: var(--elevation-1);
transition: box-shadow 200ms var(--ease-out), transform 200ms var(--ease-out);
}
.card:hover {
box-shadow: var(--elevation-2);
transform: translateY(-2px);
}
Subtle is the goal. A 2px lift + one elevation step = enough. Lifting cards 8px and adding glow looks tacky.
Dark Mode Depth
Light mode uses shadows for elevation. Dark mode primarily uses surface lightness:
| Layer | Light mode | Dark mode |
|---|---|---|
| Page bg | white (100% L) | 15% L |
| Card | white + shadow | 20% L (no shadow needed) |
| Modal | white + larger shadow | 24% L + subtle shadow |
| Popover | white + shadow | 28% L + subtle shadow |
In dark mode, shadows are weaker. Surfaces get lighter to convey elevation. Some shadow can still help separate from the dimmer beneath.
Anti-Patterns
| Anti-pattern | Why it fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Single-layer shadow 0 4px 8px black |
Flat, harsh | Multi-layer with low opacity |
| Pure black shadow color | Too saturated | Tinted with primary hue |
box-shadow: 0 0 20px purple |
Glow effect, dated/AI-slop | Use proper elevation |
| Nested shadows (card in card with shadow) | Visual noise | Inner uses border or whitespace |
z-index: 99999 |
Unmanaged stack | Use z-index scale |
| Random radius (3px, 7px, 11px) | No system | Pick a 3–4 step scale |
| Pill-shaped buttons next to square cards | Inconsistent | Match radius family |
| Pure black 1px border on white | Too heavy | Tinted, low contrast |
| Border AND shadow on same element | Belt and suspenders | Pick one |
| Border on every section | Visual clutter | Use whitespace |
| Modal without backdrop | No focus | Add semi-transparent backdrop |
| Shadow on dark mode card | Doesn't work, looks muddy | Use lighter surface instead |
Tilted shadow (e.g., -4px 0 8px) |
Wrong light direction | Light from top, shadow below |
| Inset shadow imitating physical engraving | Skeuomorphic, dated | Use border + lower elevation |
Decision Tree
Need to separate two areas?
├─ Try whitespace first
├─ Whitespace not enough? Try a border.
├─ Border not enough? Add subtle shadow (elevation-1).
├─ Element should appear lifted? Use elevation-2 or higher.
├─ Element is overlay (modal, popover)? Use elevation-3+ AND backdrop.
└─ Inside dark mode? Lighten surface instead of shadowing.
Audit Checklist
- Count distinct elevation values. More than 5? Consolidate.
- Search for
z-index: \d+. Each one a token reference? - Search for
box-shadow:. Single-layer? Pure black? Replace. - Check border colors. Any
#000or pure black? Replace with tinted. - Count distinct border radii. More than 4? Consolidate.
- Check radius consistency. Same family in inputs/buttons? Cards/modals?
- Check nested shadows. Cards inside cards both shadowed? Flatten.
- Check modals have backdrop. Backdrop opacity 30–50%?
- Check dark mode. Surfaces lighten with elevation? Shadows reduced?
- Check glow effects. Any
box-shadow: 0 0 X color? Likely AI-slop, replace.
Citations
- Material Design 3 Elevation: https://m3.material.io/styles/elevation/overview
- Apple HIG Materials: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/materials
- Refactoring UI, Chapter 9 (Depth)
- Tailwind Shadow Scale: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/box-shadow
- Smooth Shadow Generator (proper layering): https://shadows.brumm.af