Modal & Popover Shadows

Modals need strong shadows to read as elevated above content. Try blur 32px+ at 25-30% opacity for a clear floating effect.

Combine with a translucent backdrop overlay (rgba(0,0,0,0.5)) for full modal effect. The shadow shows above the overlay.

For tooltips and popovers, smaller shadows are appropriate (0 4px 8px / 15%). Too much shadow on a small UI makes it feel overdesigned.

Be careful with shadow contrast in dark modes — try a slightly luminous shadow color (white with very low opacity) instead of pure black.